SNN111727 - A later prehistoric landscape at Sandy Lane, Northampton

A programme of archaeological investigation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in 2010 at Sandy lane Improvement North, north-west of Northampton. A total area of 3.6ha was excavated across seven areas. Archaeological remains were confiedn to the northern and central parts of the site, with settlement mostly concentrated on an area of the Northampton sands either side of the Dallington Brook, which bisected the site. The excavated archaeology comprised a small oval enclosure of possible domestic or funerary character with associated pits and postholes, both radiocarbon dated to the early/middle Bronze Age. A middle Bronze Age cremation burial was associated with a small group of pits at the northern end of the route. A late Bronze Age settlement comprised two probable roundhouses, associated with two groups of pits, which produced evidence for craft production, including fired-clay loomweights and a perforated stone disc. In addition, a short length of a later prehistoric pit alignment was cut by a trackway of middle to late Iron Age date, which was associated with enclosure boundary ditches and pits. There were also middle Iron Age four-post structures. A later prehistoric boundary ditch towards the southern end of the route may have been contemporary with the middle to late Iron Age activity. Medieval and post-medieval features included ridge and furrow, boundary ditches and pits.