Monument record 7277 - Late Iron Age & Romano-British Farmstead, Pineham

Archaeological investigation prior to development identified a Iron Age/Roman settlement and associated field systems. In the 2nd/1st century BC a small farming settlement was established, and continued in occupation until the late 4th century AD, although there may have been a brief hiatus in occupation in the 3rd century AD. The settlement underwent significant morphological changes during its history and at least four main phases have been identified. Associated with the settlement were three cremation burials, dating to the late 1st/early 2nd century, a circular stone and timber building and a T-shaped malting oven.

{1} Geophysical survey identified a clearly defined area of settlement comprising strong ditch type anomalies forming a pattern of enclosures. The majority are rectilinear and on the same alignment; however there are some anomalies which overlap and/or are on different alignments, suggesting multiple phases of activity. It is comparable to the sites identified in the Phase I investigations.

{3} A trial trench evaluation was carried out in advance of development on three fields to the south-east of Kislingbury, adjacent to the M1 motorway. Six of the twelve trenches excavated found archaeology in areas where previous geophysical and fieldwalking work had identified sites. Trenches 2 and 5 to 9 contained extensive evidence of a 1st to 2nd century A.D. Romano-British occupation site, with a number of construction phases the site is likely to have comprised a mixture of small timber buildings within regular rectilinear enclosures.

{6}Archaeological investigation prior to development identified a Iron Age/Roman settlement and associated field systems.

In the middle to late Iron Age three discreet clusters of unenclosed activity were identified which
comprised ring ditches, gullies and pits. In the 1st century AD settlement continued in the same area as the late Iron Age but was greatly extended. The settlement comprised a substantial system of rectilinear enclosures representing a farmstead and associated fields. The main component comprised a large rectangular enclosure that was c1.7 hectare in size. Two ring ditches were constructed within a double ditched enclosure which directly overlay one of the Iron Age roundhouses. Three cremations burials, of which two contained accessory vessels, were located on the south-western periphery of the settlement. The pottery assemblage recovered from these features was primarily of mid 1st to mid-2nd century date though some of the enclosure ditches contained later assemblages suggesting their continuation into the subsequent phase. The majority of the animal bone came from the enclosure ditches surrounding the settlement area and would appear to be indicative of domestic debris being disposed of in areas away from the main domestic focus. Secondary evidence, such as kiln bars, suggests industrial activity within the settlement though no direct evidence survived for a pottery kiln structure.

During the mid 2nd to early 3rd century AD there was further development of the layout with new enclosures being established, although with some retention of the more substantial ditches of the preceding phase. In the northern part there was a large rectangular enclosure, within which smaller enclosure were incorporated. These enclosures may have been associated with agricultural activities as a Tshaped drying oven was located just to the north. To the south an enclosure contained a roundhouse which was constructed in the previous phase. There was an increase in activity to the east of the main enclosure system with new enclosures constructed. The layout of these ditches would suggest that a routeway divided the eastern and western enclosures allowing a north
to south movement between them. Beyond the northern and southern limits of the enclosures, several ditches were identified that may have defined two field systems.

This phase produced the largest pottery assemblage of all the phases. Of these, several large individual assemblages were recovered from the enclosure ditches close to the domestic areas such as the ring ditches and drying oven. A sizeable animal bone assemblage was recorded which was spread fairly evenly across the site. The pottery is consistent with a mid Roman date from the mid to late 2nd century AD with evidence for activity decreasing by the late 2nd century AD.

Following a possible hiatus in activity during much of the 3rd century, a more consolidated reorganisation of the enclosure system occurred and continued into the late 4th century. A new system of rectilinear enclosures was established that replaced the majority of the earlier Phase 4 system. Three foci of activity were identified with a shift back towards the west, a decrease in activity to the east and a new series of enclosures established to the south on previously unused land. The majority of the pottery recovered from these features was of late 3rd to late 4th century date.

<1> GSB Prospection, 2000, Upton II Northamptonshire, p.3 (checked) (Report). SNN100704.

<2> Morris S., 2002, Fieldwalking Survey at Pineham West Northampton November 2001, p.5 (checked) (Report). SNN105067.

<3> Pears B., 2005, Archaeological Evaluation at Pineham North, Upton, Northamptonshire, p.10 (checked) (Full Report). SNN105288.

<4> Carlyle S., 2007, Archaeological Excavation at Pineham North, Upton, Northampton: Settlement 2, Assessment Report, p.7 (checked) (Report). SNN106236.

<5> BROWN J., 2007, The Industrial Infrastructure Strip, Map and Sample Areas at Pineham Barn, Upton, Northampton: Assessment Report, p.9-10(checked) (Report). SNN106237.

<6> Preece, T, 2018, Archaeological excavation on land at Pineham, Upton, Northamptonshire, July 2006 to September 2006, p.9-10 (checked) (Report). SNN112259.

Record last edited

Jun 18 2021 2:25PM