SNN116471 - Strip, Map & Sample Excavation: Land to the rear of Nicholas Road, Irthlingborough, March 2024

This report details the results of a programme of Archaeological Strip. Map & Sample Excavation (SMSE) undertaken between September and October 2022 in connection with a proposed residential development with public open space and associated infrastructure on Land to the rear of Nicholas Road, Irthlingborough Northamptonshire (NGR: SP 94543 70099). The works were carried out on behalf of Orbit Homes Midlands response to condition 11 of the Planning Decision (Planning Ref.: 18/00945/OUT).The Site, which was located approximately 5km to the ENE of Wellingborough, measured c.42,000 sqm and occupied a triangular tract of farmland that sloped gently from W to E towards its boundary with a tributary of the river Nene. Two separate areas, recorded as A and B, were subject to SMSE, targeting features that were previously identified during a programme of Archaeological Evaluation; these measured c.1601 sqm and c.1316 sqm respectively.The excavations revealed evidence of human occupation on the Site from the middle to late prehistoric period, as represented by 27 Early to Late Bronze Age cremation burials within Area B, and an irregular rectangular-shaped enclosure of Middle/Late Iron Age date in Area A. The enclosure, which was located on a raised plateau, was associated with two further gullies that seemed to form the SW orientated entrance to another possible enclosure, and three pits or post-holes.While no features or deposits of Romano-British date were identified on the Site, pottery sherds, fragments of ceramic building material and a copper alloy coin of Constantine I (306-337 AD) were recovered from the subsoil, suggesting that activity of this period was occurring in the immediate vicinity.The next phase of activity was identified in Area B in close proximity to the cremation burials. This was represented by a sunken feature building (SFB) of early Anglo-Saxon date, which produced a large quantity of domestic debris and Small Finds that were mainly personal in nature or related to textile production. Two ditches of later medieval/post-medieval date were also encountered in Area A to the NE of the Iron Age enclosure