SNN115701 - Images from an Archaeological Evaluation at 2 Main Road, Middleton Cheney, Northamptonshire, January 2019

This digital archive contains images from an archaeological evaluation, which was carried out by Groundworks Archaeology between 7th - 8th January 2019 prior to proposed development on land to the rear of 2 Main Road, Middleton Cheney, Northamptonshire. The evaluation involved the mechanical excavation under archaeological supervision of five 20m x 1.80m trenches. Where necessary, surfaces were hand cleaned for examination and recording and deposits observed were recorded on standard pro-forma recording sheets and a digital photographic record was maintained throughout the project . All work was carried out according to the agreed Written Scheme of Investigation and in accordance with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) standards. The evaluation demonstrated that a 20th century tennis court surface survived below the tarmac parking area and extends beyond the present tarmacked surface truncating deposits. However, two archaeological features were identified. Trench 1 revealed a narrow linear cut running along the southern side of the evaluation area; it was extremely narrow and deep and was likely machine excavated. The fill contained 20th century material and it may originally have been excavated as a service trench. Trench 3 revealed a more substantial feature, a roughly east-west aligned ditch which contained abraded Romano-British pottery and tile. An investigation within the plot lying directly to the north of the evaluation area identified three skeletons and 11th - 12th century ditches, interpreted as plot boundaries. The extremely abraded nature of the Romano-British pottery indicates a later date for ditch, and it is possible that this feature is associated with those identified to the north and therefore potentially 11th -12th century in origin.