SNN111055 - An archaeological field evaluation (Phase 1 & part of Phase 4) in advance of the proposed West Corby Urban Extension, Northamptonshire, 2016

An archaeological trial trench evaluation of Phase 1 and part of Phase 4 of the proposed West Corby Urban Expansion was carried out over 5 neighbouring fields by University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) in August and September 2016 following the harvest. The work was concentrated in the SE quarter of the application area and consisted of 73 trial trenches that were located to evaluate archaeological anomalies identified during a previous geophysical survey and also to sample the surrounding areas where no anomalies had been identified. The geophysical survey results had indicated that archaeological remains survived extensively across the area. Within the fields targeted by the Phase 1 Evaluation was an extended and complex linear spread of roundhouses, enclosures and associatedfeatures indicative of Iron Age or Roman settlement located on the western side ofthefield known as 'The Wood'. Similar features extended into Fields 59 and 61 and a smaller cluster of roundhouses and other features were located in 'Kitts Lawn' indicating other areas of settlement. Away from the main core of settlement remains several large-scale linear features crossed the southern part of the area, running through Fields 61 & 62. The earliest evidence for human activity across the evaluation area came from a small collection of worked flints that were residual in later archaeological features. Of note was a 'long blade' of Upper Palaeolithic character which represents rare evidence for this period from the county. The rest of the lithics assemblage consisted of scrapers and waste flakes of Bronze Age date, although no features of this period were encountered in the trenches. The majority of the archaeological evidence related to Iron Age activity, as reflected in the geophysical survey results. Iron Age remains were recorded in all of the fields evaluated during this phase of the project, indicating widespread use of the landscape during this period. Several core areas of Iron Age occupation were located, which largely reflected the areas highlighted in the geophysical survey, however additional areas of activity were also discovered in the apparently 'blank' areas. The main area of Iron Age settlement consisted of a linear spread of roundhouses and other features occupying a large area in 'The Wood' and Field 59. Twofurther foci of activity were identified Field 61 and 'Kitts Lawn '. Sample excavation of these features indicated that the archaeological remains were well preserved and contain a range of artefactual and environmental evidence. Excavation also revealed that the Iron Age settlement remains were more complex than had been anticipated from the geophysical survey results, with several overlapping phases of occupation represented.Activity in the areas between the settlement foci consisted of land allotment boundaries, possible isolated roundhouses and burnt pits/hearths all of which were common across the evaluation area although not all were identified through the geophysical survey. The Iron Age remains has the potential to add important information on later prehistoric occupation of a large part of the Northamptonshire landscape that has seen little previous work on similar remains. Evidence for medieval activity in the former Rockingham Forest deerpark was located on the western edge of the evaluation area in 'The Wood'. These remains had been identified as a large circular enclosure by the geophysical survey. Excavation revealed well-preserved structural remains within a ditched enclosure that have been identified as belonging to a building known as 'West Lodge' that is shown on a map of the area dating to 1580. 'West Lodge' is likely to have been the residence of aforest warden, responsible for maintaining the deer and their habitat. A distinctive finds assemblage included a range of different pottery types, glass wine bottles, metalwork, building demolition debris and animal bones (mostly representing deer) indicating the range of information that has survived at the site. The archaeology of 'West Lodge' has great potential to provide information on later medieval land-use and management within Rockingham Forest and on the lifestyle and status of the forest wardens. No other examples of lodges or related buildings have been excavated to date in Northamptonshire and as such this represents a unique opportunity to gather archaeological information relating to these important areas of the medieval landscape.