Monument record 8316 - Iron Age/ Romano-British settlement, south of Stubbs Spinney

Geophysical survey and trial trench excavation have identified several sub-square enclosures, probable roundhouse ring ditches and pits. The evaluation found middle Iron Age pottery in a large enclosure ditch, although early Roman pottery was found in a feature further to the north.

{1} Geophysical survey identified a substantial enclosure complex. The core area extends 130m north-south by 85m east-west but with outlying elements to the west and south. The northern and western arms of the central area are strictly linear, with a sharply right-angled corner, but the eastern and southern arms are more sinuous. Within the northern half of the larger enclosure there is a near square enclosure 55m by 45m, with a southern entrance. It contains a number of certain or probable roundhouse ring ditches and alongside the inner edge of the eastern and southern ditches there appear to be regularly spaced large pits. To the south and east of this enclosure there are numerous other lengths of ditch, including a probable small rectangular enclosure.

To the south of the complex there is a D-shaped enclosure and there are further detached small rectangular enclosures and a number of probable roundhouse ring ditches.

{2} Archaeological trial trench excavation was undertaken. Two trial trenches investigated the south-west corner of the complex identifying a large enclosure ditch from which middle Iron Age pottery was recovered. A small square enclosure to the south also contained middle Iron Age pottery. At the northern edge of the complex two ditches were investigated. Early Roman pottery was found which would seem to either be intrusive or suggest a continuation of activity here into the Early Roman period.

<1> Butler A., 2010, Archaeological geophysical survey on land east of Kettering, Northamptonshire, p.10 (checked) (Report). SNN107967.

<2> Butler A., 2011, Archaeological Geophysical Survey on land East of Kettering, Northamptonshire 2010-2011 January 2011 (Report). SNN108239.

<3> Lewis, T, 2021, Hanwood Park, Land east of Kettering Phase 2, Archaeological Evaluation Report (Report). SNN112564.

<4> Crank, N. (Editor), 2023, South Midlands Archaeology (53), P. 74 (Journal). SNN116414.

Record last edited

Jun 24 2024 3:22PM