Monument record 533/0/78 - Prehistoric Enclosure

Probable prehistoric enclosure identified as a cropmark on aerial photographs. The ditch was observed during a watching brief.

{1} Part of a rectangular enclosure, seen on aerial photos NCCAP:SP5051/3-4

{2} The primary objective of the watching brief was to date an enclosure ditch visible as a cropmark in an adjacent field. However the bedrock on the line of the new carriageway was not completely exposed and it was therefore difficult to locate the enclosure ditch in plan. The enclosure ditch was later revealed in a new roadside drainage ditch where it was found to be very wide at the top (4m) but relatively shallow (0.8m deep into the bedrock). It was largely filled with brown sandy soil, and no occupation or iron working debrris was found in the exposed section or an adjacent trial trench. It was not possible to obtain a plan of the enclosure on the new road alignment so it is uncertain whether the iron working activity was outside the enclosed area.

<1> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Photographs). SNN104822.

<2> JACKSON D.A.; TYLECOTE R.F., 1988, Two New Romano-British Ironworking Sites in Northamptonshire: A New Type of Furnace?, 19/290-298 (checked) (Article). SNN43553.

<3> Jackson, D., 1985, Site Records, (checked) (Notes). SNN51865.

<4> Dix B.(ed), 1986-7, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1985-6, 21-154 (checked) (Report). SNN100334.

<5> Jackson, D., 1985, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN53819.

Record last edited

Jan 13 2023 2:36PM