SNN112424 - M1dway J16, Northamptonshire: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design

This document comprises a post-excavation assessment and updated project design for a programme of archaeological excavation undertaken by Oxford Archaeology at the site of a mixed residential and commercial development at M1dway Junction 16, Harpole, Northamptonshire. The location was of particular significance for its proximity to a Roman villa that lies immediately adjacent to the north. The archaeological mitigation strategy comprised five excavation areas where buried features identified by a geophysical survey and trial-trench evaluation would be impacted by intrusive groundworks associated with the development. During the excavation it became apparent that archaeological features were being exposed by stripping within the preservation area between Areas 3 and 4, and consequently a watching brief was undertaken in this area. The earliest archaeological remains comprised a flint scatter of Mesolithic date in Area 4. The same excavation area also uncovered parts of settlements dating from the late Bronze Age/early Iron Age and the middle Iron Age. Also dating from the middle Iron Age was a linear boundary in Area 5, formed by a pit alignment constructed at right angles to the adjacent part of the River Nene. This boundary continued in use into the late Iron Age/early Roman period, when it formed the western limit of a field system. The landscape appears to have been completely reorganised during the 2nd century, probably representing the establishment of the villa. Although the main complex of villa buildings lay beyond the development area, the excavation uncovered a substantial part of the associated agricultural landscape, including complexes of fields and paddocks located on either side of a spring outwash channel. An area dedicated to crop processing was identified, where five corn-drying ovens were constructed as well as a threshing floor and stonelined tanks that may have been used for steeping grain to be used in making beer. The field systems developed and expanded over the course of the 3rd and 4th centuries, and an aisled building of probable agricultural function was constructed, as well as a building beside the spring channel that may have been a temple or mausoleum. In addition to the structural remains and artefacts, pollen, insects and waterlogged plant remains recovered from the spring channel can provide valuable evidence for the character of the contemporary landscape. The assessment presents the preliminary findings of the fieldwork, assesses the potential of the results to address research questions pertinent to current research agendas, and sets out the programme for analysis and dissemination. Given the quantity and character of the archaeological evidence excavated at the site, it is proposed that the results of the analysis should be published as an Oxford Archaeology Monograph.