Monument record 9188 - Probable Iron Age/Roman settlement, east of the River Cherwell

Geophysical survey identified an extensive complex of archaeological features, including irregular and rectilinear enclosures a possible trackway and round houses. A small number of pit-type anomalies were interpreted as possible Saxon sunken-featured buildings.

{1} Geophysical survey on a field with surviving ridge and furrow earthworks and elements of a Second World War command post. One of the gun holdfasts appears to cut through the ditch of an enclosure annexe belonging to a small approximately square enclosure with rounded corners. It measures some 24m square. There is possibly a very narrow entranace in its north-west side leading in to the annexe which has maximum dimensions of 54m by 48m with entrances in both its eastern and western sides. It should be noted that the annexe may be a settlement and the square enclosure a secure structure for animals. A ditch runs from the north east corner of the square enclosure towards the present cattle shelter before turning southeast and may be part of another large enclosure based on the complex near the top of the hill.
A number of ditches run from the western side of the annexe which seem to form a series of enclosures which run down towards the River Cherwell. To the south of the square enclosure there may be heart shaped enclosure. It seems likely that there might be a double ditched trackway from the middle of the western ditch of the annexe down to the edge of the survey area. Immediately south of the trackway it is possible that three conjoined circular features might represent dwellings attached to another small enclosure.

To the west of the present cattle shelter on the eastern boundary of the site, the survey appears to indicate the presence of another complex of features which are essentially rectangular or square in character. This is in marked contrast to the majority of features on site and might suggest that this complex could belong to the later Roman period.

The two smaller enclosures appear to have large pits in them, possibly laid out in a regular alignment. It ought to be borne in mind that they are the same size and response which might be expected from Saxon sunken floored building's (SFB's).

<1> Catherall P.D., 2003, Banbury Flood Alleviation Scheme: Win Areas RA2 & RA3 (Report). SNN103350.

Record last edited

Feb 8 2022 12:40PM