Land at Great Houghton, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Trial Trenching

The trial trenching was undertaken between 21st March and 21st June 2024. It comprised 106 x 1.8m-wide trial trenches (Figure 2); 104 of these were 50m long, Trench 2 was 44.7m (shortened due to the presence of tree canopies) and Trench 98 was 39m (shortened due to a tennis court and fencing). The investigation took place during an exceptionally wet spring, with surface flooding over much of the site and within the trial trenches, making both hand and mechanical excavation extremely difficult. Orion Heritage are gathering baseline information on behalf of their clients, in support of a forthcoming planning application. The proposed development area lies south of the village of Great Houghton, c. 5km south-east of Northampton town centre, centred on NGR SP 7910 5750. The Lead Planning Archaeologist for West Northamptonshire Council advised that a programme of trial trenching was required to enable proper consideration of the effect of the proposed development on any archaeological remains. This is in line with the National Planning Policy Framework (DLUHC 2023). Archaeological features (excluding furrows) were identified in 87 of the 106 trenches. Datable artefacts were recovered from 41 of the trenches, indicating activity mainly dating to the middle to late Iron Age, medieval, post-medieval and modern periods. In general, the results match those identified in the geophysical survey (Allen Archaeology 2023), although, as is common, additional smaller features were identified in the settlement areas, whilst some geophysical anomalies proved not to represent sub-surface features. Two areas of dense middle to late Iron Age settlement were identified in the northern and southern parts of the site, characterised primarily by interlinked enclosures and boundaries, along with a number of roundhouses, storage pits and postholes. There was evidence for field systems and trackways associated with, but peripheral to, the northern and southern settlements and in the west of the site. One trench contained two parallel ditches which are likely to represent the remains of a medieval or post-medieval windmill. Other medieval to post-medieval activity included furrows spread across the whole site, and a large area of quarrying in the north of the site. A number of features and deposits were also revealed which yielded no datable artefacts, mainly in the south-eastern and western parts of site. Wherever possible, these have been assigned to a chronological period based on their correspondence with geophysical anomalies, or their physical relationship with or similarity to other, more securely dated archaeological remains. Investigation of the middle to Iron Age settlements has the potential to significantly enhance our knowledge of this period, and therefore has the potential to contribute to several local and regional research aims.