SNN110736 - Rushden Lakes, Ditchford Field, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation Report

Trial trench evaluation on land within Ditchford Reserve Local Wildlife Site (LWS) to the west of the Rushden Lakes development north-west of Rushden, Northamptonshire (SP 93390 67800). The evaluation revealed a variety of geological deposits, reflecting the location of the site at the interface between the solid and superficial geology at the edge of the floodplain. A number of possible features with very sterile sandy fills were identified but, where sample excavation took place, were predominantly interpreted as being of probable geological origin. A number of these were more regular in plan and profile and may have represented ditches, although no artefactual material was present beyond the topsoil interface with the feature fills. The deposits that filled the features were also very similar in composition to the geological deposits. A small assemblage of worked flint artefacts was present within two of the trenches indicating prehistoric activity at this location. However, the association between these artefacts and the possible features remains unclear. A number of modern field drains were identified, one of which appeared to be draining from a low-lying area into the reed marsh to the north.