Monument record 9911 - Possible Prehistoric and/or Roman Settlement, north of Thorpe House

Cropmarks of rectangular and circular enclosures, as well as possible boundary pits and pits were identified on aerial photographs during the Northants NMP. Archaeological investigations along the Thorpe Mandeville to Greatworth Pipeline identified a concentration of early Roman features along the southern edge of the cropmark complex.

{1} Geophysical survey was undertaken prior to the laying of a new water main. Field 5 is full of multiple crossing linear and curving ditches representing several phases of boundaries, enclosures and trackways. Individual elements are difficult to disentangle but they appear to include a curving ditched trackway running approx east-west. The features may be of Iron Age/ Roman date although it appears likely that a wider date range is represented. The settlement appears to be more complex than suggsted by the cropmarks.

{4, 5} The site, which lay in a poorly drained hollow, comprised a series of gullies, ditches and a few pits. The pottery recovered dated to the early Roman period (1st to early 2nd centuries AD). The nature and quantity of the pottery suggests the features lay in close proximity to a small farmstead. The early Roman features were mainly portions of ditches that belong to a larger network of enclosures. It is likely that the settlement continues to the south of the modern road.

<1> Clements, P., 2007, Archaeological geophysical survey: Thorpe Mandeville to Greatworth pipeline, Northamptonshire, November 2007,
https://doi.org/10.5284/1005039; p.3 (checked) (Report). SNN106647.

<2> Horne B. (Editor), 2008, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (38), p.44 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN106282.

<3> Chapman P. (Editor), 2008, Archaeology in Northamptonshire in 2007, p.296 (unchecked) (Article). SNN106430.

<4> Patenall, M., 2008, AWS Thorpe Mandeville to Greatworth pipeline: archaeological excavations and watching brief January - February 2008 Assessment report and updated project design, https://doi.org/10.5284/1005372; p.7 (checked) (Report). SNN106728.

<5> Brown J., 2011, A Middle Bronze Age Cremation Burial, Middle Iron Age Settlement and Roman Occupation Along the Thorpe Mandeville to Greatworth Water Pipeline, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN108333.

<6> Chapman, P. (Ed.), 2010, Archaeology in Northamptonshire, 2008, 36/179 (checked) (Article). SNN107502.

<7> Horne B. (Editor), 2009, South Midlands Archaeology (39), 39/31 (checked) (Journal). SNN106544.

Record last edited

Sep 23 2024 3:58PM