Monument record 2514/2 - Site of probable Iron Age/Roman settlement, south-west of Rectory Farm

Area of enclosures and associated features identified by geophysical survey and confirmed by trial trench excavation. It comprised a tightly clustered group of small, sometimes conjoined, enclosures set within D-shaped outer boundary. There were a number of roundhouses, at least two of which had double concentric ring ditches. Pottery indicates that the settlement was most intensively occupied in the Middle Iron Age. Limited Late Iron Age and Early Roman pottery suggest the potential for small scale continuation of occupation beyond the Middle Iron Age.

{1} Geophysical survey located a tightly clustered group of small, sometimes conjoined, enclosures set within D-shaped outer boundary (Site D). The overall extent of the site is c110m north to south by 60m east to west, with individual enclosures typically 10m to 30m across. Towards the centre of the site is a roundhouse with an east facing entrance the anomaly for this feature comprises a double circuit, potentially an inner foundation slot and an outer eaves-drip gully.

{2} Trial trench excavation was undertaken. The pottery recovered indicates the focus of settlement
activity was almost entirely Middle Iron Age in date. The small assemblage of later pottery was recovered solely from the final fills of the settlement features. The larger enclosures are generally focused in the southern half of the settlement with all of the roundhouses in the northern half.

One of the roundhouses, which measured about 17.5m in diameter, included two concentric rings with a terminus along the east side, confirming an opening to the east as indicated by the geophysical survey. Middle Iron Age pottery and fuel ash slag were recovered from the drip gullies. A further roundhouse, not identified by the geophysical survey, was also identified. It also appeared to have two concentric rings; the fills of both contained middle Iron Age pottery.

A large sub-circular enclosure is identified by the geophysical survey in the southwestern corner of the settlement. The enclosure measures 28m in length and 24m in width, with openings to the north and south, and is defined by a ditch over 3m in width. A further, partially exposed, enclosure adjoins directly to the north, with the potential for a third, of similar size, directly to the west. Located away from the roundhouses, and with larger ditches, these were probably stock enclosures.

Animal bone recovered from the features indicated that while a range of animals were present cattle was the most common animal.

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, 2019, Land East of Rushden (SUE) Rushden Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation, September 2019 (Report). SNN112343.

Record last edited

Apr 23 2025 6:43PM