Monument record 2148/3/5 - Late Iron Age Enclosure (Morphed Aerial Archaeology Interpretation)

Crop/soilmark: Good quality photography

{1} The arc of a penannular gully was found with a wall slot with stakeholes and further postholes concentric to it. ?the remnant of a circular structure.The second phase consisted of a series of deep gullies which defined a sub-rectangular area of c.12m by 7.5m with a narrow entrance at the south-east corner. The gullies had been recut many times. Postholes in the interior possibly formed a four-post structure, which could have been used for dry storage.

{3} A structure interpreted as being of two phases: first a circular or semi-circular structure followed by a rectangular gully system with some evidence of an internal rectangular structure. A complex and extensively recut system of gullies that were impossible to separate into single cuts. The overall pattern of the gully system defined a roughly rectangular area defining a narrow entrance of 0.8m width. The gullies had been continually recut when silting was substantial, indicating a considerable longevity of the complex, but their was no pattern to the recuts. Internally were seen a pennanular gully concentric with a second gully which had eight stakeholes in its fill. Other post holes were seen, some more substantial than others, but they did not form a pattern. The gully system appeared to function as a way to draw off water; this need for drainage was higher than with a round house so, in conjunction with the narrow entrance, the structure was interpreted as a dry food storage site. It is suggested that the internal penannular gully predated the system of drainage gullies. The penannular gully was incomplete so a semi-circular structure was proposed. Finds from the lower fills were pre-Belgic and from the upper fills were Belgic.

<1> Windell D., 1983, Clay Lane 1980: Interim Report - An Iron Age and Roman Rural Settlement at Clay Lane, Earls Barton, p.38 (checked) (Article). SNN40207.

<2> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<3> Windell D., 1982, Excavations at Clay Lane 1980 Level III: Structural Evidence, p.26 (checked) (Report). SNN75685.

Record last edited

May 15 2012 12:21PM