Monument record 1557/0/1 - Site of late Bronze Age/early Iron Age and Roman activity

A number of anomalies identified by geophysical survey indicated the possible presence of pits and ditches. Subsequent evaluation identified late Bronze Age/early Iron Age features and a discrete area of probable Roman settlement

{1} A concentration of pit-like responses and trends are of potential interest, the extent being defined by a former enclosure.

{2} A scatter of anomalies suggestive of pits and a number of linear and curvilinear anomalies. These linear anomalies may represent ditched boundaries or land divisions, possibly prehistoric or Roman stock enclosures or paddocks. It is thus possible that these features represent land enclosure associated with the potential enclosed settlement to the north (HER ref 1556/0/1).

{3} Trial trench excavation indicated that the area of activity to the north (HER ref 1556/0/1) dated to the Anglo-Saxon period, while this area was of earlier origin. A possible recut ditch and pit (which was truncated by the ditch) were recorded in one of the trenches. The ditch, which had not been identified by the geophysical survey, contained sherds from a middle Bronze Age vessel and another broadly dated to the Bronze Age, while the upper fill of the pit contained sherds of late Bronze Age/early Iron Age pottery.

To the south and south-east was a discrete area of intercutting ditches dating to the Roman period. The ditches in the southernmost trench did not contain any pottery, but were considered to be associated. While the quantities of pottery and bone from the ditches were not large, they were considered to be sufficiently sizeable to suggest that the ditch system was part of a small farming settlement.

{4} Three undated ditches were identified during observation of development, one crossing the route of the haul road at the northern edge of the site and the other two passing through cable trenches in the eastern part, adjacent to the ‘no-dig’ archaeology zone. The ditches are undated, but their proximity to a discrete area of Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age and Roman activity identified by the evaluation carried out in 2014 suggests that they may be associated. One of the ditches may be a continuation of one identified during the evaluation from which late Bronze Age/early Iron pottery was recovered.

<1> Wood, E., 2013, Geophysical Survey Report G1374: Mile Oak Farm, Towcester, Northamptonshire, p.3 (checked) (Report). SNN109801.

<2> Lucey, D., 2013, Mile Oak Farm, Towcester, Northamptonshire: Heritage Statement, p.16 (checked) (Report). SNN109745.

<3> James, P., 2014, Handley Park, near Abthorpe, Northamptonshire: Archaeological evaluation, p. 7-8 & 14-15 (Report). SNN110603.

<4> Brown, R., 2014, Handley Park, Abthorpe, Northamptonshire: Programme of Archaeological Observation Investigation, Recording, Analysis & Publication, 2014 (Report). SNN110943.

<5> Horne, B (editor), 2015, South Midlands Archaeology (45), p. 36 (Journal). SNN111358.

<6> Crank, N. (Editor), 2017, South Midlands Archaeology (47), p. 35 (Journal). SNN111362.

<7> Cotswold Archaeology, 2022, Site Data from an Archaeological Evaluation at Handley Park, Nr Abthorpe, Northamptonshire 2014, https://doi.org/10.5284/1100095 (Digital archive). SNN114234.

Record last edited

Dec 13 2024 10:35AM