Monument record 3097/6 - Mid-late Saxon iron working site, Wakerley Quarry

Archaeological evaluation and subsequent excavation in 2017 identified an area of intensive industrial activity including several groups of bloomery furnaces and ore roasting pits. One of the furnaces was radiocarbon dated to AD 690-900 and one of the roasting hearths to AD 790-990. Another of the roasting hearths further to the north-east was radiocarbon dated to AD 670 to 880. Two probable structures, a fence-line and three inhumations were also identified during the excavation phase. The only pottery evidence was a bowl associated with one of the inhumations which was dated to the 6th or 7th centuries AD.

{1} Slag patch and two others nearby at SP95389853 and SP95518982, both 30m diameter.

{2} {3} Archaeological trial trench evaluation. In Trench 87, there were five furnace bases, which comprised shallow depressions between c.0.6 and 1.8m in diameter, arranged in an irregular arc around a possible tapping pit. They were identified by their fills which comprised deposits of burnt clay, charcoal and slag ranging in colour between black and yellow. One of the furnaces was excavated and a sample was submitted for radiocarbon dating and produced dates of AD 690 - 900. The central pit was c.1.4m in diameter and 0.5m deep and had also been subjected to intense heat. It was partially was filled with a slag and charcoal deposit which had covered the entire area in a layer up to 0.3m deep. One of the furnaces was radiocarbon dated to AD 690-900 and one of the roasting hearths to AD 790-990.

Some 200m to the north-east, at SP 955986, was a group of seven ore roasting pits spread across two trenches (93 and 94). The pits were generally long, narrow and shallow and the underlying natural was heat reddened. The fills contained a lot of charcoal. Charcoal from one of the pits was dated to AD 670 - 880.

The evidence suggests that iron was smelted here in the furnaces using a slag-tapping technology. The arc of bloomery furnaces around the perplexing central pit is an unusual arrangement and it seems too far from the furnaces for it to have performed this function of a slag tapping pit.

During the process [of smelting] the furnaces, made from a white clay with a low iron content, suffered some level of damage which resulted in the large amount of, albeit small, structural pieces becoming incorporated in the slags. This no doubt necessitated a regime of repairs but presumably it was not significant enough to be problematic for the smelters.

There is no evidence that primary smithing was being undertaken at this site.

{4} Two adjacent areas, Area A to the south and Area B to the north, were excavated in the area around evaluation Trenches 83, 87, 93 and 94. In the southern part of Area A were two groups of furnaces [one of which was partially excavated in Trench 87], with associated extraction pits and boundary ditches, whilst in the northern part of Area B there were two structures, a fence-line, three inhumations and another furnace group, along with boundary ditches. The remains of nine smelting furnaces and numerous ore roasting pits were recorded in total.

While most of the Saxon features contained iron slag, pottery evidence was limited to a single, globular bowl of 6th or 7th century AD date, present as a grave good. Three Saxon inhumation burials – all aligned west/east – were encountered in the north-east of the site; two were articulated while the third contained only a small number of disarticulated bone fragments. The globular bowl accompanied the remains of an adolescent of indeterminate sex. Additional grave goods, the majority of which were present with the same burial, include iron knife fragments, a possible key or latch lifter and highly fragmented remains of a composite antler and iron comb.

Most of the slag appears to be a by-product of smelting slag in some kind of bloomery furnace. Some of this has clearly been tapped from the furnace while some of it may be indicative of a non-tapping (and therefore assumed to be earlier) furnace technology. Peculiarities of the combined assemblage, such as the large fragments of clay furnace structure incorporated into the tap slag, are consistent throughout. Slag samples from three furnaces were analysed and found to be chemically similar.

<1> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall, Wakerley /Site 4 (Database). SNN102279.

<2> FELL D., 2006, Archaeological Evaluation: Land At Wakerley, Northamptonshire, 2006 (Report). SNN105689.

<3> FELL D., 2005, Archaeological Evaluation: Land At Wakerley, Northamptonshire (Appendices) (Report). SNN105691.

<4> Mustchin, ARR and Richmond, A, 2018, Anglo-Saxon industrial activity and inhumation burials at Wakerley Quarry (Phase E) Northamptonshire (Report). SNN111865.

Record last edited

Feb 19 2020 9:46AM