Monument record 8436/0/1 - Iron Age boundary and settlement, Roman field systems and Anglo-Saxon settlement, Milton Ham

Archaeological excavation prior to development identified a significant Iron Age boundary which was over 320m long and possible settlement including a small enclosure. Three separate Roman field systems were probably associated with a settlement located to the north-east [HER no 7221]. A dispersed Anglo-Saxon settlement, including a sunken-featured building and a small cemetery was also identified.

{1} Geophysical survey identified several linear anomalies probably caused by infilled ditch features. Parallel, linear anomalies may be caused by ridge and furrow although a series of field drains could also account for the anomalies.

{2} Archaeological excavation was undertaken prior to development. The earliest phase of activity dated to the Iron Age with the construction of a significant boundary feature aligned north-west to south-east. The initial phase of the boundary comprised intermittent lengths of ditch and pits later consolidated into a pit alignment at least 320m long continuing beyond the limit of excavation to the north-west and south-east . Other Iron Age features included a trackway, a small, possibly D-shaped, enclosure and scattered pits.

Roman activity comprised three separate field systems formed by a series of 49 bedding trenches covering an area of c2ha. A small number of postholes were identified around the bedding trenches. Virtually no artefacts were recovered from these features. Pollen analysis conducted to ascertain the use of the trenches was not successful.

Dispersed Anglo-Saxon features included a sunken-featured building and a timber structure situated on the west side of the site, spaced c70m apart. A small inhumation cemetery comprised of four burials was situated c120m east of these structures. One of the burials included a number of grave goods.

The pottery is mainly Anglo-Saxon in date, with a smaller Iron Age assemblage and eleven residual Roman sherds. Most of the Anglo-Saxon pottery was associated with the sunken-featured building. A number of residual worked flints were found in the Iron Age pit alignment and the Roman bedding trenches. Finds associated with weaving were recovered from the sunken-featured building and grave goods from one of the burials included two early 5th-to mid-6th century copper alloy cruciform brooches and a glass bead necklace. A possible knife blade and brooch pin were also found.

<1> Bonsall, J. & Webb, A., 2002, Land at Milton Ham, M1 junction 15a, Northamptonshire: Geophysical Survey, (checked) (Report). SNN102130.

<2> King, A & Leslie, I, 2021, Milton Ham, Northampton: Post-fieldwork Assessment and Updated Project Design for Analysis, Publication and Archiving (Report). SNN112554.

<3> Crank, N. (Editor), 2021, South Midlands Archaeology (51), p. 50 (Journal). SNN113326.

Record last edited

May 4 2022 9:32AM