Monument record 7765 - Iron Age Settlement, Long Dole

Extensive Iron Age settlement and ritual complex comprising a rectilinear enclosure containing at least twenty hut circles and dating from the early 3rd century BC until the 1st century BC. Part of the DIRFT complex. Excavation was undertaken in 1994 ahead of development.

{1} Results from geophysical survey: complex set of features. Circular enclosures containing buildings, some area separated by linear features and others are enclosed by rectilinear features. Also tracks and hollow ways. Many of the circles intercept or are interrupted suggesting the site was rebuilt and redeveloped.

Subsequent trial trenching found evidence in central area of one trench of what were possibly parts of four ring ditches. In another trench were two linear features and two features protuding from the baulks were also noted. As the purpose of this trench was to confirm the geophysical survey results, the linear features were not sampled as this was considered to be destructive given the weather conditions.

{4} Evaluation had confirmed the presence of a continuous area of occupation extending for c230m north to south by up to c80m east to west. During soil stripping it became evident that the archaeology was much better preserved than had been anticipated. Due to weather conditions only the northern half of the settlement area, or c0.8ha, was opened. The northern half of the settlement comprises a rectangular enclosure of typical Iron Age form with ring ditches both within and immediately around it.

{5} The origin of the settlement at The Long Dole lay in the earlier middle Iron Age (early 3rd century BC), with the establishment of a small ritual/ceremonial complex comprising a ring gully with an entrance to the north-west, which contained a small post circle or timber building and a central clay-filled pit with a complete saddle quern in the upper fill. To the immediate east was a larger circular enclosure with linear ditches extending to the north and south to create a forecourt. By the later 3rd or early 2nd century BC, a rectangular enclosure, with a smaller square enclosure inside, had been set around the focal ring gully. Clusters of domestic roundhouses were added both within and around this enclosure and to the south was a small spiral enclosure enclosing a tree-hole, perhaps a tree at the time. Later modifications included shortening the main enclosure and adding a further enclosure to the south. Each of the four excavated roundhouse clusters had an associated four-post, and in one instance a six-post, structure, perhaps granaries.

Material evidence was sparse. The settlement was in use until the 1st century BC, although a gravel surfaced trackway to the north was probably created in the 1st century AD following an earlier boundary line.

{6} Excavation at Long Dole (SP 567 735), yielded an Iron Age settlement composed of roundhouses and rectilinear structures. There were a number of enclosures entered by gravel causeways. The site showed unusually dense occupation.

{7} Further excavation at Crick was carried out on areas that had previously not been possible to investigate due to flooding, the Long Dole settlement was reexamined.

<1> RPS CLOUSTON, 1994, Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT): Archaeological Evaluation (Appendices), Appendices 1 and 5 (checked) (Report). SNN70454.

<2> RPS CLOUSTON, 1994, Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal: Archaeological Evaluation Interim Report, (checked) (Interim Report). SNN1370.

<3> RPS CLOUSTON, 1994, Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT): Archaeological Evaluation, (checked) (Report). SNN106052.

<4> CHAPMAN A., 1994, Excavation of Iron Age and Roman Sites at The Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal, p. 2-4 (Report). SNN72934.

<5> Masefield R. (ed), 2015, Origins, Development and Abandonment of an Iron Age Village (DIRFT Volume 2), p. 13-60 (Monograph). SNN110565.

<6> Horne, B (Editor), 1995, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (25), p. 37-9 (Journal). SNN100611.

<7> Horne, B (editor), 1996, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (26), p. 31 (Notes). SNN40064.

<8> Burnham, B C, Keppie, L J F, Esmonde Cleary, A S, Hassall, M W C, and Tomlin, R S O, 1995, Roman Britain in 1994, 26/1995/354 (Notes). SNN112936.

<11> CHAPMAN A., 1994, Excavation of Iron Age and Roman Sites at The Daventry International Rail Freight (DIRFT) Terminal (Report). SNN75782.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2025 7:05PM