Northamptonshire Archaeology

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGY

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

NOVEMBER 2003

A GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY AT

BUGBROOKE

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

2002-2003

STAFF

Project Manager Adrian Butler BSc MA AIFA Fieldwork Ian Fisher BSc, Peter Masters BA HND PIFA, Danny McAree MSc MBA Dip Arch PIFA, Jim Brown, Simon Pillar BSc Text and illustrations Ian Fisher

QUALITY CONTROL

Print name Signed Date

Checked by Adrian Butler November 2003

Verified by Andy Chapman November 2003

Approved by November 2003

CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION 1

2 TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY 1

3 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND 1

4 METHOD 2

5 SURVEY RESULTS 2

6 CONCLUSION 3

BIBLIOGRAPHY 3

Figures Fig 1 Site Location Fig 2 Gradiometer Survey Results 1:2500 Fig 3 Gradiometer Survey Results with Interpretation 1:2500

A GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY AT BUGBROOKE

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, 2002-2003

ABSTRACT

Geophysical survey was undertaken on land with a combined area of approximately 2.4 ha at Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire between July 2002 and October 2003. Gradiometer survey was carried out and revealed a series of curvilinear and rectilinear enclosures from at least two phases of activity potentially of Iron Age and Roman date. Furrows of former ridge and furrow cultivation were also detected.

1 INTRODUCTION

Northamptonshire Archaeology conducted geophysical survey on an area of land with a combined area of approximately 2.4 ha at Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire (NGR ... Fig 1). The work (supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund) was undertaken on behalf of Stephen Young of University College Northampton. The aim of the work was to identify the nature of any buried archaeological remains.

2 TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY

The parish of Bugbrooke covers 910 ha of land on the south side of the river Nene that forms its short north boundary (RCHM 1982). The solid geology of Bugbrooke is mainly Clay (British Geological Survey, England and Wales Sheet 202, 1969). The site is flat and at the time of survey was used for arable agriculture. Area 1 had been rolled, and Area 2 was set-aside.

3 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

In Bugbrook archaeological remains of prehistoric through to medieval date have been discovered. Prehistoric artefacts include a polished stone axe of group VI, a quartzite pebble with an hourglass perforation-possibly a mace, and a large saddle quern (Moore 1978). Enclosures and ditches have also been found in the south of the parish. A Roman settlement is documented in the south of the parish by a scatter of pottery, fragments of roof tile and building stone. Fishponds in the north of the parish and ridge and furrow across the whole parish are evidence for activity in the medieval period (RCHM 1982).

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGY 1 of 3 BUGBROOKE, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

4 METHOD

All fieldwork was in accordance with English Heritage Guidelines (EH 1995).

GRADIOMETER SURVEY

The gradiometer survey was undertaken using a Geoscan Research FM36 Fluxgate Gradiometer. A total of 36 separate 20m x 20m (Area 1) and 12 separate 30m x 30m (Area 2) grid-squares were surveyed in detail. Each grid-square was traversed at rapid walking pace via parallel (Area 1) and zigzag (Area 2) traverses spaced at 1m intervals. A sample trigger recorded readings every 0.25m along the traverse. At the end of each grid the sensor alignment was checked and a tilt error of below +/-2nT per +/-2º tilt was maintained.

The data were analysed using Geoplot 3.0 software. Low (negative) magnetism is shown as white and high (positive) magnetism as black in the resultant greyscale plots. The data were processed using an algorithm to remove magnetic spikes, thereby reducing extreme readings sometimes caused by stray iron fragments and spurious effects due to the inherent magnetism of soils. The ‘Zero Mean Traverse’ algorithm was used in order to remove the variation between adjacent traverses. The data from area 2 was adjusted to remove stagger in the data along occasional traverses. No other processing functions were employed. The processed data is presented here in the form of greyscale plots (Figs 2 and 3).

5 SURVEY RESULTS

The gradiometer survey identified numerous positive magnetic anomalies. In Area 1 the majority of the anomalies would appear to reflect buried ditches forming a series of approximately twelve rectangular and curvilinear enclosures. These evidently intercut and represent at least two phases of development. For ease of reference in Figure 3, these enclosures have been colour divided into rectilinear (blue) and curvilinear (red) enclosures and linear features (yellow). A further possible circular enclosure has been detected on the south-eastern edge of the survey area. Linear positive anomalies, probably ditches, have also been detected to the south of the survey area. Parallel positive magnetic bands across the survey area probably reflect medieval furrows.

