Monument record 2537/2 - Early Romano-British Iron Working Site

A watching brief undertaken during road improvement works in 1984 identified Roman quarry pits and evidence of ironworking.

{1} Possible furnace bottom, in addition to iron slag and extractive pits.

{2} Evidence of Roman ironworking was found at SP92828674 during a watching brief on road improvement works. A number of quarry pits had been dug into an outcrop of Northampton Sands Ironstone; the pits appear to have been open over a period of time, with new pits cut when further ore was required. In the process unwanted sandstone rubble was dumped into disused pits, which also appear to have been convenient for the disposal of other refuse. In addition to slag and ash, quantities of mortar or plaster were found in the pits suggesting the former of presence of buildings or floors nearby; the pottery from the pit infillings is of late 1st and 2nd century date; Samian evidence suggests that whilst some pits were probably open in the 2nd half of the 1st century, others were not completely filled until a century later. The only other datable find in the pits was a brooch of the Hod Hill type which is unlikely to have been manufactured later than AD 60-65.

Remains also included areas of irregular limestone slabs and rubble, and ditches. Three small hearths/furnaces were identified at SP92538690, further similar features were seen in the surrounding area, but destroyed during soil clearance. A further 'furnace base' and C2nd pottery were recovered from the fill of a ditch. The stratified pottery from the site dates to late C1st/C2nd but unstratified material also indicates later Roman activity.

{3} The pits had been backfilled with slag, mortar and domestic refuse.

<1> JACKSON D., 1984, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN105837.

<2> JACKSON D.A., 1984, Roman Iron Working at Stanion, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN57037.

<3> Dix B.(ed), 1985, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1983-4, p.151 Stanion (checked) (Report). SNN100404.

Record last edited

Mar 17 2022 10:07AM