SNN109201 - Archaeological Excavation at School Lane, Hartwell, Northamptonshire: Assessment Report and Updated Project Design

Archaeological excavation was carried out by Northamptonshire Archaeology between November 2010 and April 2011, on behalf of Bellway Homes. An area of late Iron Age/early Roman settlement was occupied for a short period, perhaps the late 1st century BC to the middle of the 1st century AD, with abandonment occurring shortly after the Conquest. There were two adjacent partial enclosures, one of which was flanked by a ditch nearly 2m deep, with either open sides or boundaries that had left no below ground evidence. Within the enclosures and between them, there were some subsidiary linear and curvilinear gullies, and a few pits. The features produced a small assemblage of late Iron Age hand-built wares and a larger group of wheel-finished vessels dating to the early to mid 1st century AD. The deposition of two complete upper stones from rotary querns may define the abandonment of Iron Age customs and the adoption of a Romanised lifestyle. Other features including a truncated paved area, remains of furrows and three ditches associated with medieval and post-medieval land use, were also noted.