SNN115181 - Kelmarsh Wind Farm, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Assessment

Archaeology Wales undertook archaeological investigations at Kelmarsh Wind Farm on land off Rectory Land, Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire (SP 72191 78584) between the 23rd of February 2015 to the 29th of October 2015. The archaeological work was required to mitigate the impact of a windfarm development by Blue Energy Ltd. The work complied with the methodology set out in the Scheme of Archaeological Works (AMEC 2014) which was prepared in response to Condition 13 of Daventry District Council planning application (Planning Application No. DA/2010/0100) and with a Written Scheme of Investigation (Archaeology Wales 2015) approved by the County Archaeological Advisor at Northamptonshire County Council (henceforth CAA). The work consisted of a program of strip-map-record areas associated with turbine bases 1, 4 and 5 required to mitigate the probability of encountering Iron Age or Romano-British archaeological remains during the work in these particular areas. A program of archaeological watching brief on all groundworks taking place at the development site was also maintained. The investigations revealed two main foci of occupation at the location of Turbine 1 and 4. Excavations at Turbine 1 exposed two multiphase enclosures and a series of associated features dating to the Early to Middle Iron Age. A curvilinear ditch and a pit alignment were recovered from Turbine 4, dating to the Middle Iron Age. The strip-map-record at Turbine 5 showed some evidence of occupation in the very north of the area. The aim of this report is to present an Assessment the value of the Site Archive (artefacts, ecofacts and site records) that resulted from the archaeological investigations and hence to establish recommendations for Analysis and Publication. Each material type is assessed both in relation to its intrinsic value and its potential to produce a better understanding the site. Recommendations for analysis include further targeted study of: the site records, the small finds, the bone assemblage and the environmental samples. It is recommended that the results of these studies are published in a single site report, with contributions in specialist journals as appropriate.