Hanwood Park, Land East of Kettering Phase 2

Between Monday 1st September and Friday 24th October of 2020 Oxford Archaeology East conducted an evaluation of land to the east of Kettering. The area evaluated covered c.123.17ha, with 207 of a proposed 211 50m trenches excavated across several arable fields. The trenches were targeted to investigate anomalies previously identified via geophysical survey conducted in 2011.
Seven discrete areas of archaeological activity were identified, relating to activity from the Iron Age through to Anglo-Saxon periods. Features within these areas of activity largely corresponded with anomalies identified by the geophysical survey.
Of those areas, four were predominantly Middle to Late Iron Age in date (though residual pottery of Earlier Iron Age date was also found), and were domestic in character, possibly representing individual farmsteads, dominated by large enclosure ditches.
Two of the sites were of early to middle Roman date, with pottery assemblages dominated by domestic forms such as jars made of locally produced coarseware fabrics with small quantities of imported wares. Additionally, a copper alloy bracelet terminal with snake’s head decoration was recovered from a ditch.
The final, seventh, area of activity showed evidence of Middle Roman iron production and working, with finds including fragments of vitrified furnace lining, tap slag and other diagnostic elements of small-scale iron production. This area also produced evidence for early Anglo-Saxon occupation dating to the 5th to 7th centuries AD, including a possible a sunken-featured building.