Monument record 1301/0/81 - Early middle Saxon settlement

Possible Saxon ditch system was identified during geophysical survey. The interpretation was refined during subsequent excavation when the remains of at least four posthole structures were identified, but no ditch system

{1} Geophysical survey suggested several pit type anomalies and linear responses at the northern side of the proposed development. The linear anomalies were tentatively identified, with the survey stating that they may relate to past cultivation and variations in the underlying bedrock, such as frost cracking.

In the subsequent evaluation, in Trench 2, feature [202] was only partially present within the investigation area and it was therefore uncertain if it represented a pit or the terminus of a ditch. The results of the previous geophysical survey indicated a north-west to south-east aligned linear anomaly at this location, which suggested that the latter interpretation was more likely. The feature contained Roman and Saxon pottery, along with animal bone fragments and frequent charcoal flecks, and as such, was possibly related to the previously identified Saxon activity within the scheduled site, to the immediate north of the current study area.

{3} Excavation identified early-middle Saxon occupation in the form of 130 postholes which have been grouped into a minimum of four structures, six gully or beamslot features and four pits. No ditches were identified.

The remains of a possible hall comprised 12 postholes and was aligned north-east to south-west. It measured c5m wide and a minimum of 10m long, although its full extent lies to the north-east, beyond the limit of excavation. The structure had three internal features – a gully or beamslot and two postholes. A small quantity of animal bone was recovered from the features and a fragment from one posthole has been radiocarbon dated to 665-775 Cal AD (95 per cent confidence, Beta-438008).

Approximately 20m to the south-west of the hall there was a cluster of more than 40 postholes in an area measuring 15m by 10m. Many of them were cut into a spread of clayey silts that had accumulated in a natural hollow, 0.20m deep.Small sherds of early to middle Saxon pottery were recovered and a fragment of antler comb (SF 48). Animal bone fragments were recovered from five of the postholes and a radiocarbon date of 655-725/740-770 Cal AD (95 per cent confidence, Beta-438009) was obtained.

<1> Hood A., 2009, Land at Darsdale Farm, Raunds, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation, 5.6 (checked) (Report). SNN108074.

<2> Reid, A., 2016, Archaeological excavations at Darsdale Farm, Raunds, Northamptonshire, 2015 (Report). SNN110814.

<3> Chinnock, C., 2016, A programme of observation, investigation, recording, analysis and publication, on geotechnical pits at Warth Park Phase 3, Raunds, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN110815.

<4> Reid, A., 2017, Late Iron Age to early Roman and Middle Anglo-Saxon settlement at Darsdale Farm, Raunds (Article). SNN111038.

<5> Horne, B (editor), 2016, South Midlands Archaeology (46), p. 44 (Journal). SNN111326.

<6> Crank, N. (Editor), 2017, South Midlands Archaeology (47), p. 44 (Journal). SNN111362.

Record last edited

Feb 6 2019 1:44PM