SNN43755 - A6 Rushden and Higham Ferrers Bypass Evaluation: Stage 2 Fieldwalking and Geophysical Survey

This report forms the second stage of Archaeological Evaluation of the proposed A6 Rushden to Higham Ferrers bypass route. It was undertaken by Northamptonshire Archaeology on behalf of the ighways Agency, from November 1996 to January 1997. A corridor of land 5.4km in length and 100m wide, was investigated by non-intrusive techniques comprising geophysical survey and fieldwalking. Four sites (Sites 1-4) had been previously identified in a Stage 1 desk top assessment lying within a 200m corridor, and a further two sites (Sites 5-6) lay close by. No evidence for Sites 1, 2, 5 and 6 was found in the Stage 2 work and they may lie entirely outside the proposed route. Evidence for Site 3 was recovered by both techniques. It appears to be a Romano-British settlement with associated field system. It may have an Iron Age antecedent. Only slight evidence of the Site was recovered in the form of small concentrations of Iron Age and Romano-British pottery. It may be the periphery of a settlement or it may represent intensive manuring of a contemporary field system. No new sites were discovered. Recommendations for further work are made.