SNN112699 - AWH Interim Report for Trial Trench Evaluation at Land to the West of Culworth Grounds, Culworth and Lower Thorpe North Cutting

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Type Report
Title AWH Interim Report for Trial Trench Evaluation at Land to the West of Culworth Grounds, Culworth and Lower Thorpe North Cutting
Author/Originator
Date/Year 2020
SMR Input Date (use for label searches) 01/10/2021

Abstract/Summary

An archaeological trial trench evaluation was undertaken by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd at Land to the West of Culworth Grounds, Culworth and Lower Thorpe North Cutting, Northamptonshire. The site code allocated for the works was 1C18WCUTT. The site is located within land parcel C31010 in the county of Northamptonshire, in the parish of Culworth. The land parcel is located within the Greatworth to Lower Boddington Community Forum Area (CFA 15) in an area of identified prehistoric interest on the western slopes of Culworth Hill to the north-west of the hamlet of Lower Thorpe. The eastern edge of the Registered Battlefield of Edgcote (1469) lies c. 170m to the west of the Site on the lower slopes of the hill. A total of 54 trenches were excavated. Of these, 5 revealed the presence of archaeological features that included ditches, and postholes. The fills of these features produced prehistoric ceramics and fragments of animal bone, although preservation of finds across the site was very poor. The trial trenching confirmed the presence of archaeological features identified as on a geophysical survey. Features included part of a D-shaped enclosure ditch in Trenches 016 and 017 and two ditches in Trench 015relating to a rectilinear enclosure. Ditches in Trenches 010 and 039 were not previously identified by geophysical survey. Neither ditch contained any finds. Topsoil and subsoil across site varied in depth but was constant in type. Variations in depth were due to environmental and agricultural factors, with trenches on the hilltop being typically shallower than those on the hill side or in the valley. Evidence of deep ploughing was recorded across site with some plough scars surviving up to 0.50m below the plough soil.Varying depths of colluvium were recorded in all trenches located off of the hilltop and at least three large run-off channels were encountered; one in Field 22 and two in Field 26. Although not archaeological, these channels might help to understand the use of the land in terms of agriculture and domestic settlement.

External Links (0)

Description

Digital copy only

Location

NCC Archives Service, Heritage Team HER Library

Referenced Monuments (1)

  • Possible Prehistoric Settlement, Culworth Grounds (Monument)

Referenced Events (2)

  • HS2: Land to the west of Culworth Grounds, 2020 (Trial trench) (Ref: Site Code: 1C18WCUTT)
  • HS2: Land to the west of Culworth Grounds, 2021 (Excavation) (Ref: Site Code: 1C20WCUAR)

Record last edited

Oct 1 2021 11:47AM

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