SNN110493 - An Archaeological Evaluation and Strip, Plan & Sample Excavation on land at Newlands Road, Welford, Northamptonshire, 2015

An archaeological evaluation and subsequent strip, plan and sample excavation was carried out by University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) on land at Newlands Road, Welford, Northamptonshire (SP 640 799), for Mears New Homes Ltd. The work was in advance of a proposed new residential development of the site (Planning App. DA/2015/0208). The work was carried out between June and August 2015. A prior geophysical survey had identified ridge and furrow and a feature of possible archaeological origin. The feature was confirmed by trial trenching carried out during June 2015. During the evaluation evidence was identified for a north-south and a probably related east-west ditch line. To the south-east of these ditches were several other features, one of which produced Iron Age pottery. These features consisted of a gully, a post-hole and a pit. Several stray finds of struck flint were also recovered during the work. A follow up strip, plan and sample excavation was therefore carried out in July and August 2015. This fieldwork identified that the ditches were part of a series of Iron Age enclosures. Within the north of these enclosure features was a roundhouse, encircled by a further outer drainage gully. The roundhouse measured c.8m across, had an east facing entrance and several probably associated features. Several querns were found near the roundhouse entrance. Further features including pits, post-holes and gullies were also identified. Finds from site were relatively scarce; however the pottery indicates a middle Iron Age date from the presence of scored ware vessels. Carbonised plant remains indicate that cereals were being used on site. The site was most likely a relatively self-sufficient farmstead. A scatter of worked lithics across site also attests to some earlier activity from the Palaeolithic period onwards. The site also had ridge and furrow on site, presumably of medieval date.