SNN109264 - An Archaeological Evaluation of Land at Monksmoor Farm, Daventry, Northamptonshire November 2012

Northamptonshire Archaeology was commissioned by AECOM to conduct a geophysical survey and a watching brief during the excavation of geotechnical test pits on land at Monksmoor Farm, Daventry. Subsequently, the first phase of an archaeological evaluation was undertaken in the south-western part of the site. The geophysical survey found four main areas of archaeological interest, two of which had previously been detected during an earlier survey. No archaeological features were observed during the excavation of the test pits. Two of the areas of archaeological interest identified during the geophysical survey were investigated during this phase of the evaluation. There were a small number of features dating to the Iron Age/Roman period in trenches in the southwestern corner of the site. These comprised ditches with only small amounts of pottery, suggesting that they were situated some way from settlement. The evidence from this evaluation broadly agreed with the results of an earlier evaluation in the same area. There was also extensive evidence of ridge and furrow across the site and evidence of post-medieval and modern field boundaries and modern dumping. A possible field boundary may correspond to one of the other areas of archaeological interest.