SNN110324 - Archaeological evaluation and earthwork survey report: Land off High Street, Flore, Northamptonshire

Allen Archaeology Limited (hereafter AAL) was commissioned by Landmark Planning to undertake an archaeological evaluation by trial trenching and earthwork survey on land off High Street in Flore, Northamptonshire to support a planning application for a proposed housing development. Presence of prehistoric activities are represented by scattered flints found within 400-850m of the site as well as cropmarks and enclosures identified through aerial photographs. There have been few finds of Roman material in the landscape which is otherwise dominated by medieval ridge and furrows including the plot proposed for development. The archaeological evaluation recorded low presence of prehistoric actives in that of a single flint core found in the topsoil. One undated ditch pre-dating the medieval furrows and an undated pit or linear could potentially pre-date the medieval period. The ridge and furrows crossed most of the site. A change in the furrow's direction in the southwest part of the site suggest two separate field systems within the development area. The presence of other earthworks in the north and south may be the results of later intrusions. A possible quarry pit in the southwest part dated late 18th to 19th century and was present as a hollow in the landscape. Undulating earthworks by the south boundary may be related to up-cast formed by the construction of two late 18th - late 19th century ponds. Although the methodology for the proposed development is not known, any groundworks will have impact upon the medieval ridge and furrow field system.