SNN111404 - Apex Park Phase 4, Daventry, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in August 2018 at Apex Park (Phase 4), Daventry, Northamptonshire. The evaluation was undertaken to inform a planning application to Daventry District Council for the industrial development of the site. The fieldwork comprised the excavation of nine trenches. Archaeological interest in the site is derived from its location within an area containing known prehistoric features and finds. Previous archaeological evaluation to the immediate southwest of the site revealed the remains of Bronze Age, Iron Age and early medieval features, including a ring ditch of Middle Bronze Age date. A previous geophysical survey of the site identified a number of anomalies including an oval-shaped anomaly indicative of a prehistoric funerary monument. The results of the evaluation confirmed the results of a geophysical survey. The evaluation identified archaeological remains concentrated within the southern part of the site, with a single ditch located in the northernmost field. Although the majority of these features remain undated artefactually, the majority of the features can be attributed to one of three broad periods; the Bronze Age, medieval or modern periods. The earliest features identified were curvilinear ditches located within the south-western part of the site (Trench 9). These corresponded to an anomaly identified through geophysical survey, which appeared to represent a ring ditch with an internal measurement of 18m in length and 14m in width. A Number of flint flakes broadly attributable late Neolithic or Bronze Age were recovered from the fill of this feature, which probably represents the partial remains of a funerary monument of Neolithic to Bronze Age date. The presence of plough furrows of a probable medieval date, identified across the majority of the southern part of the site by the geophysical survey, were confirmed by the results of the evaluation An undated pit was also recorded. Identified modern features comprised two ditches depicted on the Ordnance Survey Drawing of 1813.