SNN112755 - Land West of the A43, near Moulton, Northampton Detailed Gradiometer Survey Report

A detailed gradiometer survey was conducted over land west of the A43, near Moulton, Northamptonshire (centred on NGR 478855 265565). The project was commissioned by Elliott Group Ltd with the aim of establishing the presence, or otherwise, and nature of detectable archaeological features in support of a planning application for the development of the site. The site comprises arable fields located to the north of the city of Northampton covering an area of 9.9 ha. The geophysical survey was undertaken on 29 – 30 April 2021 and has demonstrated the presence of a number of anomalies of potential archaeological interest. An arrangement of rectilinear ditches indicates an agrarian system. This appears to be earlier than the medieval/post-medieval ridge and furrow across the site. A possible ring ditch has been identified at the southern part of the survey. If present, the feature has been heavily truncated by ridge and furrow. The origin of the feature cannot be determined based on the geophysical data alone. It is identified close to an area of geological variation and could be natural in origin. Three larger pit features that resemble possible sunken feature buildings have been identified. They could be related to the Saxon presence in the area; however, this interpretation is tentative at best and further investigations would be required to confirm it. Evidence for material extraction is present in the east and north-east of the site, which corresponds with local topography and 19th century mapping. This is likely associated with the construction of the adjacent road. Several pit-like anomalies were identified throughout the site that could be archaeological in origin. However, they could equally indicate natural pitting in the underlying geological deposits.