Monument record 3550/1/4 - Early Bronze Age Ring Ditch VI, Grendon Quarry

A ring ditch at Grendon, part of a complex of cropmarks excavated in 1975-5 in advance of gravel extraction (see parent record and associated monuments). Immediately prior to excavation, the monument was visible as a very slight elevation on the ground. Excavation uncovered a sub-oval ring ditch whose diameter varied between 16 metres and 17.5 metres. No breaks in the ditch circuit were visble in the excavated areas, and none were visible on the air photographs either. All other features in the excavated area were demonstrably later than the ring ditch. Predominantly Romano-British in date, these are recorded separately. Charcoal samples from the ditch produced dates in the earlier Bronze Age.

{1}The subsoil in the vicinity of Ring Ditch VI varies form that of the surrounding ring ditches, with evidence of black iron staining. The ditch formed an oval with a maximum internal diameter of 17.5m and a minimum of 16m. No breaks in the ditch were noted. The ditch had a steep V shaped profile, the width being 2m and the depth 1m. The base of the ditch was pitted with steep sided holes about 0.3m deep, it is possible these holes had been caused by water flow. Radiocarbon dates were obtained.

<1> Gibson A.; McCormick A., 1985, Archaeology at Grendon Quarry Part I: Neolithic and Bronze Age Sites Excavated in 1974-5, p34-5 (Report). SNN59698.

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

Record last edited

Dec 6 2023 4:19PM