Monument record 4088/0/2 - Site of middle Iron Age settlement

A middle Iron Age site was excavated in 2012. Features included two enclosures, a ditched trackway, a pit alignment and an area of intensive pit digging. A single inhumation was also recovered as were fragments of human bone from several pit features

{1} An area of settlement (comprising ditches, gullies and oits) was identified in three trenches located c150m to the south-east of Storefield Lodge. To the west a possible trackway appeared to mark the western extent of the identified archaeology.

{2} Within the area of site investigation, parts of at least two enclosures (one which had been re-defined on three occasions), were identified. The re-defined enclosure occupied the NE part of the site, with only the southern extent of the arrangement being exposed. It represented the continued re-definition of an area of land, which predominantly existed outside the confines of the area of investigation. The second enclosure survived to the east of this arrangement, being represented by a slight, and heavily plough-truncated ditch. The majority of the circuit of this enclosure survived showing it to enclose a rectangular area of c. 30m by 20m.

The pit cluster was represented by at least 31 pits, although many more are likely to survive beyond the site boundary. They appeared to be randomly scattered and of varying dimensions, and also appeared to be a separate class of site feature to the 13 uniform pits that formed a pit alignment along the eastern edge of the site’s double-ditched trackway. It was clear from early on in the investigations that these pits congregated in an area not only where Enclosure 1 was positioned, but also where an outcrop of ironstone was visible. This led to suggestions that the pits were excavated in order to quarry the ironstone for use in the manufacture of iron. It was clear, however, that the majority of the pits had been excavated with care and attention, often displaying vertical sides and flat bases; typical of pits used for storage purposes. They did not appear as features associated with random quarrying. It is possible, however, that the pits had a dual-function. Storage pits were no doubt required by the agricultural population and these pits were dug in a manner common to the creation of Iron Age storage facilities seen elsewhere. That an outcrop of ironstone was present on the site, and no doubt known of by the local community, perhaps dictated that the storage facilities be dug here, and that the resulting ironstone arisings were able to be used in local, small-scale iron manufacture. Occasional fragments of iron slag were recovered from the site showing that metal-working did take place.


By and large, the various pits were seen to post-date Enclosure 1, although pottery recovered from them was seen to be broadly contemporary, i.e. Middle Iron Age. This suggests that the pits were excavated shortly after the enclosure went out of use, with all the identified activity perhaps being within a single generation. Only two pits were seen to pre-date Enclosure 1, but as no finds were recovered from their fills it is not possible to be sure of their date. Fragments of human bone, perhaps from the same individual, were found in one of the pits.

Approximately 70m to the south-west of the pit cluster was a uniform pit alignment, comprising of 13 pits on a north-south alignment. The pits ran parallel to the bordering double-ditched trackway, which was seen to be broadly contemporary.

This feature was unlike most pit alignments- the presence of just 13 such pits suggests that this is a different feature-type unrelated to land division. Rather, it appears that the Rushton pits relate to an additional area for grain or food storage, removed from the concentrated area of identified activity to the north. The pits were certainly built with care and attention and perhaps represent a ‘specialist’ area that was perhaps purposefully kept separate from other settlement activities. The fragmentary remains of the partial pelvis and legs of a single, possibly male individual were found in one of the pits.

Traversing the entire length of the site, orientated on a general north-south axis was an impressive trackway flanked by ditches. The field evaluation showed this feature to mark the western extent of the identified Middle Iron Age activity. Two of the previously discussed feature groups, the pit alignment and Enclosure 2, both appeared to respect the alignment of the trackway, hinting at contemporaneity. A single, isolated human inhumation, contained within a shallow grave bordered the Iron Age trackway. This in situ burial was severely truncated by modern plough action, with only c. 25% of the individual surviving. Its associated grave cut was at right angles to the eastern trackway ditch, orientated broadly east-west. Age determination and sex estimation were tentative at best, but it may have been an adult male.

The quantity of pottery from several of the features suggests that settlement activity must have been located nearby. From cropmark and geophysical evidence it is clear that this identified activity continues to the north of the site, where further enclosures are believed to exist.

<1> Richmond A., 2011, Archaeological Evaluation, Trial Trenching: Land off Oakley Road, Rushton, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN107900.

<2> Richmond, A., 2013, Iron Age settlement activity at Rushton Landfill, Northamptonshire, September 2013, checked (Report). SNN110550.

Record last edited

Jun 12 2019 11:31AM