Monument record 3898 - Middle Iron Age settlement, Wilby Way

An agglomerated settlement of c5ha in area comprising both enclosed and 'open' elements. The settlement was occupied for c400 years, with the main area of occupation concentrated in the north-west part and which probably originated in the 6th-5th centuries BC. There have been mulitple phases of archeological investigation since the discovery of a D-shaped enclosure on an aerial photograph in 1960. Fieldwalking in the 1960s recovered Iron Age pottery and in 1967 two trenches were excavated, although only pottery was recovered. Further excavation was undertaken over about half of the D-shaped enclosure in advance of the construction of the A45 in 1979. Further archaeological work was undertaken between 1989-1990 immediately north of the enclosure and then excavation of part of the large Iron Age settlement site was carried out in 1997-8 prior to housing development in areas to the north and east. The main area of the settlement was preserved in situ. In 2013-4 a further part of the settlement was excavated revealing more of the unenclosed domestic focus and two non-domestic enclosures.

+{4}A series of enclosures ranging in date from towards the close of the 1st millennium BC until about the third quarter of the 1st century AD.

{5, 10,11} Fieldwalking undertaken in 1989 recovered c350 sherds of Iron Age pottery. Archaeological trial trenching was carried out subsequent to the fieldwalking survey on parts of the Iron Age pottery scatter. The trenching confirmed the presence of a settlement at least 2ha in size and probably to the middle Iron Age, probably around the 4th century BC. The identified features are mostly those of enclosure ditches and other boundaries, and their distribution over a wide area is consistent with an
interpretation of former use as part of an agricultural site, consisting of settlement and attendant field-system.

{7} Trial trenching was undertaken in 1996 and confirmed the presence of middle/late Iron Age remains, decreasing in intensity, extending outwards from the central protected area.

{8} Open-area excavation was undertaken during September and October 1990 in advance of proposed development works to the north of the D-shaped enclosure. Features included a sub-circular Iron Age enclosure marked out by a shallow gully, enclosing an area of approx 0.075ha. A partially articulated supine burial was excavated. Shallow pits were encountered and a linear ditch was dug through the centre of the enclosure. A series of ditches and gullies traversed the site to the west. These predominantly ran on south west - north east orientations. Within an area interpreted as part of the Iron Age outfield, four parallel ditches were noted spaced 7m apart.

{9, 14} Excavation of part of an Iron Age settlement; three areas were excavated around a central area which has been preserved in situ, in 1996. Evidence from the excavation included ring ditches and enclosures, as well as at least one trackway. Most of the enclosures were relatively small and may have defined working areas or animal pens. Relatively few pits were found and most were shallow. There was plentiful evidence of crop production, with cereal grain and processing debris as well as grain storage facilities. Animal bone suggests the inhabitants relied mainly on cattle and sheep/goat. Small quantities of slag were found. Three inhumations burials were also found.

{12,13} Excavation undertaken in 2013-14 of approximately 0.75ha. The settlement is now believed to be c5ha in extent comprising both open and enclosed elements and was occupied for c400 years. There is no evidence that the outer limit of the settlement was ever enclosed by a single major boundary ditch. Therefore, although essentially open in character, ditches were dug within the settlement to define small enclosures and fields. Based on the results of all archaeological investigations the occupied zone, as indicated by the location of roundhouses, was mainly in the north-west part of the settlement. There were also broad zones where pits and postholes were dug. In contrast with former phases of excavation a greater number of isolated pits were found, often close to roundhouses. Some of the posthole arrangements indicate the presence of 4-post structures, possibly raised granaries. A number of more discrete areas appear to have been set aside for repeated quarrying. Some of the larger, often rectangular, ditched enclosures contained only limited evidence for activity and are therefore interpreted as fields or paddocks. In addition, a dozen smaller ditched enclosures were present. Some ditches were c1m deep, defining small, probably family compounds and some of them contain roundhouses. Many of the roundhouse gullies had been recut on numerous occasions. In the most recent excavation a large number of isolated pits were present often in the vicinity of the roundhouses. Domestic rubbish was found in the pit fills. Only limited evidence for craft production was found including slag. Only 12 iron artefacts were found, including a knife or slicker, a bracelet/armlet and an annular ring. Bone and antler were clearly utilised, as evidenced by the presence of part of a possible bone pin and fragment of a possible sawn antler weaving implement.

<1> Rees G., 2008, Enclosure Boundaries and Settlement Individuality in The Iron Age, (unchecked) (Article). SNN106040.

<2> Pike A. (Editor), 1990, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (20), (unchecked) (Journal). SNN39962.

<3> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, (unchecked) (Article). SNN104441.

<4> O'Hara P., 1990, SMR Report form, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN106568.

<5> Northamptonshire Archaeological Unit, 1989, Site for Hotel and Golf Course off Wilby Way, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Assessment, (unchecked) (Report). SNN102710.

<6> Brett, M., 1998, Wilby Way, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Excavation (Area X) (Report). SNN109444.

<7> Barber A., 1996, Wilby Way, Wellingborough: Archaeological Evaluation (Report). SNN106569.

<8> Barber A., 1996, Wilby Way, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Assessment, p.14 (unchecked) (Report). SNN45123.

<9> Thomas, A., 1998, Wilby Way, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Excavation (Report). SNN109445.

<9> Thomas A.; Enright D., 2003, Excavation of an Iron Age Settlement at Wilby Way, Great Doddington (Article). SNN103879.

<10> Sharman T., 1992, SMR Report form, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN48824.

<11> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, P120 (Checked) (Article). SNN104441.

<12> Luke, M & Barker, J, 2020, Bourton Way, Wellingborough and Station Road, Higham Ferrers: Two middle Iron Age settlements overlooking the River Nene in Northamptonshire (Monograph). SNN112152.

<13> Horne B. (Editor), 2014, South Midlands Archaeology (44), p. 31-2 (Journal). SNN109842.

<14> Thomas A.; Enright D., 1999, Wilby Way, Wellingborough: Post Excavation Assessment, (unchecked) (Report). SNN46572.

<15> Luke, M & Barker, B, 2014, Preliminary report on the archaeological investigations of an Iron Age village at Bourton Way, Wellingborough (Interim Report). SNN112155.

<16> Barker, J, 2015, Bourton Way, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire: Assessment of potential and updated project design (Report). SNN112356.

Record last edited

Jul 10 2023 11:42AM