SNN114845 - Archaeological Evaluation Report: Geophysical survey by magnetometry and topographical survey on land off Buxton Drive, Desborough, Northamptonshire

Avant Homes commissioned Allen Archaeology Limited to undertake a geophysical survey using magnetometry and an earthwork survey on land off Buxton Drive, Desborough, Northamptonshire, as a condition of planning consent for a residential development. The site lies within an area of archaeological interest, with activity from the prehistoric through to the post-medieval period located close to the site. Medieval activity, represented by extensive ridge and furrow, is clearly visible within the western half of the site. The geophysical survey clearly revealed ridge and furrow cultivation across both fields, aligned northeast to southwest in the western field and roughly northwest to southeast through the eastern field. The potential hollow way banks identified in the earthwork survey were also slightly more prominent within the survey than the ridges within the rest of the field. The modern cultivation, likely potatoes, was also seen within the results in the eastern field, as well as negative linear features likely representing modern activity. A pair of potential positive features within the eastern field could represent ditches either side of a trackway, or possibly drainage features. The earthwork survey identified and recorded the ridge and furrow earthwork features within the western field. The survey also identified more prominent banks, aligned with the ridge and furrow, towards the southeast end of the field which may relate to a former hollow way.