SNN111659 - The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Little Houghton, Northamptonshire: Watching brief report

A watching brief was arried out by Bedfordshire County Archaeology Service during groundworks at the church of St Mary the Virgin, Little Houghton, Northamptonshire. A number of in situ burials were identified, some of these superimposed. Variations in the orientation of burials were observed. A large quantity of human bone was recovered throughout the trenches and the widespread deposition of bone indicated the intensive use of the graveyard over an extended period, as might be expected. In addition to the burials two archaeological features were located. In a sewer trench, parallel lines of brickwork surrounding an area of loose soil were believed to indicate the remains of a bricklined vault or grave. A foundation trench partly revealed a possible pit containing bands of mortar debris. Its interpretation is uncertain, but the bands of morat in the feature suggest that it was probably related to construction work. No dating evidence was recovered but the presence of a series of burials above the pit indicated that it is not modern. It seems likely that it also predates the 19th century rebuilding of the church. The trenches contained no evidence of walls predating the present building. A small number of sherds of medieval and late medieval pottery were found in the soil from the trenches.