SNN116689 - Fieldwork Report for Construction Integrated Recording at C31072 Blackgrounds Farm Northamptonshire

Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd was commissioned to undertake Construction Integrated Recording (CIR) works at Backgrounds Farm (CrlD: C31072; site code 1.1.1 1C21BLCCI) located in Northamptonshire, to the south-east of Blackgrounds Roman settlement, spanning the floodplain of the Spinney Brook, a small tributary to the River Cherwell. 1.1.2 The works were undertaken in advance of Phase One of High Speed Two (HS2) in Northamptonshire, in order to assess further the archaeological potential of the site as shown by previous archaeological recording conducted in 2021-2022. During these earlier works the remains of a large and complex Iron Age and Romano-British settlement were identified (1MC12-EKF-EV-REP-CS10-000256). The 2022-2023 programme of works focused on investigation of possible riverside structures and further remains at risk of damage or destruction by works related to the construction of a permanent culvert. The nature of the proposed construction works was such that any archaeology would be fully destroyed in the process of completing them. 1.1.3 The CIR yielded significant contributing information for the GWSI: Historic Environment Research and Delivery Strategy (HERDS) Objectives (HS2-HS2-EV-STR000-000015) most importantly confirming the absence of a Roman causeway or bridge running over the Spinney with no associated wooden or stone structures present. The principal identified features comprised a series of Roman structures, surfaces and cut features representing the southern outskirts of the Blackgrounds Roman settlement. 1.1.4 The CIR at Blackgrounds Farm followed the plan and methodologies set out in the location specific written scheme of investigation (LSWSI) (1MC12-EKF-EV-REP-CS10-000107) which was prepared in accordance with the standards and guidance provided by the GWSI: HERDS (HS2-HS2-EV-STR-000-000015), the Route-wide Project Plan for Archaeological monitoring and Construction Integrated Recording (1EW03-FUS-EVREP-C000-009812), the Technical Standards for Specification for historic environment project plans and location specific written schemes of investigation (HS2-HS2-EVSTD-000-000036), Specification for Historic Environment Investigations (HS2-HS2-EV-STD-000-000035), Technical Standards for Historic Environment Physical Archive Procedure (HS2-HS2-EV-STD-000-000039) and Technical Standards for Historic Environment Digital Data Management and Archiving Procedure (HS2-HS2-EV-STD000-000040). All works were undertaken in line with current industry best practice andguidance as set out in the Code of Conduct (CIfA 2022a) Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Excavation (CIfA 2020a), Toolkit for Selecting Archaeological Archives (CIfA 2022b), Toolkit for Specialist Reporting (CIfA 2021) and Standard and Guidance for the Creation, Compilation, Transfer and Deposition of Archaeological Archives (CIfA 2020b).