SNN115230 - Archaeological evaluation trial trenching, Ringstead Quarry, Raunds, Northamptonshire

During January 2012 Phoenix Consulting Archaeology Ltd carried out an archaeological trench evaluation across the site of a proposed quarry to the southeast of Ringstead Grange Farm, Raunds, Northamptonshire (NGR TL 980 740). The work was carried out on behalf of Mick George Ltd and forms part of an archaeological evaluation required to assess the presence, extent, nature and survival of archaeological features within the application area. A limited geophysical survey and trial trenching exercise was carried out across the site in 1990, as part of a previous application. Those works successfully identified a small Iron Age settlement to the east of Top Lodge. Prior to the current trenching exercise, a full geophysical survey had been carried out across the site, which further clarified the extent and morphology of the Iron Age settlement. It also identified occasional dispersed anomalies across other parts of the site. 44 trial trenches were excavated across the site in order to investigate the various geophysical anomalies, with a particular concentration in and around the area of the known Iron Age settlement. ‘Blank’ areas were also trenched in order to act as a control. Archaeological features were identified in 14 trenches. The focus of archaeology was c. 350m to the east of the redundant farm buildings of Top Lodge (trenches 12, 13 and 15 - 22), being in and around the previously identified Iron Age settlement. The majority of the identified archaeology was to the immediate south of a large boundary ditch that traversed the site on an NW-SE alignment. This was identified in trenches 12, 13, 15, 16 and 19. A ditch identified in trench 5 may have been a continuation of this feature, although it remains undated. Evidence for probable settlement enclosures were identified in trenches 13, 15, 17, 18, 21 and 22. The geophysical survey suggested that these were sub-rectangular in shape, although a circular feature was identified in trench 17. Several pits and ditches were also investigated in and around the enclosure arrangement, which are probably related. The pottery recovered from the excavated features suggests occupation during the early Iron Age period, with a possible abandonment in the middle Iron Age. Other artefacts recovered include animal bone, a single flint flake and some daub. The nature of the finds assemblage suggests a rural farming settlement characterised by rectangular and sub-circular enclosures, boundary ditches and probable hut circles. Outside of this main zone of activity very little archaeology was encountered. This confirmed the picture provided by the geophysical survey. A possible ring ditch (early Bronze Age?) was identified in trench 1 and undated ditches in trenches 9 and 29, the latter which related to a possible rectangular enclosure identified on the geophysical survey.