SNN113144 - Land east of Buckingham Road, Deanshanger, Northamptonshire: Archaeological evaluation

In October 2021, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation of land east of Buckingham Road, Deanshanger, Northamptonshire, at the request of Orion Heritage, acting on behalf of Catesby Development Land Ltd. A total of 45 trenches were excavated across the 12.48ha site, primarily positioned to investigate anomalies of probable and possible archaeological origin identified by a preceding geophysical survey. A number of linear geophysical anomalies were confirmed as historic field boundaries and remains of ridge and furrow cultivation. Two distinct furlongs were encountered, with furrows running on north-east/south-west alignments in the western portion of the Site, and on northwest/south-east alignments in the eastern part. Along the northern edge of the Site, evidence was encountered for the rerouting and straightening of a small stream during the late 19th or early 20th century, which now forms the northern field boundary. This change is clearly illustrated on historic mapping and the line of the former stream bed was also identified by the preceding geophysical survey. A small number of undated, possibly earlier archaeological features were also encountered, comprising possible field or enclosure boundary ditches and several small pits or postholes. That these features were undated suggests the Site always formed part of the wider agricultural hinterland, being situated at a distance from any settlement focus and not accumulating or being used for the deliberate dumping of domestic rubbish or material derived from agricultural manuring.