Monument record 2012 - Probable Iron Age/Roman settlement

Geophysical survey identified parts of a number of enclosures of probable iron Age and/or Roman date. Subsequent trial trench excavation identified a ditch corresponding to the geophysical survey results, but no dating evidence was recovered.

{1} Geophysical survey was undertaken. This area contains extensive positive magnetic anomalies, apparently representing parts of several conjoined ditched enclosures of sub-rectangular form. They cannot be precisely dated, but such enclosures are most typically associated with the Iron Age and
Romano-British periods. Two localised positive anomalies have been tentatively interpreted as pits.

{2} Trial trench excavation was undertaken. At the north-east end of T.10 was a large ditch, aligned north-west to south-east, which appears from the geophysical survey to form part of an enclosure, and a ditch, aligned north to south.
The putative enclosure ditch, although not fully excavated, appeared to be V-shaped, was 4.5m wide and more than 0.8m deep. The lower excavated fills comprised re-deposited natural, sand and gravely clays. Two fills on the west side of the ditch may indicate the presence of a bank to the west, or outer edge of the possible enclosure.
A smaller ditch cut alongside the east side of the in-filled enclosure ditch on a slightly more north-south alignment. It was U-shaped and 1.17m wide x 0.36m deep.
The large ditch corresponds to an anomaly identified from geophysics, appearing to represent two sides of an enclosure which extended beyond the survey area. However only one side was identified in the trenching. Such an enclosure ditch would be expected to date to the Roman period although no pottery was found to confirm this.

Find from topsoil of T9. A large, irregular flake 50mm long x max 29mm wide. On one edge there is retouch along a broad shallow notch. Broadly dated to Neolithic/early Bronze Age.

<1> Walford, J., 2009, An archaeological geophysical survey at Winwick Warren, Northamptonshire September 2009 (Report). SNN107966.

<2> Foard-Colby A., 2010, Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation at Winwick Warren Farm, Northamptonshire, p.6 (checked) (Report). SNN107965.

Record last edited

Jun 23 2021 4:30PM