SNN112161 - A5 Towcester Drainage Scheme, Towcester, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Watching Brief

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Camps Environmental Services Ltd to undertake an archaeological watching brief on the excavation of 21 drainage improvement trenches along a 0.62 km stretch of the A5 in Towcester, Northamptonshire, from 132 Watling Street to 1 London Rd. The monitored trenches extended from NGR 469231, 248799 in the north-west to NGR 469622, 248315 in the south-east. Deposits of Romano-British and post-medieval/modern date were encountered during the watching brief. Romano-British activity was represented by a possible occupation layer, which supplied Romano-British pottery dating from the late 1st century AD, along with oyster shell. An undated but potentially Romano-British metalled road surface was also recorded in a further two trenches. Layers related to the construction and maintenance of the high street were ubiquitous across the trenches. A number of post-medieval or modern drains and other services were encountered; disturbance from their construction may account for the lack of evidence for remains of Mid–Late Romano-British or medieval date. The watching brief results give an indication of the levels and locations at which future works may encounter Romano-British remains, and so contribute to a deposit model of the town.