SNN112171 - Overstone Green, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation Report

In November 2018, Oxford Archaeology were commissioned by Pegasus Group on behalf of Davidsons Group and Gallagher Estates to undertake an archaeological evaluation on the site of a proposed housing development to the north-west of Overstone, Northamptonshire (SP 804 674). A programme of 259 trenches was undertaken across the site to ground-truth a previous phase of geophysical survey and assess the archaeological potential of the site. The evaluation confirmed the presence of archaeological remains in areas identified on the geophysical survey. The results of the evaluation corresponded well with the mapped features, whilst other features were found to match areas of geological variations. Undated ditches were also identified within areas not highlighted in the survey. The remains of a potential linear round barrow cemetery were found in the southern corner of the site. Three potential barrows were identified within the geophysical survey; one was confirmed through trenching, no traces of the second barrow could be found and third was not investigate due to the presence of overhead power cables. No central burials or buried soils were found associated with the barrow remains, which had been ploughed flat. Bronze Age pottery and charred cereal grains recovered from the ditch fills, indicated later cultivation of the surrounding fields, potential from the middlelate Bronze Age through to the Roman period. As series of undated fieldsystem ditches were also identified in the fields to the west and north-east of the site. A middle-late Iron-Age enclosed farmstead was found in the south-east of the site. This contained a concentration of features including pits, postholes and enclosure ditches that contained a small assemblage of pottery, animal bone and burnt stone. Charred cereal grains from the ditch fills indicate the enclosure was domestic in nature and was surrounded by cultivated fields. A potential un-urned cremation was also identified just outside of the enclosure to the north-east. Evidence of fieldsystem ditches were also identified in fields 2, 3 and 7. A Roman ditch was also identified to the west of the site within field 1. No Saxon activity was identified on the site, but the surrounding area has produced a wealth of both settlement and burial activity from this period. Evidence from the site of Overstone Leys, just to the south of the site, indicates early Saxon burials and settlement activity associated with the barrow cemetery. It is possible this activity may extend into the site area, focused on the continuation of the cemetery. Medieval and early post-medieval ridge and furrow cultivation was recorded across the site during the evaluation. The furrows are typically aligned northwest to south-east, at 5m to 8m intervals, and often exhibit gentle S-curves rather than running perfectly straight. Historic mapping indicates that the site has largely continued in agricultural use until the present-day. Based on the results of the evaluation, two main areas of significant archaeological activity were identified; around the barrow and ditches in field 4 and the rectangular enclosure/cremation in field 5. Less dense areas of undated field ditches were also identified within fields 2, 3, 7 and 8. The geophysical mapping and the trenching is believed to provide a good indicator as to the areas of archaeological potential.