Monument record 4023/1 - Possible Early Iron Age Ironworking

Excavation prior to ironstone quarrying in the 1970s identified evidence of iron-working including a furnace. Although undated, nearby early Iron Age features contained slag suugesting it may be associated.

{1} The site of an iron working furnace was found in the valley just south of Areas 1 and 2. All that remained was an oval, bowl-shaped depression 0.8m x 0.55m and 0.1m deep. The surrounding natural clay was scorched. A large quantity of slag from this furnace (and possibly others in the area) had been dumped into an old watercourse some 6m west of the furnace. The large amount present suggests that the furnace was used many times, or that there was more than one furnace. Only one other patch of burning was observed nearby, and though roughly circular it was too small to assess its full size or function. A magnetometer survey carried out on the unquarried land located a strong anomoly, possibly another furnace, immediate south of the excavated example.

{3} Further quarying in 1978 exposed additional features including a bowl-shaped iron-smelthing hearth.

<1> JACKSON D., 1982, Great Oakley and Other Iron Age Sites in The Corby Area, p.3-14 (checked) (Article). SNN40120.

<2> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1979, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1978, p.103 (checked) (Article). SNN45225.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.196 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<5> David, A E U, 1981, Geophysics: Great Oakley (Report). SNN113170.

Record last edited

Apr 22 2024 3:14PM