Monument record 6865 - Early-middle Iron Age field system, south of Banbury Lane

Archaeological excavation prior to housing development identified a field system extending over c0.7ha and continuing to the west, probably in use during the early-middle Iron Age. However, the scarcity of material artefacts from the ditch fills indicates that it lay at some distance from any settlement core.

{1} Three linear positive anomalies: one was on a north-west to south-east alignment, with two others perpendicular to this. These form ditched enclosures that may relate to a nearby Iron Age settlement site.
The ditches may be field boundaries relating to the Iron Age settlement nearby.

{2} The series of linear anomalies identified by geophysical survey were investigated. Within Trenches 5, 8, 9, 10 12 and 14 they proved to be ditches; clearly part of a single system which extended over at least 2ha. The small quantity of recovered finds and ecofacts suggests that this evidence represents a field system, located some distance from a major settlement focus, although it did contain localised areas of activity.
A field system comprised of fields defined by single boundary ditches, although, in a few places, parallel ditches c. 5m apart are suggestive of trackways or double boundaries.
The main field system is aligned NW-SE, apparently to the south of an extensive ditched boundary. The dating of the system within the development area is based on a small number of early-middle Iron Age pottery sherds and absence of Roman pottery. Field systems of this type, apparently un-associated with settlements, are notoriously difficult to date without the presence of material suitable for scientific dating. It is, therefore, not impossible that some of the field boundaries within the development area, perhaps those on a different alignment, were originally created in the middle-late Bronze Age.

A banjo-shaped, possible oven was also located. The pit/oven area was c.1 .4m in diameter; the linear/flue-type element was c.0.4m wide to the south. Both parts of the oven were under 0.2m deep. As well as its shape, the presence of a thin band of burnt clay along with tiny quantities of charcoal flecks has led to this feature’s identification as a possible oven. Ecofactual samples contained moderate quantities of wood charcoal but no charred plant remains.

{3} Archaeological excavation found that the ditch system covered c0.7ha, continuing to the west. It comprised three principal ditches. All three produced pottery, albeit in small quantities. There are few diagnostic sherds, but a date in the early/midde Iron Age (5th-4th century BC) is suggested. Some of the features interpreted as ditches in the evaluation were shown to be banding in the underlying natural geology.

<1> Simmonds C.; Butler A., 2010, Archaeological Geophysical Survey on Land South of Banbury Lane, Northampton, p.3-4 (checked) (Report). SNN107269.

<2> Barker B.; Luke M., 2011, Land at Banbury Lane, Pineham, Northampton: Archaeological Field Evaluation, p.11-12,17 (checked) (Report). SNN107251.

<3> Holmes M., 2012, Archaeological Excavation on Land off Banbury Lane, Pineham, Northampton: Assessment Report and Updated Project Design (Report). SNN109202.

Record last edited

Mar 8 2021 10:30AM