SNN112308 - Archaeological evaluation report: Trial trenching on land off Stamford Road, Weldon, Northamptonshire

Allen Archaeology Limited was commissioned by the Jessop Consultancy to undertake an archaeological evaluation by trial trenching on land off Stamford Road, Weldon, Corby, Northamptonshire, in support of a proposed planning application for a residential development. The site lies within a rich area of archaeological remains with a possible Bronze Age barrow, Bronze Age earthworks and flint finds from the area. Weldon Roman villa, a Scheduled Monument is also very close to the proposed development area. Evidence for Saxon and medieval activity has also been recorded nearby. Four trenches were excavated during the works, measuring 1.6m wide and between 8 and 13.3m in length. The archaeological activity was limited to Trench 3, where evidence of terracing, cut into the sandstone bedrock was recorded. The terracing is likely to have been constructed and utilised for agricultural purposes to form level elongated fields. The date of the terracing remains inconclusive as the site was completely devoid of in-situ dating material. A very small assemblage of pottery sherds dating to the 10th to 15th centuries was recovered from the topsoil in Trench 2, however, this does not provide firm dating evidence for the terracing.