Monument record 1765/0/10 - Early Bronze Age ponds, Stanwick Quarry

Archaeological watching brief undertaken ahead of gravel quarrying identified a small pond. There is no apparent reason why there should be a natural hollow in this area, and it must be assumed that a large pit had been dug out sometime in the early Bronze Age.

{1} A small oval pond some 15m in diameter and up to 0.6m deep, with a shallow, bowl-shaped profile. No organic material had survived, but a single length of partially carbonised blackthorn roundwood has given a radiocarbon date of 1600-1410 cal BC (68% confidence, 3220+/-60 BP, Beta-188364). There is no apparent reason why there should be a natural hollow in this area, and it must be assumed that a large pit had been dug out sometime in the early Bronze Age. The nature of the pit fills shows that it had subsequently held water for some considerable time, presumably after an initial accumulation of eroded silts and silty clays had effectively created an impervious layer within the pit.
A further possible similar small pond lay to the east, but on the margin of the shallow water area and at the southern end of the glacial lake in an area of complex deposits, and so was less clearly defined.

<1> Chapman, A., 2004, Prehistoric palaeochannels and a ring ditch at Stanwick Quarry, Northamptonshire (watching brief 2002-2004) (Article). SNN112189.

<1> Chapman, A., 2004, Prehistoric palaeochannels and a ring ditch at Stanwick Quarry, Northamptonshire (watching brief 2002-2004), p.14 (checked) (Full Report). SNN105065.

<2> CBA South Midlands Group, 2003, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (33), 33/55 (checked) (Journal). SNN103380.

Record last edited

Apr 24 2025 2:17PM