SNN110727 - Archaeological Field Evaluation: Raw Energy Ltd, Wormslade Farm, Clipston Road, Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire, LE16 9RX, July 2016

Border Archaeology Ltd (BAL) was instructed by Raw Energy Ltd to undertake a programme of Geophysical Survey and Archaeological Field Evaluation in respect of the proposed development of land at Wormslade Farm Clipston Road Kelmarsh Northamptonshire LE16 9RX (NGR: SP 73510 81650). Twenty-three trenches, each of 30 × 1.8m, were opened, together with two smaller trenches (20 × 1.8m & 10 × 1.8m), representing approximately 4% of the development area (nominally 4ha). Trenches were located both to sample ground anomalies detected by the geophysical work and to test areas apparently devoid of any geophysical response. A number of amorphous features representing areas of bioturbation and a series of modern land drains were identified in several trenches and these, together with the various changes in the natural geology noted throughout the evaluation area, may account for some of the potential features identified in the geophysical survey results. Two narrow, shallow linear features were identified in Trenches 023 and 025 which were, based on their form and depth, interpreted as plough scars; the features were aligned with the remnants of ridge-and-furrow cultivation recorded on the geophysical survey. A modern agricultural waste pit or drainage feature identified in Trench 018 represented an area of disturbance which was identified in the geophysical survey results. The feature contained 20th -century agricultural waste and building material, including barbed-wire fencing, metal agricultural equipment, bricks and glass and appears to have been backfilled during the recent past. A small limestone boulder was identified in Trench 010 and, in view of the fact that the evaluation area as a whole was notably devoid of stones, the size and relative isolation of this boulder would appear to suggest a glacial ‘erratic’ (a boulder transported and deposited by a glacier, which differs from the local bedrock). Its presence may account for the anomaly identified on the geophysical survey at this location. It can be confirmed that no evidence of significant archaeological features, deposits or finds was revealed during the course of the evaluation. The natural substrate was encountered at a depth of between 0.36m-0.95m below ground level.