SNN115905 - Archaeological mitigations on land between Courteenhall, Milton Malsor and Blisworth and Roade Bypass, Northamptonshire. Assessment Report and Updated Project Design

Archaeological mitigation was undertaken by MOLA Northampton on land to the south-west of the M1 between Courteenhall, Blisworth and Milton Malsor, Northamptonshire between May 2020 and June 2021. The works were carried out on behalf of RPS Consulting Ltd for Segro in advance of a Rail Freight Terminal and associated commercial infrastructure. Work was also undertaken on land at Roade in advance of a bypass as part of the wider Rail Freight development. Significant archaeological features were identified across the development area which c5km north to south by c1km east to west. Collectively 29 separate excavation areas were examined. The earliest activity comprised a pond or waterhole open in the middle Bronze Age and two late Bronze Age/early Iron Age pit alignments. A small area of early Iron Age is suggested in the Roade Bypass area and comprised a small collection of pottery dated as 600–400 BC recovered from later features. In contrast, in the middle to late Iron Age period widespread settlement activity was established across the whole landscape with several areas of settlement and associated livestock enclosures on both the higher ground to the west and lower flood plains to the south. During the late Iron Age/early Roman transitional period several of the Iron Age enclosures were modified, and the settlement appeared to have been completely abandoned. The focus of activity shifted south to an area bordered by a swale, where increased activity was observed with the enclosures being modified and maintained. On the higher ground to the west, livestock enclosures and droveways/trackways were spread across along a wide ridge with extensive views to the east and west. During the Roman period, the higher ground to the west was utilised for crops with formalised cultivation trenches that benefitted from a south sloping aspect. Many of the livestock enclosures were maintained and several features were located in an area of small industry in an area near the swale. Towards the end of the Roman period the landscape was abandoned, with no activity identified beyond the 4th century AD. There was little evidence of activity until post-medieval land use in the form of ridge and furrow and field boundary ditches, which were established across the development area.