SNN111218 - Land at Norwood Farm, Northampton: Geophysical Survey, 2015

Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd undertook a geophysical (magnetometer) survey covering approximately 110 hectares on agricultural land on the western periphery of Northampton to provide information about the archaeological potential of land proposed for residential development. The survey has identified anomalies indicative of archaeological activity in several discrete areas covering parts of the site. In an undulating landscape, the activity is focused on the higher ground with the lower areas the only parts of the site with no obvious archaeological potential apart from ridge and furrow cultivation. The geology is complex with higher magnitude anomalies being recorded over the Northampton Sand and Ironstone but with very weak anomalies where the bedrock is overlain by superficial deposits of boulder clay. The largest single area of activity is to the north centre of the site and comprises a complex of interlinking enclosures covering approximately 3 hectares. The other areas of archaeological potential may comprise much smaller pockets of activity again comprising small clusters of enclosures often with internal division and with discrete anomalies indicative of settlement activity. There is no indication from any other source to suggest that the magnetic data provides anything other than an accurate representation of the sub-surface conditions within the proposed development area. Therefore, based on the results and interpretation of the data, the archaeological potential of the site is considered to be high, locally very high.