SNN116531 - Land at Symmetry Park, Kettering, Northamptonshire: Post-excavation report

Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd conducted an open area excavation on land to the east of the A509 at Symmetry Park, Kettering, Northamptonshire, between the 28th of September and the 20th of October 2020. This work was commissioned by the Environmental Dimension Partnership on behalf of Tritax Symmetry in advance of the construction of warehousing, associated office space and infrastructure. The investigation identified a small number of archaeological features, primarily located in the southern part of the excavation area. This included Roman field boundary ditches and two smaller ditches, one of which contained a high concentration of near complete pottery which was dated to the early Roman period (late 1st to 2nd centuries AD). Modern disturbance, including wheel ruts in the southwestern part of the site and an area of made ground along the northwestern edge of the excavation, were probably associated with the construction of the A14 in the late 20th century AD. On the 20th of September 2021 a single geotechnical test pit was dug by the client within the excavation area ahead of construction works to define the extent of previously identified sand and gravel deposits. From the test pit, the remains of an aurochs skull and horns were recovered. Radiocarbon dating of the remains shows that the aurochs predates any human activity on site.