Monument record 8532 - Possible Late Neolithic/ early Bronze Age cemetery

Archaeological excavation ahead of development found a Beaker burial. Fragments of a second Beaker vessel were recovered from another pit, although there were no associated human remains.

{1} Archaeological excavation identified a grave containing a single crouched inhumation, a juvenile, accompanied by a late Neolithic/ early Bronze Age pottery vessel that had been placed in a position adjacent to where the feet would have been had they survived. Almost the entire skeleton had been compressed into this shallow grave, resulting in the majority of the bones being highly fragmented. A second possible cremation pit was also found. Contained a vessel within which was a cremation. This feature had been badly truncated by ploughing and the vessel was severely broken, with the sherds and its contents distributed throughout the remaining fill of the pit. The vessel is of late Neolithic/ early Bronze Age date.

{2} Further analysis of the second possible cremation revealed that the organic remains were faunal as opposed to human; it is therefore possible, though speculative that it originally contained a cremation or burial which was subsequently ploughed out.

{5} Tooth-wear data show that the individual was aged c 15 years at the time of death. The presence of the Beaker dates the grave to between 2500 and 1700 BC.

<1> Barlow, G., 2008, Proposed Processing Plant, Elton Estate, Northamptonshire: A 'Strip, Map and Sample' Archaeological Excavation Interim Site Narrative, p.13 (unchecked) (Report). SNN106249.

<2> Stone, Pip, 2008, A Beaker Burial and Iron Age droveways on the Elton Estate, Warmington, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Note). SNN106232.

<3> Stone, Pip, 2008, Proposed Processing Plant, Elton Estate, Warmington, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Excavation Post Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design, p.10 (unchecked) (Report). SNN106248.

<4> Stone, Pip, 2008, The Proposed Processing Plant, Elton Estate, Warmington, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Excavation Research Archive Report, (unchecked) (Report). SNN106247.

<5> Stone, Pip, 2015, A Beaker burial and Iron Age droveway on the Elton Estate, Warmington, p.47-49 (Article). SNN110321.

Record last edited

Jun 19 2023 9:52AM