Monument record 7305 - Probable Iron Age Settlement, east of Dockham Way

A small number of Iron Age features, including a curvilinear ditch and a series of pits, were identified during a watching brief in 2000 at the Midland Meatpackers site. Archaeological evaluation immediately to the east and north identified further likely Iron Age enclosures and other features. Small quantities of Roman and Saxon pottery were also found suggesting some longevity of use.

{1} A series of intercutting features were found in the north-west of the site. The main feature was a slightly curvilinear ditch with bulbous terminal at the northern end. It contained bone fragments, charcoal, burnt clay and sherds of Iron Age pottery. A further, earlier ditch may also have been present. Clustered near the ditch was a series of pits, a steep-sided slot and a posthole. The features were poorly defined, but probably represent the edge of a possible Iron Age settlement located to the north of the excavated area.

{4} Geophysical survey was undertaken. A number of linear anomalies identified in the southern part of the site and at the northern edge of the site probably relate to known Iron Age settlement in the vicinity.

{5} There were a number of ditches in the southern part of the site that were possibly of prehistoric origin, although they appear to have been in use for some time, which may explain the presence of Iron Age and Saxon pottery within the same feature. The ditches identified on site may relate to outlying field systems and enclosures. The sparsity of finds means it is likely that the site lay on the periphery of any settlement, which may have been located on the higher ground to the west and north.

Some 250m to the north of the main focus, there were two ditches of potential prehistoric date, although no dating evidence was recovered from either of them.

<1> Jones C.; Edmondson G., 2000, Archaeological Watching Brief At Midland Meat Packers, Crick Northamptonshire, (checked) (Report). SNN100297.

<2> 2000-01, Crick, Midland Meat packers, (checked) (Note). SNN103976.

<3> Richards J., 2014, Crick Road, Yelvertoft, Northamptonshire: Cultural Heritage Assessment, p.15 (checked) (Report). SNN109622.

<4> STRATASCAN, 2015, Geophysical Survey Report: Butcher's Petcare, Crick, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN110215.

<5> Pre-Construct Archaeology, 2015, Land at Butchers Petcare, Dockham Way, Crick, Northamptonshire: An Archaeological evaluation, p.33 (Report). SNN110216.

Record last edited

Nov 9 2020 12:28PM