Monument record 2580/0/7 - Early Saxon cemetery and settlement, north-west of Cowpasture Spinney

Archaeological investigation prior to development identified a large Saxon cemetery, the largest so far found in the county. 154 Anglo-Saxon burials were found with many grave goods. Unusually there was also evidence of contemporary settlement comprising a cluster of 22 buildings with a further 20 more dispersed across the site.

{1} To the east of the ring ditch (2008/0/1) and partially seen in the trench was a rectangular grave measuring 1.7m long and at least 1m wide. The grave was aligned approx north-south with the head to the south. The grave was not fully exposed or excavated with the remaining contents left insitu. An iron shield boss, a copper alloy buckle and plate and an iron strip were recovered during the metal detecting survey. The artefacts together with the location of the grave outside the ring ditch suggests that this was a high status Anglo-Saxon burial of the 6th-century, which may have been interred considerably later than the construction of the Ring Ditch itself.

{2} Archaeological excavation identified 154 Saxon burials with a wide-range of grave goods totalling nearly 3,000 objects (including 25 spears, 40 knives, 15 shield bosses, 150 brooches, 15 rings, 75 wrist clasps, 15 chatelaines and over 2000 beads, as well as evryday objects such as cosmetic kits and bone combs). It is the largest cemetery of this date yet found in the county. Unusually evidence of contemporary settlement was also found, comprising a cluster of 22 buildings (both sunken featured buildings and post-built structures) along with a further 20 more dispersed across the site, associated with field systems.

<1> Simmonds C., 2011, Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation on Land at Overstone Leys, Overstone, Northamptonshire Phase 2, p.17 (checked) (Report). SNN107939.

<2> Current Archaeology, 2021, Northamptonshire’s largest Anglo-Saxon cemetery discovered (Note). SNN112661.

<3> Crank, N. (Editor), 2023, South Midlands Archaeology (53), P. 66-70 (Journal). SNN116414.

Record last edited

Jan 8 2026 2:27PM