SNN112666 - Archaeological trial trenching at Thorpe Mandeville, Sulgrave Road, Thorpe Mandeville Cutting (AC310/5).

Over the course of the evaluation 121 trial trenches were excavated on the Site: 73 targeting geophysical anomalies and 48 trenches distributed across the remainder of the site. Archaeological features were recorded in only 34 of the trenches. Topsoil samples were collected from each trench in order to recover any residual artefacts. The majority of the archaeological evidence was represented by linear cut features, most of which had been identified by the geophysical survey carried out on the site prior to the evaluation. Two mid-late Iron Age enclosures were situated in the north-western and the south-western parts of the site. They were defined primarily by linear and curvilinear ditches with infrequent pits occurring within the enclosed areas. Based on the pottery evidence, they were quite likely contemporary, closely linked and potentially multi-phased. A third enclosure, situated in the north-eastern part of the site also evidenced by a pattern of ditches enclosing occasional pits, was dated to the early Roman period. A limited number of features potentially dated to the medieval period were recorded; these included a potential leat in the north, three furrows in the north-east, a possible parish boundary, a possible medieval field boundary and two parallel boundary ditches to the south-east, thought to be associated with a routeway. The latest period identified on the Site was post medieval, illustrated by three field boundary ditches. The majority of features did not contain any datable finds