Monument record 9783/0/1 - Possible prehistoric/Roman enclosures

A group of linear anomalies which form a pattern of probable enclosure or boundary ditches. Subsequent trial trenching identified a small number of ditches one of which contained early Roman pottery. Excavations followed and identified ditches, which include a Roman boundary ditch, pits and the remains of an auroch's skull and horns Summary from record 9783/0/2: A series of four parallel linear anomalies. Possibly cultivation trenches

{1} A group of linear anomalies which are obscured by the intense magnetic responses from a network of modern pipes. A ‘T’ shaped set of anomalies in the west and a further set of anomalies in the east appear to represent parts of a coherent pattern of boundary or enclosure ditches.A group of four parallel, evenly spaced linear anomalies, the origin of which is not clear. They could represent a set of cultivation trenches, or they could have a more modern cause such as field drains, but in either case their apparently restricted extent is not readily explicable.

{2} Trial trench evaluation identified a small number of archaeological features in two trenches in the north-western corner of the site. One of these features, a ditch, was dated to the late Iron Age/early Roman periods (1st to early 2nd centuries AD). The ditches were located close to the geophysical anomlies identified previously.

{5} Excavation undetaken in 2020 identified a small number of archaeological features. This included Roman field boundary ditches and two smaller ditches, along with some pits. The remains of an auroch's skull and horns were recovered from a test pit. A radiocarbon date of the auroch remains yielded a date of >50,000 BP and therefore, it is likely that the remains belonged to a wild auroch pre-dating any human acitvity on the site.

<1> Walford, J., 2015, Archaeological geophysical survey at Plot B, Pytchley Lodge Farm, Kettering Northamptonshire August 2015, (checked) (Report). SNN110268.

<2> Kidd, B., 2016, Trial trench evaluation on land at Symmetry Park Kettering, Northamptonshire October 2016 (Report). SNN110782.

<3> Horne, B (editor), 2016, South Midlands Archaeology (46), p. 42 (Journal). SNN111326.

<4> Crank, N. (Editor), 2017, South Midlands Archaeology (47), p. 42 (Journal). SNN111362.

<5> Owain Scholma-Mason, Robert Falvey, Beth Doyle, 2022, Land at Symmetry Park, Kettering, Northamptonshire: Post-excavation report (Report). SNN116531.

<6> Horne, B (editor), 2016, South Midlands Archaeology (46), P. 42 (Journal). SNN111326.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 8:03PM