Monument record 1952/0/4 - Middle Iron Age boundary ditch

A middle Iron Age boundary ditch was identified during archaeological investigation prior to residential development. The boundary ditch is aligned approximately north-west to south-east and was traced for c450m.

{2} A substantial ditch, aligned approximately east to west, was recorded in a number of trenches. Pottery was found in only one of the three excavated sections and dated to the later Iron Age.

{3} A substantial ditch was recorded crossing the entire length of the site from east to west. It is unusual as it is very long for a single, continuous feature. It extended for c.400m across the excavated area and beyond to the east for a further c.200m (HER ref. 1952/0/1). The ditch was up to 2.6m wide and 1.05m deep with a wide flat-based V-shaped profile; it contained a small quantity of Middle Iron Age pottery.
A small possible ditch was also identified, which appeared to cut the boundary. This ditch may have been a small drainage channel, flowing into the larger ditch.

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

<2> Gilmour, N., 2012, Land east of Kettering, Phase A: Archaeological evaluation, 2012, p. 18 (Report). SNN110464.

<3> Gilmour, N., 2013, Iron Age Structures and Associated Activity on Land East of Kettering Areas R7 and R8: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design, p.11,13 (checked) (Report). SNN109332.

Record last edited

Jan 28 2026 8:26AM