SNN117148 - PURY END QUARRY EXTENSION, ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELDWALKING REPORT

Wardell Armstrong LLP (WA) was commissioned by the client, Heritage Quarry Group, to undertake an archaeological fieldwalking survey at Pury End, Towcester, West Northamptonshire, NN12 7NX, centred at National Grid Reference (NGR): SP 70960 46431. The fieldwalking survey was required as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment and was undertaken in accordance with a written scheme of investigation (WSI) produced in response to advice given by Liz Mordue, Lead Planning Archaeologist for North Northamptonshire Council, acting as the archaeological planning advisor on behalf of West Northamptonshire Council. The archaeological work, which comprised a fieldwalking survey of the entire Site was undertaken over two days between the 23rd and the 24th of September 2024. The investigation recovered a small amount of post medieval pottery: the assemblage was recovered from the track towards the A5, potentially indicating incidental discard along the road, but was more likely the result of post medieval manuring. The lack of artefactual material recovered was due to the fact that the Site had not been ploughed prior to the fieldwork taking place; the fieldwork was carried out despite the less-than-ideal conditions, due to uncertainty about whether or not the Site will be ploughed again prior to the proposed extension of Pury End Quarry. The lack of artefactual evidence pre-dating the post medieval period may also be influenced by the presence of the large post medieval quarry pit observed within LiDAR data and the geophysical survey results. This occupies much of the east and southeastern side of the Site and has likely truncated earlier archaeological remains. The results of this survey, and the geophysical surveys undertaken by MOLA, will be used to develop a trial trenching strategy, in consultation with the Lead Planning Archaeologist.