Monument record 8000 - Iron Age settlement and smelting site, Biddlesden Road Bridge

Archaeological investigation ahead of construction of the A43 dual carriageway identified a small Iron Age settlement. The western boundary was identified along with two main roundhouses and three ancillary roundhouses. Three iron smelting furnaces were also identified.

{1} Geophysical survey had revealed a series of dispersed pattern of small enclosures and partial enclosures with some linear features. Subsequent trial trench excavation identified a number of pits and ditches broadly conforming to the survey results. Pottery from the features dated to the late Iron Age/early Roman period. A notable find was large amounts of slag suggesting iron smelting was being undertaken in the vicinity.


{4} Excavation prior to construction of the dual carriageway identified a settlement about 100m wide. A linear boundary ditch to the west and a number of ring ditches (at least five structures were identified, two of which were recut) and other curvilinear ditches, linear ditches, pits, postholes and three iron smelting furnaces. The western boundary to the site roughly defined the boundary between the yellow clay geology to the west and the gravelly deposits to the east.
The three iron smelting furncaes were discovered on the south east side of the site. They were all of similar form comprising a cylindrical furnace clay lining, about 0.5m in diameter within a slightly larger circular pit. In all cases a rake-out pit had been broken into the furnace lining the western or north western side. Iron slag was recovered from the furnaces and rake-out pits.
Most of the pottery was of a middle to late iron Age character. The end date for the settlement was confirmed by a calibrated radiocarbon date of 52 cal BC to cal AD 84 from a late ditch. The absence of Roman pottery probably means the site was abandoned before the later 1st century AD.

<1> Hallam T., 2000, A43 Road Improvement; Biddlesden Bridge, Syresham; Archaeological Evaluations: Stage 3, p.2 (checked) (Report). SNN100695.

<2> 2000-01, A43 Dualling Project, Syresham, Biddlestone Road, (unchecked) (Note). SNN103975.

<3> MUDD A., 2002, A43 Towcester to M40 Dualling Project Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design, 2002, p.9 (unchecked) (Report). SNN103239.

<4> MUDD A., 2007, Iron Age and Roman Settlement on The Northamptonshire Uplands, p. 48-61 (Series). SNN106027.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2025 6:37PM