SNN115532 - The Rushden Gateway, Land off Northampton Road, Rushden, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Trial Trenching

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Type Report
Title The Rushden Gateway, Land off Northampton Road, Rushden, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Trial Trenching
Author/Originator
Date/Year 2019
SMR Input Date (use for label searches) 18/10/2023

Abstract/Summary

This report outlines the results of an archaeological trial trench evaluation undertaken by Witham Archaeology at land off Northampton Road, Rushden, Northamptonshire. The project was commissioned by Ashfield Land Developments in compliance with a condition of planning permission relating to the proposed construction of an employment led mixed use scheme. Previous archaeological work in the surrounding area had revealed a possible prehistoric inhumation, unstratified prehistoric flint, iron age pits, a Romano British trackway and an unstratified possible eeltrap weight of late Saxon or medieval date. The current investigations revealed twelve pits mostly undated but including one which produced 11th to 12th century pottery dating to a period when the site was part of the open field system (Hall and Harding 1985) and its possibly the result of some agricultural activity. Twenty-eight linear type features, possibly field boundaries were also recorded, some of these produced sparse quantities of post medieval pottery, Ceramic Building Material and a 17th century fragment of a clay pipe. Ditches [3712], [3804] and [3906] which seem to align with each other, and Ditch [3904], correspond to two parallel linear anomalies shown by geophysical survey (Appendix F). The finds recovered from fills of these features were of post medieval dating. Other linear features seem to align to some degree to field boundaries extant on the site or which are shown on OS maps from 1896, 1899 and 1929, where some could be the result of agricultural activities or bioturbation. The field boundaries revealed on site probably date to the enclosure processes that started in the late 18th century in the open fields of Rushden (Hall and Harding 1985). Unstratified post medieval pottery fragments, a post medieval silver halfcrown, a likely post medievalcopper alloy halfpenny, and post medieval buttons were also recovered and other miscellaneous metal finds were recovered during a metal detecting exercise during the evaluation. Although prehistoric and roman archaeological sites are known in the areas surrounding the site, no evidence was recovered for the late prehistoric or roman periods. Seven flint finds were also recovered, from trenches located on the north part of site, evidence for human transient presence on site and near the site from possibly the early palaeolithic to the neolithic, but it seems unlikely that any of these finds are in situ or are part of a concentrated scatter due to its thinly sparse scattering through a wide part of the site. Environmental samples taken from the excavated deposits were mostly devoid of archaeologically significant finds, and produced no evidence supporting domestic or intensive occupation on site. Furthermore, no evidence was also found for the medieval or post medieval mill mentioned in the Heritage Statement (Trimble 2016).

External Links (0)

Description

Digital copy only

Location

WNC Archives and Heritage Service HER Library

Referenced Monuments (0)

Referenced Events (1)

  • Rushden Gateway, 2019 (Trial trench) (Ref: Site code: RDNR19)

Record last edited

Oct 18 2023 10:41AM

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