Monument record 6917/1 - Probable site of Iron Age/Roman settlement, north of Norton Road

Geophysical survey identified two groups of enclosures connected by a probable trackway. Earlier pit alignments were also identified

{1} Geophysical survey identified a small southern group of enclosures, a much larger group of northern enclosures and boundary ditches and a long sinuous trackway running between the two. The remains are most likely to be Iron Age to Roman in date. The smaller southern group comprises two irregular enclosures, while the larger northern group comprises an agglomeration of large irregular enclosures covering an area of c4ha. The layout of the enclosures is incoherent suggesting it developed in a piecemeal fashion over time. The absence of any obvious roundhouses suggests it may be a field system or series of stock enclosures.

Two pit alignments were also identified in this area, one aligned roughly east to west and the other north to south.

{2} A small number of trenches were located in this area as part of a wider scheme of evaluation in 2017. Two trenches were located in the south-western corner of the area of possible enclosures and identified ditches that may be part of the trackway. Sherds of Iron Age pottery were recovered from one of the ditch fills. Trenches located in the northern area of enclosures identified numerous ditches but no finds. No pits associated with either the east to west or the north to south pit alignment were identified.

{3} Further trial trenches were excavated in 2022. No pits associated with the pit alignment were revealed. The main focus of activity appears to have been a trackway aligned north-east to south-west which appears to have been in use for a considerable period of time given the mulitiple recuts of the side ditches. Enclosed areas situated either side of the trackwat were both curvilinear and rectilinear in plan and appear to have been used for agricultural purposes rather than settlement given the lack of material evidence.

<1> Walford, J, 2016, Archaeological geophysical survey of land north-east of Daventry, Northamptonshire, 2016 (Report). SNN111116.

<2> Allen, M, 2017, Daventry North-East, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation Report (Report). SNN112123.

<3> Newman, J, 2022, Daventry North-East, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation, https://doi.org/10.5284/1115961 (Report). SNN114783.

<4> Cotswold Archaeology, 2023, Images and GIS Data from an Archaeological Evaluation at Daventry North-East, Northamptonshire, September-October 2022, https://doi.org/10.5284/1116724 (Digital archive). SNN116202.

<5> Crank, N. (Editor), 2023, South Midlands Archaeology (53), P. 56 (Journal). SNN116414.

Record last edited

Jul 23 2024 3:14PM