Monument record 3250/23 - Saxon and medieval settlement, Dando Close

Archaeological excavation prior to housing development identified an area of settlement originating in the early Saxon period. There were a number of sunken-featured buildings and timber-founded buildings, along with boundary ditches, an oven/ corn drier, a human burial and a horse burial. Large quantities of slag indicate that metal-working was undertaken during the early-middle Saxon period.

{1} Archaeological evaluation identified Saxon remains across much of the northern half of the proposed development site. Features included pits, postholes and a sunken-featured building. Pottery found in association with the features was dated to between the 5th and 11th centuries.

{3} Archaeological excavation identified a spread of Saxon and medieval features. The settlement appears to have been planned or laid out with distinct zones of activity. Eight sunken featured buildings (SFBs) were found together with at least ten post-built structures. Four of the sunken-featured buildings were clustered in the centre of the site and evidence for timber buildings lay to the northwest, west and east of the site. A wide range of artefacts was recovered from the SFBs. Hammerscale and slag, as well as a vitrified hearth lining were found in association with one of the SFBs suggesting it may have been a blacksmiths workshop. The post-built structures ranged in date throughout the Saxon period and one posssibly dated to the 12th century. A complex area of buildings on the eastern side of the side, possibly comprising three separate buildings, included one that may have been of cruck construction and one that been aisled. This group may have been associated with one of the SFBs which has been interpreted as a blacksmiths workshop, since although there was no corroborative dating, hammerscale was found in postholes associated with each of the buildings. The medieval building may have been associated with lime burning.
Also found on site was an isolated juvenile human burial; degraded stone fragments at the northern end suggest it may have been a pillow burial, although the head and shoulders were absent. A single iron object may have been a knife. A horse burial lay near the southern boundary of the site. The horse's head was at the western end and its front legs had been removed and placed at the northern end at the back of the horse. One surviving horse shoe may be of late 12th century or early 13th century date. At a distance from any structures was a corn drier or oven. A significant amount of charred grain was found in the soil sample for the collapsed roof.

<1> Ashworth H.; Turner C., 1999, Land Off Dando Close, Wollaston, Northamptonshire: Evaluation Report (HN224) (Report). SNN74276.

<2> Turner C.; Wilson N., 2002, Land at Dando Close, Wollaston, Northamptonshire: Phase II Development, p.5 (checked) (Report). SNN102329.

<3> Semmelmann K., 2003, Land at Dando Close, Wollaston, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Assessment Report, September 2003, p.25-27 (checked) (Report). SNN104819.

Record last edited

May 17 2023 3:57PM