Monument record 9521/1 - Possible Late Iron Age/Romano-British Farmstead

Archaeological investigation undertaken during the construction of new farm buildings found evidence of a possible Romano-British farmstead comprising ditches and pits.

{1} An archaeological watching brief was undertaken. Two linear ditches were identified in the middle of the stripped area. The first ditch was orientated roughly east-west. Almost 14m of ditch was exposed. It was approximately 1m wide. The ditch was sectioned and a few fragments of animal bone and 5 sherds of Roman pottery were recovered from its fill.
The second ditch was orientated roughly north-south, almost at right-angles to the first ditch. A gap of 4m separated the two ditches. The second ditch was also sectioned and found to closely resemble the first. Two sherds of Roman pottery were recovered from its fill.
The pottery from both features was fairly abraded and it is thought possible that these may have been residual.
A third feature comprised a shallow ovoid pit containing a fill rich in charcoal and with frequent burnt animal bone. The fill of the feature was sampled. Two sherds of pottery were also recovered dating to either the late Iron Age or Conquest period.These were in good condition, apparently part of the same vessel, and probably a primary deposit.
The sieved samples from the ditches revealed no evidence of domestic or crop-related activity but do suggest that these were damp, open features. The ditches are located almost at right angles to each other and might form part of an enclosure. Pottery evidence indicates that the shallow pit is likely to have been the earlier feature, however a possible scenario is that the features are contemporary but the ditches silted up or were backfilled at a later time. The condition of the Roman pottery from the two ditches suggests that it may be residual.
Although the remains are not extensive and consequently difficult to interpret, the site is particulary important because it provides the first evidence of pre-medieval archaeology in the immediate locality. Oakley Bank and Plumpton were previously known for their medieval earthworks and post-medieval pottery industry. The nearest large Roman settlement was Towcester and this is likely to have been supplied by small rural farmsteads. It is possible that the remains at Oakley Bank Farm form part of some such settlement.

<1> Browning J., 2003, An Archaeological Watching Brief During Groundworks for New Stock Buildings at Oakley Bank Farm, Plumpton, Northamptonshire, p.4- 5 (checked) (Report). SNN104029.

Record last edited

Dec 2 2022 11:17AM