Howlands Farm, Durham
NZ 2707 4076; Aaron Goode and Robin Taylor-Wilson; evaluation; April-May 2005; HOW 05.
The site at Howlands Farm was initially subject to geophysical survey of the two grass paddocks forming the majority of the site. Topographical survey was then undertaken of extant earthworks, mostly representing ridge and furrow ploughing, with a photographic record of these remains also being compiled. The regular, narrowly-spaced ridges suggest a post-medieval origin. Subtle linear earthworks running across the central area of both paddocks represent the positions of former field boundaries, which cartographic evidence indicates went into disuse between 1860 and 1897. Surface undulations recorded in the northern portion of the northern paddock were interpreted as being of probable geological origin.
Ten evaluation trenches were then investigated. Natural boulder clay was recorded in all trenches. A probable hill wash deposit was recorded in Trench 1, the lowest-lying trench in the northern end of the site. This material appeared to have accumulated within natural undulations in the ground.
Trench 10, at the higher, southern end of the site, exposed a pit, posthole and cluster of stakeholes, all considered to be of possible prehistoric date. The trench was extended immediately to reveal other, probably associated, features. In sum, the remains exposed comprised an arrangement of postholes, interpreted as probably representing part of a roundhouse, of possible Iron Age origin. Two clusters of stakeholes internal to the structure could represent associated structural features. A pit and hearth recorded on the projected line of the roundhouse wall were almost certainly not contemporary with the structure. While they could have pre- or post-dated it, they are perhaps most likely to have been associated with its end use. A small pit or posthole recorded a few metres to the east of the structure may also have been associated with it.
Other archaeological features of probable pre-medieval, but unconfirmed date, were recorded in Trench 6, in the form of a posthole and a small pit, and in Trench 4, in the form of a curvilinear feature.
The remains of plough furrows were recorded - as sub-surface features - in evaluation Trenches 1, 4-6, 8 & 9. 18th century pottery was recovered from two of the furrows in Trench 8. A drainage ditch, probably associated with the furrows, was recorded in Trench 6 and a drainage gully of probable post-medieval origin was recorded in Trench 7, this on the line of the former field boundary. In Trench 3, an irregular feature may have been the remains of a former hedgeline on the former field boundary. A possible drainage gully was recorded in Trench 8. Later post-medieval and modern activity at the site was represented by numerous field drains. Topsoil formed the uppermost deposit recorded in all of the trenches investigated.
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