SNN111265 - Archaeological evaluation report: Geophysical survey by magnetometry on land near Nassington, Northamptonshire

Allen Archaeology Limited was commissioned by Mr Derek Roberts on behalf of the Middle Nene Archaeological Group to undertake a geophysical survey using magnetometry on land near Nassington, Northamptonshire to help place an excavated Roman barn within the greater landscape and to inform future excavations for a community project. The site was identified by Derek and Andy Roberts, initially due to a high density of surface finds, recovered during fieldwalking. A geophysical resistance survey identified potential structural features likely of a Roman date, and this was followed up by excavations in August 2016 and 2017 with volunteers from Middle Nene and Fane Road Archaeological Groups. The excavations revealed a large stone built Roman barn and ancillary features, including a corn dryer. The survey identified potential parallel ditches, possibly flanking former trackways, along with linear features likely to represent former boundaries or enclosures. The orientation of a number of these linear anomalies goes some way towards suggesting that some existing field boundaries reflect relict landscapes dating at least as far back as the Roman period. There are numerous amorphous features likely to represent pits, soil-filled hollows or former ponds. These archaeological features appear to be on at least two separate alignments, suggesting different phases of occupation and activity. Linear features cutting across the survey area within the centre and southeast parts of the site are likely to represent ridge and furrow cultivation, most probably of a medieval date. The survey has shown the Roman barn is not an isolated monument, and that it lies within a much wider and active archaeological landscape, the full extent of which remains unknown.