Monument record 4309 - Possible Iron Age Settlement, Former RAF Harrington

Cropmarks of undated enclosures and other features have been identified on aerial photographs. Geophysical survey and trial trench excavation have identified middle to late Iron Age ditches to the south-east which may be associated, but which have not been previously identified as cropmarks.

{2} Enclosures (SP 766783), lie in the N. of the parish, N.E. of Draughton Lodge, on Northampton Sand and clay at 145 m. above OD. Air photographs (not seen by RCHM) are said to show cropmarks of several irregular adjoining enclosures.

{3} NCCAP:7678/002-3.

{4} Geophysical survey carried out in advance of proposals for a wind farm identified significant levels of archaeological activity in one of the 1ha blocks surveyed.

{5} Archaeological trial trench excavation identified a series of ditches, some of which contained middle to late Iron Age pottery, in the area of potentially significant archaeology identified by the geophysical survey. The ditches may be part of a wider field system; the lack of artefacts indicates that they were located some way from settlement.

<1> Brown, A.E. (Ed.), 1971, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1970 (Air Photography), 5/42 (unchecked) (Article). SNN32714.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.75/Site 6 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<3> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, (unchecked) (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<4> Cook, J., 2007, Geophysical survey report: Harrington wind farm, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN108077.

<5> Hammond, S., 2009, An Archaeological Evaluation on land at the Proposed Harrington Wind Farm, Draughton, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN111962.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 7:54PM