SNN112199 - A Romano-British Settlement at West Haddon, Northamptonshire, 2005

Field survey and subsequent trail trenching undertaken in 1997/8 had identified archaeological remains relating to an early Romano-British settlement located to the south-east of Village Farm (NGR SP 6284 7243). In February 2005 Northamptonshire Archaeology was commissioned by Atkins Heritage to undertake an open area excavation of this settlement and a further series of watching briefs in conjunction with the West Haddon Bypass road scheme. Excavation commenced on 28 February 2005 with watching briefs continuing until early June. An area of c 0.9 hectares was initially subjected to full archaeological excavation prior to construction commencing with a further c 0.15 hectares being excavated as a result of the watching brief. The earliest evidence of occupation was a large ring ditch subsequently truncated by a sinuous gully which appears to define a large enclosure of probable Iron Age date. These features were overlain by the Romano-British settlement which comprised of a series of sub-rectangular enclosures set out either side of a trackway. Evidence for a small rectangular timber building, possible roundhouses, stock pens and a flue feeding a corn-drier or similar feature was found. The track-side settlement dates from the late 1st century, reached its zenith in the late 2nd and had been abandoned by the mid 4th century.