Monument record 1724/0/1 - Iron Age Pit Alignment

Possible Prehistoric or Roman pit alignment visible as cropmarks on air photographs in 1982.

{1} Cropmark recorded in 1982. Possible pit alignment but indistinct on AP's;

{2} A 300m long pit alignment has been identified in cropmarks.

{4} Sixteen pits were revealed and fourteen were excavated. A few fragments of coarse un-diagnostic but probable early Iron Age pottery were recovered from four of the pits. The butt ends of three ditches cut across the alignment from the south and through one of the pits.

{5} During the excavation of the access road, the pit alignment identified by aerial photography was located. Three pits were identified and sectioned, one offset to the north of the main pit alignment.
The pts were roughly square in plan, measuring 1.5m across and had differing profiles ranging from fairly steeply to shallow sloping sides to a depth of 0.4m to 0.6m. All were filled by red brown clay loam with limestone inclusions and occasional charcoal flecks. None of the pits contained any finds. However, they are likely to date to the Iron Age as they conform to a well known feature type that is only found during that period.

{6} A further 24 pits were revealed on the same general alignment. These were not excavated. Pottery suggests a probable Iron Age date.

{7} NCCAP:SP9873/001-4.

{8} Up to 46 pits (including four conjectural pits) were identified on a north-west to south-east alignment across the development site. All had been cut with steep sides sloping to a flat, rock-cut base. The bases maintained the rectangular shape of the pit outline and considerable effort had been expended in cutting through rock strata to achieve consistent depths in the pits.
All of the pits showed evidence of primary silting with compact yellow sandy clay forming the base fill in all pits. The upper fills were all of varying shades of red or brown sandy clay with inclusions of angular limestone fragments and occasional small rounded pebbles. All the pits showed evidence of re-excavations that left remnants of the earlier fills along the edges of the pit. The fills were all fairly sterile comprising up-cast washing back into the pit. It is clear that the majority of the up-cast was to the north of the pit alignment.
More details of the pits are given, with possible groupings etc.
Finds from the pits comprised: a Neolithic flint blade, 11 possible early Iron Age sherds of grey shelly pottery, 2 abraded cattle teeth, and an intrusive sherd of C14th green glazed ware, probably from manuring of the medieval open field system.

<1> FOARD G.R., 1982, ORAL REPORT TO SMR, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN50892.

<2> Parry S., 1993, Raunds Area Survey Report, p.166 (checked) (Draft). SNN1175.

<3> Foard G.; Richardson D., 1983, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1982 (Aerial Photography), p180 Raunds (Checked) (Notes). SNN100412.

<4> McAree D., 2004, Archaeological Excavation at Warth Park, Raunds, Northamptonshire, p.4-6+8-12 (checked) (Interim Report). SNN104969.

<5> Prentice J., 2000, An Archaeological Watching Brief At Warth Park, Raunds, Northamptonshire, p.4 (checked) (Report). SNN100730.

<5> McAree, D, 2005, An Archaeological Watching Brief At Warth Park, Raunds, Northamptonshire (Article). SNN112191.

<6> Corel Corporation, 2002, Digital Content Manual, (unchecked) (Manual). SNN103939.

<7> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<8> McAree D., 2005, Archaeological Excavation at Warth Park, Raunds, Northamptonshire, p.4-7+9-12 (checked) (Report). SNN105255.

Record last edited

Feb 4 2025 7:55PM