Monument record 6929/1 - Late Iron Age settlement and early Roman field systems, Monksmoor

The late Iron Age settlement comprised eight roundhouses with three associated enclosures, pits and postholes. Pottery, animal bone, burnt stone and slag were recovered from many of the features. Remnants of an early Roman field system overlay the settlement.

{1} Magnetometer survey undertaken in 2005 identified six curvilinear magnetic anomalies comprising four roundhouses and two small stock enclosures. Discrete areas of magnetic enhancement located in the same area may be caused by archaeological features, although proximity to the modern farm buildings suggests that some or all could be caused by modern agricultural activity. The results suggest the presence of a small unenclosed settlement of Iron Age date.

{2} Archaeological trial trench excavation in 2006 identified at least three phases of activity, all dating to the Iron Age. The geophysical survey and results of the evaluation indicate that the ditches and gullies define the location of a settlement comprising two stock enclosures and at least three roundhouses. Analysis of pot sherds suggests a mid Iron Age date for much of the settlement activity although the presence of flint artefacts and early Iron Age sherds could suggest continuity of settlement from the early Iron Age.

A possible cremation burial was found in a pit, cut by a later gully. A large centrally placed stone, unabraded sherds of an ovoid jar with applied strap shaped lugs and sherds of early/mid Iron Age scored ware pottery were recovered from the pit's fill. The fabric of the jar could suggest a late Bronze Age date although it is closer in form to middle Iron Age vessels with countersunk handles. The recovered sherds of early/mid Iron Age pottery and the unworn condition of the ovoid jar suggest that it was discarded or deliberately placed in the pit during the mid Iron Age. A limited amount of undiagnostic calcined bone was present in a thin deposit of burnt material underlying the largest fragment of the ovoid jar.

{6} Excavation of the mid-late Iron Age settlement was undertaken in 2014-5. Three ditched enclosures and eight ring gullies were present, truncated by Roman ditches. A number of phases to the Iron Age settlement were indicated by the re-digging of two of the ring gullies and replacement of others (one ring gully was constructed over the entranceway of another). Several contained evidence of internal activity; all were between 7m and 10m in diameter and most had south-east or east facing entrances. Some of the ring gullies may have acted as ancillary structures. An enclosure on the southern edge of the excavated area measured at least 20m long by 11m wide internally and had a entrance on its north-east side with a surviving cobbled surface and postholes indicating the presence of a gateway. The enclosure ditch had been recut on at least three occasions.
Some elements of the settlement may have originated in the middle Iron Age. There is no evidence to suggest settlement continued beyond the late 1st century BC. During the early Roman period a system of rectilinear ditches was established comprising probable paddocks and enclosures. No evidence of settlement was apparent in this area.

<1> Hancock, A., 2005, Geophysical Survey: Monksmoor Farm, Daventry, p.9 (checked) (Report). SNN107190.

<2> Hancock, A., 2006, Archaeological Evaluation: Land at Monksmoor Farm, Daventry, p.13-17 (checked) (Report). SNN107193.

<3> Horne B. (Editor), 2008, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (38), p.37 (checked) (Journal). SNN106282.

<4> Walker C.; Walford J., 2012, An Archaeological Evaluation of Land at Monksmoor Farm, Daventry, Northamptonshire November 2012 (Report). SNN109264.

<5> Horne, B (editor), 2016, South Midlands Archaeology (46), p. 40 (Journal). SNN111326.

<6> Preece, T., 2019, Early Neolithic, Iron Age and Roman settlement at Monksmoor Farm, Daventry, Northamptonshire, p. 13-21 (Monograph). SNN111482.

Record last edited

Aug 1 2019 1:51PM