Monument record 1344/1/2 - Round barrow ditch (Morphed Aerial Archaeology Interpretation)

Crop/soilmark: Good quality photography

{2} Trench 45 located the double concentric ditched ring ditch known from aerial photos. The inner ditch was 1.6m wide and 0.8m deep.

{4} The ploughed-out remains of the barrow mound sealed both the inner and outer ring ditches. Plough damage removed any chance of establishing a stratigraphic sequence between the mound and the ditches. Both ring ditches describe slightly irregular, flattened concentric circles.
The diameter of the inner ditch is 21.2-23.2m. It varies substantially in width and depth around its circuit: between 0.8-1.6m wide and 0.33-0.6m deep, and has a V profile with rounded base. The primary fill consisted of slippage from the barrow mound or the natural gravel. Later fills were more characteristic of rapid infilling, probably due to plough action.
The double ring ditches are somewhat irregular in size and shape. There was no other evidence, however, for gang working during the construction of the monument. It is conceivable that the variable size reflects no more than a need for additional quarry material in constructing the mound.

{6} Cropmark; 1976; double ring ditch situated in an area surrounded by C19 and C20 quarrying; SP 7050 9613; 36M outer diameter and 21m inner diameter; NCC Aerial Photograph:SP9670/1-2+15-19+21

{7} Aerial photography 1982, double ring ditch.

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

<2> Moore, J., 1989, Stanwick, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Assessment March 1989, p.5 (checked) (Report). SNN43486.

<3> Moore, J., 1989, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN104807.

<4> OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT, 1992, Redlands Farm, Stanwick: Site Narrative, p.23-30 (checked) (Report). SNN69021.

<5> Keevill G.D., 1991, Evaluations and Excavations in Northamptonshire by The Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1989-90 (Ditchford and Stanwick), p.101 (checked) (Article). SNN62113.

<6> 1987, AP PLAN FILE(NCC), (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN37310.

<7> Foard G.; Richardson D., 1983, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1982 (Aerial Photography), 18/182 (checked) (Notes). SNN100412.

Record last edited

Oct 9 2014 3:51PM