SNN116629 - Post-Excavation Assessment Report for Archaeological Recording at West of Culworth, AC310 Assessment Report for Archaeological Recording at West of Culworth, AC310

An archaeological investigation, involving geophysical survey, metal-detecting, and archaeological excavation was carried out at land west of Culworth Grounds Farm (the Site), Northamptonshire (Fusion GIS ID: C31057). The intrusive archaeological fieldwork took place as part of the construction land requirements for the enabling and subsequent main works for HS2 Phase One. The intrusive archaeological works comprised a programme of trial trenching undertaken between 21st July 2020 and 24th August 2020 (1EW03-FUS-EV-REP-CS07_CL26-008133) and a phase of mitigation work between 15th March and 27th April 2021 (1EW03-FUS_MHI-EV-REP-CS07_CL26-000020).The area of the archaeological mitigation covered by this report is a parcel of land measuring 0.22ha (Figure 1). The land parcel is located within the Greatworth to Lower Boddington (GLB) Community Forum Area (CFA15). The mitigation area is within a single landholding –NN272059. During trial trenching undertaken in 2020, targeting both previously identified geophysical anomalies and a sample of blank areas across the Site, features of archaeological interest were identified. These included the western edge of a D-shaped enclosure and associated linear features (1EW03-FUS-EV-REP-CS07_CL26-008133). Consistent with the previous geophysical survey and trial trenching work, the archaeological mitigation in 2021 confirmed the presence of a substantial D-shaped enclosure, encompassing an area of 0.6ha. Based on current artefactual evidence and radiocarbon dating the enclosure dates to the middle Iron Age (400-100 BC). Previous geophysical survey of the Site suggests this enclosure is one of several, probably intercutting enclosures, with a sequence of three rectilinear enclosures identified to the east of the site boundary (C252-ETM-EV-REP-020-00152_P03).As noted in the Generic Written Scheme of Investigation: Historic Environment Research and Delivery Strategy (GWSI: HERDS) resource these enclosures form part of a wider archaeological landscape (HS2-Hs2-EV-STR-000-000015). Within the circuit of the D-shaped enclosure ditch, several shallow pits and two large pit features were recorded. The latter probably represent the remains of storage pits, a common feature on Iron Age sites. A further section of a shallow ditch terminated outside the enclosure (Figure 2). This report presents the results of the programme of Post-Excavation Assessment (PXA) following on from the initial interim report (1EW03-FUS_MHI-EV-REP-CS07_CL26-000020). The archaeological findings, as well as the assessment of the environmental and artefactual remains, are presented in the following report. The state of the physical and digital archive is also outlined alongside detailed appendices containing the site registers and PXA data tables