SNN112254 - Multi-period remains at Warth Park Phase 3, Raunds, Northamptonshire: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design

Between November 2017 and June 2018 Oxford Archaeology East carried out a 12.2ha excavation on farmland off Meadow Lane, Raunds, Northamptonshire (SP 98183 72660) ahead of the Phase III construction of an industrial estate with associated amenities. The archaeological works revealed evidence for activity spanning the Early Neolithic to Middle Saxon periods. From at least the early 18th century the site has been under cultivation and has consequently suffered from the effects of continual ploughing since then, resulting in some features being highly truncated. Early Neolithic remains were categorised by the presence of the monumental double ditched enclosure recorded in the Northamptonshire Historic Environment Record (NHER) as Cotton Henge. A small number of Late Neolithic pits containing quantities of pottery and struck flint were also identified. Sparse Bronze Age remains in the form of a pit alignment, pit group and a Middle Bronze Age field system were revealed and it was notable that the inner ring of Cotton Henge was seemingly incorporated into this field system. A dense area of settlement remains, dating to the Early-Middle Iron Age transition, was recorded across the north-easternmost portion of the site, consisting of ring gullies, posthole structures and numerous storage pits. A large finds assemblage of pottery, animal bone, fired clay triangular weights and objects of worked stone were recovered from these features along with rich environmental remains. Romano-British activity dominated the site, with non-settlement, industrial and agrarian related remains encompassing the western half of the site. The features identified comprised ditches, pits and postholes, gravel quarrying, a cobbled trackway, pottery kiln, corn drier, five inhumations, a cremation and six stone lined wells. The wells were particularly notable for containing large finds assemblages including almost 8kg of pottery (complete and near-complete vessels were amongst the assemblage), animal bone (over 27kg) and at least 13 leather shoes from the lower, waterlogged fills. The most impressive waterlogged artefact consisted of a near life-sized carved wooden arm, believed to be a votive offering, crafted as a single object to be deposited. Low-level Anglo-Saxon remains in the form of six sunken-feature buildings (SFBs), a ditch and a small rectangular enclosure were also identified. Overall the archaeological works have identified remains spanning around five millennia, indicative of a widely exploited and managed landscape. The remains are likely to be related to an agricultural settlement, with associated industrial and funerary activity, linked to known settlement areas in the wider environs.