Archaeological Services and Consultancy Ltd have recently published their annual report for 2004, which has details of fieldwork in Northamptonshire.  This includes a salvage excavation and watching brief at Kings Sutton and a programme of geophysical survey and fieldwalking at Wakerley.  In addition to this, ASC have carried out a programme of historic building recording at St Edmund's Hospital in Northampton, a site evaluation at St James Road Northampton and a study of a former shoe factory at Rothwell.  Details of this and work undertaken in neighbouring counties can be found in the full version of the annual report which is available at the ASC website www.archaeological-services.co.uk

During 2004 an archaeological watching brief and salvage recording were undertaken at 16-18 Wales Street, Kings Sutton, Northamptonshire by Archaeological Services and Consultancy Ltd.  The scheme comprised a housing development on the north side of Wales Street and a flood alleviation scheme further to the north.

The excavation of service runs for the new houses was monitored, but no archaeological remains were observed.  The stripping of the footprint for the flood alleviation scheme was also monitored and significant archaeological remains were observed during the initial soil stripping.  A salvage excavation was mounted and a comparatively rare example of a middle Iron Age settlement was rapidly recorded, but the planning condition meant that only a limited programme of archaeological salvage was possible.  Accordingly, what was observed and recorded represented only the most obvious of archaeological features.

The site comprised enclosure ditches, a droveway, two possible circular buildings, pits, post-holes, gullies and a kiln/hearth.  A rubble spread, which probably formed the foundation for a 19th century building was also present.

In November 2004 ASC Ltd carried out a fieldwalking survey over 130ha of land in advance of quarrying to the west of Wakerley, Northamptonshire.  A light scatter of pottery ranging in date from the prehistoric to medieval period was identified in the northern part of the site, with two discernable concentrations towards the eastern side of the site.  A general spread of post 18th century pottery and tile was also identified, probably related to agricultural activities and rubbish tipping.  A light scatter of worked flint was also identified across the site.  Like the pottery some concentrations were recorded but none of the walked 20m stints produced more than two flints.

In the past Rockingham Forest was a major iron producing area.  Previous excavations in the Forest have identified furnaces dating from the Iron Age through to the medieval period utilising the local Ironstone.  The fieldwalking at Wakerley identified a significant quantity of iron working residues including furnace base and tap slags, both of which are indications that iron was being produced on the site.  Three concentrations of these slags were identified, and it can be expected that several furnaces lie buried in these areas.

Prior to the fieldwalking a desk-based assessment and geophysical survey were undertaken.  The geophysical survey confirmed the results of the fieldwalking and a number of enclosures and areas of iron working were identified.

Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter
The area was also of interest due to the presence of structures constructed during the Second World War.  The west side of the proposal area comprises part of the site of the former Spanhoe Airfield, which was constructed in 1943-4.  The main airfield buildings were situated beyond the west side of the proposal site and are currently used by aeroplane enthusiasts.
brick built buildings at Wakerley
brick-built buildings in the middle of the site
A large part of one of the runways and the perimeter road were situated in the west part of the proposal site and two brick built buildings, which date to this period, are situated in the central part of the site.

The limitations imposed by the salvage recording programme prevented the collection of a large finds assemblage, but a variety of artefacts were collected.  A small assemblage of worked flint dating to the Mesolithic/early Neolithic periods was recorded.  The remaining artefacts dated to the Iron Age and comprised animal bone and a small assemblage of middle Iron Age pottery.

fired clay fragments
fragments of fired clay, possibly from a kiln
Significant evidence for iron smelting was also recorded.  This comprised fragments of fired clay, some with impressions of wood and may have been from the structure of a kiln.  An area of burnt clay, possibly a kiln or hearth was identified in the south part of the site.  A fragment of a crucible was recovered from the fill of one of the enclosure ditches and further fragments of iron slag were found in the northern part of the site.