SNN115402 - Archaeological evaluation report: Geophysical survey by magnetometry on land off Hemington Road, Barnwell, Northamptonshire

Mr Derek Roberts, on behalf of the Middle Nene Archaeological Group, commissioned Allen Archaeology Limited to undertake a geophysical survey using magnetometry on land off Hemington Road, Barnwell, Northamptonshire to help inform future excavations for a community project. The site was discovered in the 1950’s and 60’s as a result of a high density of surface finds. The site was subsequently excavated by the Middle Nene Archaeological Group in 1973 and 1985-8, which focussed on an aisled building with associated gated yards and a later bath suite. From these excavations it was suggested that occupation in the area extended from the 1st century through to the late Roman, with a singular four-posthole feature dated to the Saxon period. Cropmarks in the area suggest a site much larger than that already excavated. Features suggested as being prehistoric and Roman in date are visible extending to the north, south, east and west of the excavated area. The geophysical survey identified several areas of interest. In the north of the site are multiple curvilinear and linear features on a different alignment to those features to the south, potentially suggesting a different phase of activity from those features revealed in the earlier excavations. To the centre and southern end of the site are several rectilinear magnetic anomalies suggestive of multiple phases of dense occupation, very likely of Roman date. The geophysical survey appears to agree very well with the proposed location of the earlier excavation work and some of the features revealed then. The survey has helped identify several archaeological features that would likely prove very interesting targets for the Middle Nene Archaeological Group to excavate in future seasons.