Monument record 4892/1/1 - Neolithic Enclosure (Morphed Aerial Archaeology Interpretation)

Crop/soilmark: Small scale excavation

{1} Evaluation of enclosure ditch; the causewayed enclosure was confirmed and the inner circuit found to be more extensive than shown on aerial photographs.

{3} Part of the circuit of the large prehistoric enclosure can be identified where it appears as a long discontinuous curve. The poor definition of some sections of the ditch can be explained by the presence of an extensive layer of cultivation disturbance.

{6} A discontinuous cropmark representing a ditch circuit interrupted by causeways. The site measures 280m N-S and 240m E-W, enclosing an area of approx 6ha. Discussion of published sources on causewayed enclosures.
Geophysical survey produced clear anomalies representing the outer circuit.

{7} The alleged causewayed enclosure may simply be accounted for by patterned ground resulting from frost wedging in periglacial times.

{9} A large discontinuous curvilinear positive magnetic anomaly approximately 270 by 240 metres was recorded in the centre of the survey area. These anomalies are stronger in the north and east of this feature. This oval shaped feature comprises a series of elongated pits or ditches forming a causewayed enclosure. The western part of the enclosure has a second discontinuous curvilinear positive magnetic anomaly possibly reflecting a double-ditch or realignment of the monument.

{11} The survey results demonstrate that the causewayed enclosure is sub-oval in plan, with a flattened side to the south. It has an internal area of c 5ha and measures c 270m north to south by 225m east to west, which is marginally smaller than the cropmark plot would suggest. A single circuit of ditch segments defines its perimeter. Only a few of these segments have produced clear magnetic anomalies, and it may be that these contain particular concentrations of burnt stone, ceramics, or other magnetic materials within their fills. The other segments have either produced very weak anomalies or
remain undetected and, for this reason, the survey data does not provide a good basis for mapping the precise extents of the individual segments and their intervening causeways.

Two adjacent ditch segments on the south-eastern part of the circuit have inwardly curved terminals, a feature which may mark the principal entrance. Support for this suggestion comes from the fact that these ditch segments have produced some of the strongest anomalies anywhere on the circuit, and the magnetic enhancement of entrance-ways is a commonly recognised phenomenon on ditched enclosures in general.

<1> Moore, J., 1992, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN48810.

<2> 1971, Northamptonshire Archaeology, p.8 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN59511.

<3> Audouy M.F.A.; Masters P.; Steadman S.M., 1993, Northampton, North-West Bypass: Archaeological Survey, Stage 2, p.5 (checked) (Report). SNN75321.

<4> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Photographs). SNN104822.

<5> 1973, Northamptonshire Archaeology, p.26 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN59514.

<6> OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGY UNIT, 1991, King's Heath Whitelands, Northampton: Archaeological Evaluation Report, pp.6, 12, 15 (checked) (Report). SNN76714.

<7> Welsh T.C., 1999, The Alleged Causewayed Enclosure (?) And Henge (?) Dallington, Northampton. SP725635, (unchecked) (Report). SNN101166.

<8> Masters, P., 1993, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN48773.

<9> Elliott L., 2006, Dallington Grange, Northamptonshire: Geophysical Survey, September 2006, p.6 (checked) (Report). SNN105630.

<10> Elliott L.; Hale D., 2006, Dallington Grange, Northamptonshire: Geophysical Survey Phase 2, p.7 (checked) (Report). SNN107441.

<11> Walford, J., 2014, Archaeological geophysical survey of the Dallington Grange causewayed enclosure, Northampton, May 2014, p. 3 (Report). SNN110095.

Record last edited

Sep 27 2016 11:46AM