Monument record 2514/1 - Site of probable Iron Age/Roman settlement, north-east of Knights Farm

Extensive area of enclosures and associated features initially identified by geophysical survey. Subsequent trial trench excavation in 2018 indicated that the settlement originated during the early Iron Age period with some indications of an open, unenclosed settlement. During the late Iron Age/early Roman period settlement may have been focused around a 'banjo'-style enclosure, although no clear definition of the settlement layout could be identified. During the later Roman period significant re-organisation resulted in settlement organised around a trackway and rectilinear system of ditched encosures/plots. A possible later Roman cemetery was also identified. There is a very well defined south-western boundary to the settlement.

{1} Geophyical survey identified a large and complex set of settlement remains focused around a Y-shaped section of trackway. It extends over at least 7ha of ground, but continues westward beyond the limits of the survey area.

{2} An extensive area of Iron Age/Roman settlement was initially identified during geophysical of the wider Rushden SUE area. The settlement was investigated during subsequent trial trench excavation in 2018. Settlement appears to have originated during the early Iron Age period. Two possible unenclosed roundhouse ring ditches were identified, although very few securely dated features could be ascribed to this period and the larger assemblages of early Iron Age pottery were recovered from the disuse fills of Bronze Age features. Settlement expanded during the late Iron Age/early Roman period and while it is likely that there were multiple phases of activity within this phase, much of its layout remains unclear. The settlement is possibly constructed around a ‘Banjo’ enclosure, a form of enclosure which typically dates to the Iron Age. Away from the settement area the land use during this period appears to be focused on agriculture, although environmental sampling recovered only a very small number of cereal grains. A single potential grave may date to this phase.

Settlement during the mid/late Roman period is characterised by an extensive Y-shaped trackway and square/rectangular plots identified by the geophysical survey contained and lying within the area defined two natural ridges. The plots may have been used for a mixture of pastoral and arable activities, although environmental evidence was again limited for this phase. A well-defined south-western boundary to the settlement was also identified. At least three burials were identified, all dating to the later Roman period and possibly signifying the location of a cemetery.

The dating material recovered throughout the evaluation suggests a continuous or intermittent shifting activity though the Late Iron Age and Early Roman to Roman periods; although the possibility of a hiatus in activity remains.

{3} Further trial trench excavation was undertaken in the southern part of the known area of Site C. A north/south aligned sub-rectangular enclosure with internal enclosures was investigated with associated boundary ditches leading to the north corresponding with geophysical survey anomalies. A sub-circular feature, interpreted as a possible Bronze Age barrow, was also investigated, but no dating material was recovered.

Cotswold Archaeology, 2023, Images and GIS Data from an Archaeological Evaluation East of Rushden, Northamptonshire 2018-2019, https://doi.org/10.5284/1103282 (Digital archive). SNN114784.

<1> Walford, J, 2017, Archaeological geophysical survey of the proposed Rushden Eastern SUE development site, Northamptonshire, September 2016 to August 2017 (Report). SNN112344.

<2> Newman, J., 2018, Land at Rushden East (SUE) Merriman Land Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation (Report). SNN111825.

<3> Newman, J, 2019, Land East of Rushden (SUE) Rushden Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation, September 2019 (Report). SNN112343.

Record last edited

Apr 23 2025 6:43PM