SNN110781 - Dallington Grange Northampton: Evaluation Report, 2016

Oxford Archaeology undertook an archaeological trial trench evaluation of targeted areas within the proposed development boundary at Dallington Grange, Northampton between 25th April and 2nd June 2016. The evaluation trenches specifically targeted two defined sites: Site 1, a zone around the perimeter of a Neolithic causewayed enclosure along with selected interior features, and Site 2, the periphery and selected features within a known Iron Age settlement. The causewayed enclosure ditches were encountered within two of the four trenches excavated across the circuit. No pottery or bone was present and finds were generally very sparse from the ditch fills. However, the ditches were well preserved. Trench 60 confirmed that the central penannular ditch feature is similarly well preserved, although no additional evidence to further the interpretation of this as a henge was revealed. Activity in the form of small pits containing charred deposits was also recorded, most notably within Trench 54 situated on sloping ground next to the enclosure. The pits were characterised by charred and burnt deposits which produced good assemblages of plant remains, including some emmer wheat. Although no one feature produced any significant artefact assemblage in association with the causewayed enclosure or pits, the combined flint assemblage from all features and deposits was notable for the relatively high concentration of cores and tools and in some of the tool forms found in the early Neolithic. A pit alignment was also investigated south of the causewayed enclosure. Additional trenches excavated along the eastern projection of this alignment confirmed that this is present throughout much of the Iron Age settlement area. Dating evidence was limited, but one pit within Trench 85 suggests an early Iron Age origin. Evaluation of Site 2 largely confirmed the presence of the features identified by the cropmark and geophysical survey plots. A combination of large enclosures and slighter ditch boundaries was recorded along with occasional pits and a single juvenile cremation that contained at least two individuals. Dating evidence was relatively sparse, although this did produce a range of material possibly spanning the Iron Age and into the early Roman period. The features appeared to be well preserved and good assemblages of charred plant remains were present within several of the features.