Monument record 3084/0/57 - Area of medieval settlement, including evidence of iron-working

A number of medieval refuse pits have been excavated, some of which contain evidence of both iron smithing and smelting. A possible building was also identified

{1} A possible building was identified, but it was not excavated and undated making interpretation difficult, particularly because only part of the structure was within the excavation area. A possible clay floor measuring 4m by 5m may have been bounded to the west by a timber wall defined by four postholes. The floor and posthole fills were similar, all the features contained dark yellowish brown clay loam while the floor also included some limestone fragments.

Four pits which contained iron slag were found within a five metre area. Two pits were partially excavated. One pit was subcircular with a diameter of 0.6m, some 0.4m deep and filled by dark yellowish brown loam, the other was subcircular 1.5m long, more than 1m wide and 0.6m deep. Its fill contained large amounts of iron slag as well as frequent pieces of charcoal with burning at the base of
the feature. The quantity of slag suggests that there was a furnace nearby. Several animal bones, as well as pottery sherds dated up to 1150-1225, shows that it was also used as a rubbish pit. Further pits contained pottery dating betwen the 9th and 15th centuries and one large pit may have been a quarry.

{2} In one of the trenches there was a large medieval refuse pit which truncated graves in the earlier cemtery. Pottery from the fill of the pit dated it to the 12th century. There was a wide range of finds including evidence of iron-working, charred cereal processing waste, animal bone and pottery. Of the crop-processing waste, wheat, and most specifically bread wheat type, is the principal crop represented, and it is assumed that the oats, barley and rye are present as main crop contaminants and/or relicts of earlier cropping regimes. The pottery comprised St Neots and Stamford wares.

To the west and south-west of the site, beyond the trial trenches, the earthworks of a hollow-way and extant earthworks of a possible medieval enclosure/building platform were noted.

<1> Atkins R., 2001, Archaeological Excavations On Land Off Seaton Road, Harringworth, Northamptonshire, checked (Report). SNN101222.

<1> Atkins R., 2004, A Middle to Late Saxon cemetery at Seaton Road, Harringworth, checked (Article). SNN112186.

<2> Muldowney L., 2013, Archaeological Evaluation on land at Seaton Road, Harringworth, Northamptonshire, February 2013, checked (Report). SNN109888.

Record last edited

Dec 1 2016 2:47PM