Monument record 1344/1 - Neolithic/ Bronze Age round barrow (Barrow 9)

A double ring ditch visible on aerial photographs at SP 96147050 was completely excavated. The mound had been ploughed out in antiquity. Five burials were located, in four graves. The central burial had no grave-goods, but there was evidence for a mortuary structure. One burial was accompanied by a Beaker. No other artefacts were recovered.

{1} The presence of ditches corresponding to the double ring ditch identified on aerial photographs was confirmed in trial trench 45 during the assessment. The monument was not covered by alluvium. The areas immediately to N, E and S had been destroyed by the early modern quarry, so that it was impossible to
determine whether the barrow lay on a spur of the gravel terrace or on a gravel island.
The monument comprised a sub-ovoid mound, approximately 35m long (E-W) and 25m wide. The mound had been truncated by plough action, spreading the mound material at least a further 15m to the N and S. No features could be located under the mound, and the only finds from within it were undiagnostic flint flakes. The mound, however, was cut by a Roman gully. If the barrow was being denuded during the late Bronze Age or Iron Age, the mound must date to the later Iron Age or early Roman period.
The mound sealed both the inner and outer ring ditches of the barrow. Plough damage removed any chance of establishing a stratigraphic sequence between the mound and the ditches. Nor was it possible determine the height to which the barrow originally stood. Four graves containing five burials were found within the
inner circuit.
A possible sequence can be proposed on the basis of secondary evidence. The central burial and the inner ring ditch would represent Phase 1; the outer circuit would represent an enlargement of the monument, Phase 2, in line with the sequences at better preserved sites. Some, and perhaps all of the satellite graves could either belong to or postdate this phase.
It seems likely that the barrow was built to commemorate the individual buried in the central grave. Although this did not contain grave goods, there was evidence for the provision of a timber mortuary structure such as a coffin.
The only accompanied burial was the infant inhumation which contained a Beaker. Perhaps of equal significance was the location of a secondary, neonatal burial in the grave. This is unlikely to have been an accidental occurrence. The infant grave, therefore, was that of an important individual. It would be tempting to suggest a relationship, perhaps familial, with the central burial; in the absence of direct evidence, however, such a suggestion can only be speculative.

{4} Trench 45 located the double concentric ditched ring ditch known from aerial photos. The outer ditch was 9.5m away from the inner ditch. It was 0.8m wide and 0.3m deep. A post hole was cut just on the outside of the ditch. The inner ditch was 1.6m wide and 0.8m deep.

{6} The ploughed-out remains of the barrow mound sealed both the inner and outer ring ditches. Plough damage removed any chance of establishing a stratigraphic sequence between the mound and the ditches. Both ring ditches describe slightly irregular, flattened concentric circles.
The diameter of the outer ditch is 35.5-38m. It varies substantially in width and depth around its circuit: 2.95- 4.2m wide and 0.88-1.28m deep, and has a broad U profile, with steep sides tapering into a flat or slightly concave bottom. The primary fill consisted of slippage from the barrow mound or the natural gravel. Later fills were more characteristic of rapid infilling, probably due to plough action.
The double ring ditches are somewhat irregular in size and shape. There was no other evidence, however, for gang working during the construction of the monument. It is conceivable that the variable size reflects no more than a need for additional quarry material in constructing the mound.

{8} Cropmark; 1976; double ring ditch situated in an area surrounded by C19 and C20 quarrying; SP 7050 9613; 36M outer diameter and 21m inner diameter; NCC Aerial Photograph:SP9670/1-2+15-19+21

{9} Aerial photography 1982, double ring ditch.

{1} Gives range of radiocarbon dates. The primary burial is radiocarbon dated to 2200–1950 cal BC (3645±45 BP (OxA-5543); 3750±55 BP (OxA-5544)). A peripheral burial of a child is radiocarbon dated to 2140–1920 cal BC (3690±40 BP (OxA-5545); 3615±45 BP (OxA-5546)).

<1> OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT, 1992, Redlands Farm, Stanwick: Site Narrative, p.23-30 (checked) (Report). SNN69021.

<2> Keevill G.D., 1991, Evaluations and Excavations in Northamptonshire by The Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1989-90 (Ditchford and Stanwick), 23-101 (checked) (Article). SNN62113.

<3> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs (Photographs). SNN104822.

<4> Moore, J., 1989, Stanwick, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Assessment March 1989, p. 5 (Report). SNN43486.

<5> Moore, J., 1989, SMR Report Form (SMR Report Form). SNN104807.

<6> OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT, 1992, Redlands Farm, Stanwick: Site Narrative, p. 23-30 (Report). SNN69021.

<7> Keevill G.D., 1991, Evaluations and Excavations in Northamptonshire by The Oxford Archaeological Unit, 1989-90 (Ditchford and Stanwick), 23/201 (Article). SNN62113.

<8> 1987, AP PLAN FILE(NCC) (Uncertain). SNN37310.

<9> Foard G.; Richardson D., 1983, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1982 (Aerial Photography), 18/182 (Notes). SNN100412.

<10> Harding, J. and Healy, F., 2011, The Raunds Area Project: A Neolithic and Bronze Age Landscape in Northamptonshire Volume 2 Supplementary Studies (Report). SNN108037.

<11> KeevillG, & Bradley, P, 1994, Redlands Farm, Stanwick, Northamptonshire: Redlands Farm, Stanwick, Northamptonshire: The Prehistoric Evidence: Post-Excavation Project Design (Report). SNN114105.

<12> Bradley, P, 1994, Redlands Farm, Stanwick, Northamptonshire: Long Barrow: Landscape Unit Description (Report). SNN114106.

Record last edited

Oct 6 2023 9:39AM