Monument record 7816/0/6 - Probable late Iron Age farmstead and possible late Saxon/early medieval plots

A series of archaeological investigations identified a ring ditch and a small rectangular enclosure as well as further boundaries. A number of pits and post holes were recorded, including a small pit containing the remains of a human cremation and associated late Iron Age pottery. Later ditches may represent an early phase of land division, perhaps dating to the late Saxon to early medieval period

{1} Geophysical survey was undertaken. The survey plot is dominated by strong linear responses, some likely to be indicative of ditched features. Positive anomaly C in the northern part of the field possibly forms the corner of a small ditched enclosure, perhaps with D forming part of the south-eastern edge, although this cannot be traced far. Ditch A runs north-west to south-east, curving slightly at its north-western end, becoming less distinct to the south-east. A short curving anomaly (B) may also represent a ditched feature, but becomes less clear to the north and west.
Linear features of possible archaeological origin are present in the northern part of the field potentially earlier than the ridge and furrow here.

{2} Trial trench excavation was undertaken in 2014. Trench 1: A linear ditch 1m wide x 0.27m deep. The ditch was identified by the geophysical survey and is likely to be an enclosure ditch. No dateable artefacts were recovered from the ditch, nor its continuation in Trench 2.The morphology of these features suggests that they relate to parts of field systems or enclosures associated with a pre-medieval system of land division. The lack of dating evidence suggests an agricultural function rather than settlement-related.
Trench 3: a ditch towards the south end of the trench as identified by geophysical survey. It was aligned north-west to south-east, with steep sides and a rounded base, 1.93m wide x 0.57m deep. This large ditch appears to be a former boundary ditch, pre-dating the ridge and furrow on the site. It relates to parts of field systems or enclosures associated with a pre-medieval system of land division. The lack of dating evidence suggests an agricultural function rather than settlement-related.
Trench 4: Two parallel north-west to south-east aligned linear cuts. Ditch 404 was 1.85m wide x at least 0.45m deep. Adjacent to the west was a narrow gully 0.3m wide x 0.3m deep. Immediately to the west were a further two parallel cuts on a north-east to south-west alignment. Ditch cut 417 was up to 1.55m wide x 0.64m deep and adjacent to the west ditch 402 was up to 2.15m wide x 0.78m deep, with very steep sides and a concave base. It is possible that these four ditches cross or connect just to the north of Trench 4. Further to the west in the trench was another ditch pre-dating the ridge and furrow, a north-west to south-east aligned ditch 0.8m wide x 0.6m deep. The ditch had steeply convex sides and a flat base. Cutting this ditch was a modern ditch, probably machine-excavated.

{3} Archaeological excavation undertaken in 2016 revealed the remains of an Iron Age settlement comprising a ring ditch, a rectangular enclosure, pits, post holes, a cremation and a number linear ditches which probably define enclosures and fields. The ring ditch was likely to be the remains of a roundhouse, but it was severely truncated and no internal features survived. The small square enclosure to the north may have been an animal pen, but no material evidence survived to support this. The small enclosure and ring ditch appear to be contemporary with the larger enclosed areas to the north, possibly fields. Cremated human bone was found in a pit close to an entrance into the southern enclosure; the rim of a late Iron Age pot was also found in the fill. Environmental evidence was poor, but did suggest activities taking place during the final stages of crop-processing.
A small number of undated features post-dated this settlement but clearly pre-dated the medieval ridge and furrow and may represent an early phase of land division, perhaps dating to the late Saxon to early medieval period.

<1> Malone S.J., 2013, Land at High Street, Naseby, Northamptonshire: Geophysical Survey, November 2013, p.3-4 (checked) (Report). SNN109619.

<2> Murray L., 2014, Archaeological Evaluation on Land at High Street, Naseby, Northamptonshire, January 2014, p.2-5 (checked) (Report). SNN109618.

<3> Trimble, D., 2017, Archaeological excavation on land off High Street and Cottesbrooke Road, Naseby, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN110953.

Record last edited

Apr 26 2023 10:07AM