SNN117224 - Wantage Farm, Moulton, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation Report

Oxford Archaeology (OA) was commissioned by CDS Group to undertake an archaeological evaluation of the site of a proposed development at grid reference 478620 265530, henceforth known as the site. The archaeological scope comprised the excavation of 27 trial trenches measuring 50m by 1.8m, comprising a 3.5% sample of the 6.8ha development. The trenches were targeted to investigate the previous geophysical survey. Trench 14 was extended to explore the extent of a possible pit alignment. A previous geophysical survey (MOLA 2024) identified a long boundary. This was present in Trenches 4, 7, 14, 24 and 25. In Trench 14 it changed from a linear feature to a pit alignment. Several of the discrete features appearing on the geophysical survey appeared to be real, including those in Trench 1 and in Trench 24. The most notable archaeological find was a large pit in Trench 8 which produced a significant assemblage of pottery and a loom weight dated to the middle Iron Age. The assemblage of pottery and the presence of a charcoal-rich deposit indicated the presence of domestic and potentially industrial activity within the area. To the west of the pit was a group of five postholes potentially related to a structure. The area around Trench 8 has the highest archaeological significance within the site, and, although the boundary is undated, it is thought to date from a similar period to the activity located within the trench. The site had been heavily farmed, and it is reasonable to assume that a significant proportion of the archaeology has been truncated by ploughing. Nevertheless, the site sits within a landscape of significant prehistoric, Roman, and early medieval archaeological remains so further mitigation may be required in advance of development.