Monument record 1624/0/69 - Area of medieval activity, Addington Road

Geophysical survey identified a number of features including a large enclosure. Subsequent trial trenching indicated that the enclosure and associated features, including buildings, were medieval. Industrial activities such as processing of animal hides/skins and metalworking may have been undertaken here

{1} Geophysical survey detected a complex of probable archaeological features concentrated within the southern half of the survey area including part of a ditched enclosure and associated remains of uncertain date. The enclosure measures 47m east to west and at least 30m north to south, continuing for an unknown distance beyond the present site boundary. It contains a small group of amorphous positive anomalies which could represent pits or patches of burnt soil and one linear anomaly which perhaps represents an internal partition ditch. Outside the enclosure to the west there are two other small clusters of amorphous anomalies which could also be interpreted as pits. None of these features can be closely dated, although a broad date range of Iron Age to medieval would seem likely.

{2} Trial trench excavation confirmed the results of the geophysical survey, identifying the large enclosure, the ditches of which had been recut multiple times. A large assemblage of pottery from two of the ditches dated to the mid-12th century. One of the ditches contained evidence of possible metalworking including a fragment of a possible crucible and another contained a large quantity of charred cereal grain, probably midden waste. There was evidence for at least one building within the enclosure and further buildings beyond it to the north. Further north-west, in trench 2, there was a complex sequence of archaeological features including walls and a large spread of animal bone, the full extent of which was not defined within the trench. This spread was only dated by two fragments of ceramic roof tile commonly used in the medieval and post-medieval periods. A further deposit of animal bone was also found within building rubble. Both deposits had distinct make-ups strongly suggesting that animals on site were processed for their hides and skins.

{3} An earth resistance survey was undertaken in the area of medieval settlement. Only one feature was clearly detected- most probably a metalled trackway. Some less distinct anomalies of possible archaeological relevance were also detected, most of which were identified during the previous magnetometer survey. While trench 5 of the trial trench was excavated across the line of the probable trackway in 2016, no archaeological features were recognised. It is likely that the sandy chalk, that was found at the base of the feature in 2016, was not the local natural substrate but a man-made deposit which served to mask underlying archaeological features.

<1> Walford, J, 2016, Archaeological geophysical survey at Addington Road, Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, July 2016 (Report). SNN110784.

<2> Chinnock C., 2016, Trial trench evaluation on land at Addington Road, Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire July 2016 (Report). SNN110785.

<3> Walford, J, 2018, Further archaeological geophysical survey at Addington Road, Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, December 2017 (Report). SNN111105.

<4> Crank, N. (Editor), 2017, South Midlands Archaeology (47), p. 41 (Journal). SNN111362.

<5> Crank, N. (Editor), 2019, South Midlands Archaeology (49), p. 78 (Journal). SNN111755.

Record last edited

Nov 28 2024 9:51AM