Monument record 1953/0/17 - Late Neolithic/early Bronze Age and Iron Age activity, Cranford Business Park

Archaeological investigation identified a probable late Neolithic/early Bronze Age ring ditch and a group of early Bronze Age cremations. The remains of a possible Iron Age shrine and further evidence of Iron Age activity was also recorded.

{2} Trial trenching of the site was undertaken. In Trench 47 there was a small rectangular enclosure measuring 9m by 11m internally with an entrance to the south-east. This may be a shrine- a fairly loose term for this type of feature, but in general they are known to be rectangular in plan, with an entrance to either the east or south-east and rarely exceed 10m. They are generally attributed to the late Iron Age. In trench 44 was a large pennanular feature with a diameter of c20m. No internal features were identified.

In Trench 38 there was a sub-circular enclosure measuring only c 14m by 17 internally but with substantial ditches. It also contained substantial internal ditches. There is potential for this to be a form of ritual enclosure.

{3} Open area excavation identified a large ring‐ditch, of probable Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age date. Some distance to the west of this a small group of cremations was found, which appear to be of Early Bronze Age date. A subrectangular ditched feature revealed close to the southern limit of the area may represent the remains of an Iron Age shrine, while further Iron Age ditches and pits were also recorded across the site. Some of the Iron Age pits may have been related to ironworking.

<1> Richardson, T, 2015, A14 Junction 10, Kettering, Northamptonshire. Geophysical Survey Report (Report). SNN110466.

<2> Bush, L., 2016, Cranford Business Park, Kettering, February 2016, p. 25 (Report). SNN110465.

<3> Gilmour, N., 2018, Cranford Business Park, Kettering: Post-excavation assessment and updated project design, August 2017, p. 13 (Report). SNN111201.

<4> Horne, B (editor), 2016, South Midlands Archaeology (46), p. 46 (Journal). SNN111326.

<5> Crank, N. (Editor), 2017, South Midlands Archaeology (47), p. 45 (Journal). SNN111362.

<6> Oxford Archaeology (Cambridge), 2024, Data from Archaeological Excavations at Cranford Business Park, Kettering, Northamptonshire, 2016, https://doi.org/10.5284/1124302 (Digital archive). SNN116662.

Record last edited

Nov 26 2024 3:42PM