Monument record 2008/0/20 - Undated enclosures

{1} Rectilinear positive anomalies that reflect possible ditched enclosures adjacent the watercourse. A broad geological anomaly divides these enclosures which either respect the edge of it or the anomalies are subsumed by it.

{4} The trial trenching proved the presence of enclosure ditches and some internal features, which had not been seen on the geophysical survey. The trenching also suggested that there were further features to the west, but owing to their ephemeral nature on the geophysical survey it was difficult to see how they related to one another.
The enclosures as defined by the geophysical survey comprised two rectangular areas encompassing at least 0.7 ha on a south-west to north-east alignment.
The northern part was defined by a ditch aligned south-west to north-east measuring 1.35m wide and up to 0.5m deep. There were a number of features within the enclosures although it is not known whether they are contemporary with the enclosure ditches.
The southern block was defined on its north-eastern and north-western side by a ditch between 1.9m and 2.42m wide and up to 0.91m deep with a V-shaped profile and eroded upper edges. On the top of the slope the primary stoney fill tipped from south to north indicating a possible bank to the south.
A ditch in Trench 73 may have been a sub division of a larger enclosure. It was aligned south-west to north-east and was 1.68m wide and 0.62m deep with a rounded base and slightly asymmetrical profile.
A circular posthole was seen but no other features encountered in the evaluation appear to be associated with it. The posthole was 0.2m in diameter and 0.08m deep with a U-shaped profile.
To the south-east of the posthole were two parallel gullies and a third gully. The parallel gullies were aligned south-west to north-east and spaced 3m apart, by contrast the third gully was aligned west to east. They were between 0.36m and 0.65m wide and up to 0.25m deep with U-shaped profiles. The two parallel gullies match a faint geophysical anomaly which may be a track way along the brow of the slope.

<1> Butler A., 2009, Archaeological Geophysical Survey at Overstone Leys, Northamptonshire April 2009, p.7 (checked) (Report). SNN107975.

<2> Chapman P. (Ed.), 2010, Archaeology in Northamptonshire, 2009 (36), 36/187, 188 (checked) (Article). SNN107503.

<3> Horne B. (Editor), 2010, South Midlands Archaeology (40), 40/19 (checked) (Journal). SNN107083.

<4> Simmonds C., 2011, Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation on Land at Overstone Leys, Overstone, Northamptonshire Phase 2, p.20 (checked) (Report). SNN107939.

Record last edited

Mar 15 2013 10:28AM