Monument record 1910/1 - Site of probable Iron Age/Roman settlement

Geophysical survey identified a series of conjoined enclosures with roundhouses situated within them. Trial trench excavation confirmed that the enclosures and roundhouse ring ditches dated to the late Iron Age/Romano-British period.

{1} Fields 34, 35 and 36 contain a substantial complex of four conjoining rectilinear enclosures, extending 200m north-south. The individual enclosures are 60-80m long by 40-50m wide. Within each there is one of more roundhouses and other internal features, including internal linear partitions. There are also oval and rectangular enclosures to the immediate west and a small circular feature to the north. Further anomalies are visible within the area of the enclosure complex, suggesting the presence of gullies, pits and (potentially) kilns or furnaces. Unfortunately the density of intercutting anomalies, and the complication of overlying ridge and furrow, precludes a full and detailed interpretation
of every feature.

In the south-western corner of Field 36 there are two ditches which define a right angled corner. These probably indicate part of a further enclosure, extending beyond the confines of the survey area. It lies on a different alignment from those previously described, and there is no reason to assume it is contemporary with them.

{3} Seven trial trenches were excavated, revealing linear ditches, curvilinear ditches and discrete features associated with late Iron Age/early Romano-British settlement. The linear ditches formed part of at least two rectilinear enclosures with evidence of probable internal divisions. Curvilinear ditches probably represent the recut arc of a roundhouse ring ditch. A vertical-sided pit may be a storage pit.

<1> Butler A., 2010, Archaeological geophysical survey on land east of Kettering, Northamptonshire, p. 11 (Report). SNN107967.

<2> Butler A., 2011, Archaeological Geophysical Survey on land East of Kettering, Northamptonshire 2010-2011 January 2011 (Report). SNN108239.

<3> Sinclair, K, 2022, Plots FOS3, COS and DC1, Hanwood Park, Kettering: Archaeological Evaluation Report, https://doi.org/10.5284/1110122 (Report). SNN114360.

Record last edited

Jul 23 2024 2:46PM