The survey in Area 2 identified 2 curvi-linear anomalies that represent buried ditches. The survey also identified probable ridge and furrow cultivation.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGY Page 2 of 3 BUGBROOKE, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

6 CONCLUSION

Fluxgate gradiometer survey of a 2.4ha area located large number magnetic anomalies that are likely to represent buried ditched enclosures. The enclosures appear to intercut. Morphologically they appear likely to represent former Iron Age or Roman settlement and represent at least two phases of development. Several linear anomalies reflecting former ditches have also been discovered possibly relating to the enclosures or represent further enclosures extending southwards. Relict furrows of former ridge and furrow ploughing were detected over the entire site, suggesting a possible high degree of truncation in earlier archaeological features.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

English Heritage 1995 Geophysical Survey in Archaeological Field Evaluation, Research and Professional Services Guideline, 1

Moore, W R G, 1978 Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1977, Northamptonshire Archaeology, 13, 178

RCHM 1982 An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in the County Of Northampton, Volume IV: Archaeological Sites in South-West Northamptonshire, Royal Commission On Historical Monuments England

Northamptonshire Archaeology A service of Northamptonshire County Council November 2003

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGY Page 3 of 3 Northamptonshire NORTHAMPTON

BUGBROOKE

4525 S School B E 5 B 452 R 85.4m C L IL ROAD H GBURY TTS KISLIN BU Manor Farm 680 690 Garage 83.1m

he Homestead

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B S

AD R Bugbrooke S RO O VITT A LE D Primary School n rai GP D

Y D RWA OA THE S R SMI ain VITT Dr Shelter LE

9.0m 83.0m Surgery A L M WAY O S T R N E k N D ain GO Dr G C A R W L E I M S Bugbrooke E C E G N R T O E V rd S E CLO B CH E y BEE E C RIVE H D D A C E H L T DS S I O N G KLA E S OA M H O E H

E L I El Sub Sta E BAD N T GE OSE K R SE MAPLE CL S CLO W

A Y S DOCK E PAD Bugbrooke PO Chapel OAKLANDS

A E

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(PH) Y RG EO G 84.1m G E O R G E E V S O R C G L H S O A S E

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la 84.9m r d E e AN E n L S e S O n E CL IM i N S R a A r RE LG I D OO LB P k M ac Track Tr D YAR NS OW M BR E hes A D 93.4m W

A Y 92.3m

84.2m N C O O IS 89.2m RR U A R H T

th B a E M P N LA 9 S 1 IM .5 R 1 LG m PI Issues

m Club BM 84.45m 4.5 8 NE LA Cricket Ground D k 83.7m c N a U r Pond O T P C A M P Water H IL Issues Camp L Playing Field Pol Ho Bowling Green Pavilion Farm Camp Bowling Green Cricket Pavilion Ground Farm El Sub Sta Pond E N A L D Water 570 N U O 89.3m P Playing Field T IB B S W A Y

C A M P H I LL Nursery Water E S O LB L C

P M k A ac C Tr Football Ground

89.7m

C Bugbrooke A M P H I LL

Playing Fields

Water

91.1m k c ra T

Track

BM 91.11m

Issues

Track GP

BM 90.85m 92.1m

91.9m Depot

90.2m g Path Water Water Towin Water Canal Union Grand

93.8m Water

Pond MP.75 Water Water SP 99.1m 93.5m Key Water

Track MP .5 G T r ow a in nd g P U a ni th on C an al 95.1m Area of Survey 95.6m

BM 90.96m

BM 94.96m 95.1m 90.2m

MP .25

Water Pond 95.8m Water Bugbrooke Downs 92.1m

Water Pond BM 99.76m Water

Overflow

101.8m Drain Based upon the Ordnance Survey mapping with the permissionIssues of the Controller Water Bugbrooke Downs

of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction89.9m Cattle Water MP 65 560Grid infringes Crown copyright and may leadSheep Dip to prosecution or civil proceedings. Pond Water To win g P Northamptonshire County Council Licence No. LA 076767. PublishedWater 2003. ath Lower Downes Farm SP Bugbrooke Downs Water Bugbrooke Downs G ra 90.2m Water nd U ni on C an al Cattle Anchor Farm Grid

131.4m MP .75

The House On The Hill

Fig 1 Site Location Scale 1:1250

Area 1

Area 2

Track

Magnetic Scale -3nT - +3nT white black N

This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Northamptonshire County Council: Licence No. LA 076767. Published 03/11/2003.

Fig 2 Gradiometer Survey Results Scale 1:1250

Area 1

Area 2

Track

Key Curvilinear Enclosure Rectilinear Enclosure Possible Rectlinear Enclosure Possible Curvilinear Enclosure Linear Feature Possible Linear Feature Ridge and Furrow N

Fig 3 Gradiometer Survey Results with Interpretation