Monument record 2666/1 - Possible Bronze Age Cemetery

A number of fragmentary Bronze Age burials were revealed during ironstone quarrying. Both inhumation and cremation burials were found, three of the latter being accompanied by small collared urns of the later secondary series. There was no surviving barrow mound or ditch.

{1} A number of fragmentary Bronze Age burials were revealed during ironstone quarrying. Both inhumation and cremation burials were found, three of the latter being accompanied by small collared urns of the later secondary series. There was no surviving barrow mound or ditch. The site had been extensively disturbed by intensive animal burrowing and possibly by early ploughing and all the burials had been damaged in some way. It is also possible that other burials may not have survived. A considerable amount of limestone, including some quite large slabs, was also found. Presumably it had originally laid in an artificial position on the old ground surface.

Three inhumation burials and a pelvis suggestive of a fourth were found. All were orientated from NNW to SSE with the head at the latter end, and burial might have been in a crouched or contracted position. No grave goods were found. A young adult female was buried in a grave but it was sufficiently shallow for the later internment of another body on top damaged the skull and possibly also the leg bones which were missing; it is assumed that the burial was formerly crouched or contracted. The burial on top of this was that of a young adult male although no trace of a grave survived. Due to disturbance the former position of the burial could not be ascertained. To the north of these two burials was a third, that of a girl, probably about 13/14 years old. This burial comprised a few rib and leg bones: the leg bones were at right angles to the orientation of the body, suggesting burial was probably in a crouched manner.

The remains of at least six cremations were found, either placed in shallow pits or depressions or associated with dark ashy patches which may be the remains of the fire or small pyre. In three instances small collared urns were found with the bones, and two of these urns were proved to have been accessory vessels placed with the cremations. Perhaps the bones were held in perishable containers of wood, leather or textile as was suggested with one of the other cremations. 3 pits or post holes were found near the cremations, along with other areas of darker soil containing human bone, suggesting there were other cremation burials on the site. Two of the three urns are small in comparison with others, the third has a barrel profile and is unusually tall [illustrations on p. 11-12].

Although there was no surviving barrow mound or ditch, it seems likely that the burials would have been covered by individual low mounds or possibly by a stone cairn or composite barrow which was later robbed and ploughed out. The maze of animal burrows recorded is such as to be expected beneath a mound, and considerable amounts of limestone had subsided on the site after being undermined by the burrows. The minimum diameter for a cairn or barrow large enough to cover all the burials could not have been less than approx 15 metres, and as it is highly probable that the inhumation burials as well as the cremation burials are of Bronze Age date, several periods of deposition should be envisaged.



{2} Burial remains have been revealed by topsoil stripping prior to quarrying for iron ore. 4 inhumations and 4 cremation burials have so far been found, three of the latter being accompanied by small Middle Bronze Age cinerary urns. Work on the site is continuing.

{4} During ironstone mining four inhumations and at least six cremation burials were discovered and excavated. Three of the cremations were associated with small Collared Urns.

<1> JACKSON D.A., 1974, Bronze Age Burials at Weldon, Northamptonshire, 9/3-13 (checked) (Article). SNN40046.

<2> Brown, A E (ed), 1971, Bulletin of the Northamptonshire Federation of Archaeological Societies, 5/4 (checked) (Journal). SNN13960.

<3> 1971, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (1), 1/4 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN58359.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.164 site 2 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 8:15PM