SNN44028 - Grange Park, Courteenhall, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

In December 1997 and January 1998 Cotswold Archaeological Trust carried out an archaeological evaluation on land at Grange Park, Courteenhall, Northamptonshire, following an earlier desk-based assessment, and geophysical and fieldwalking surveys. This earlier work suggested the existence of four enclosure complexes, thought to be of late Iron Age/Romano-British date on the basis of shape and form, together with three potential Saxon sites. A total of 40 trenches were excavated. Those excavated in Enclosure Complexes 1-4 confirmed the results of the geophysical survey. In addition, the pottery recovered from Enclosure Complexes 1 and 2 indicates that they were of at least two phases, namely mid-late Iron Age and early Romano-British. Enclosure Complexes 3 and 4 appeared to be solely of mid-late Iron Age date. Three of the Enclosure Complexes were aligned alongside ditched trackways and all are probably small-scale agricultural settlements. Very few archaeological features were found within potential Saxon Sites 1 and 2, although it is possible that any archaeological signs of occupation lie outside of the area targeted for evaluation. However, a concentration of several undated pits and ditches were found in Saxon Site 3. Given the quantity of Saxon pottery previously recovered in this area from fieldwalking, it is reasonable to suggest that these features are also of Saxon date. In addition early-mid Saxon pottery was recovered from two features in Enclosure Complex 2, indicating Saxon occupation of a former Iron Age and Romano-British site.