SNN115699 - Digital Archive from an Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation at Rushden Lakes, Rushden, Northamptonshire 2017

This digital archive contains images, report, site records, spreadsheets and CAD from two phases of trial trench evaluation on land within Ditchford Reserve Local Wildlife Site (LWS) to the west of the Rushden Lakes development north-west of Rushden, Northamptonshire (SP 93390 67800). The work was undertaken by Oxford Archaeology (OA),Between 24th April and 24th August 2017. The initial evaluation revealed a variety of geological deposits, reflecting the location of the site at the interface between the solid and superficial geology at the edge of the floodplain. A number of possible features with very sterile sandy fills were identified but, where sample excavation took place, were predominantly interpreted as being of probable geological origin. A number of these were more regular in plan and profile and may have represented ditches, although no artefactual material was present beyond the topsoil interface with the feature fills. The deposits that filled the features were also very similar in composition to the geological deposits. A small assemblage of worked flint artefacts was present within two of the trenches indicating prehistoric activity at this location. However, the association between these artefacts and the possible features remains unclear. A number of modern field drains were identified, one of which appeared to be draining from a low-lying area into the reed marsh to the north. Later in the second phase a 50-trench evaluation was undertaken on arable farmland to the north of Rushden, Northamptonshire to inform on the archaeological potential within the investigation area. The Northamptonshire Historic Environment Record reported the presence of a prehistoric settlement in the western half of the evaluation area. This was corroborated by geophysical survey which provided greater resolution of the settlement, increasing our understanding of its limits and layout. The evaluation established the presence and survival of several archaeological features associated with the settlement and provided dating evidence which placed it in the middle-late Iron Age, between the mid-3rd century and the late 1st century BC. Further archaeological features, consisting of a few ditches and a pit, were encountered in the far eastern part of the evaluation area. Little could be discerned of their character and function, though the recovery of a small amount of Roman pottery suggests that they may have been features of this date. The geophysical survey also identified ridge and furrow in the western half of the evaluation area, along with signs of modern disturbance and services. No evidence of any other archaeological features was established by the evaluation. The route of a disused railway line, seen on historic maps, defines the northern boundary to the evaluation area. Evaluation trenches in this area encountered made-up ground relating to this former embankment.