Monument record 1549/1 - Iron Age settlement, Overthorpe Road

Archaeological investigation has identified an extensive settlement of which nearly 6ha has been excavated. Excavation has revealed settlement dating between the middle to late Iron Age and comprising ditched enclosures and roundhouses. A poorly preserved crouched inhumation was also found.

{1} Geophysical survey identified a large number of anomalies of likely archaeological origin. Many could be interpreted as small curvilinear enclosures, some of which overlap. A major NW-SE boundary was also identified. This was used as a baseline for a number of more rectilinear enclosures. In the south-east corner of the site was a possible larger enclosure with internal divisions.

{2} Trial trench excavation verified the results of the geophysical survey. A variety of features were encountered with, apparently, the larger ditches representing enclosures and the smaller gullies animal pens or ring ditches for roundhouses. Discrete pits and postholes were also noted. Redefinition of some of the ditches suggested occupation over an extended period of time. The pottery dated largely to the early and middle Iron Age, but later Iron Age pottery was also recovered.

{3} Excavation of the western margin of the settlement identified by earlier survey and trial trenching. This part of the wider settlement dated to between the 4th and 2nd centuries BC (Middle Iron Age); the larger unexcavated portions may be earlier or later in date. The three main components of this area comprise small and medium size enclosures, three roundhouses and boundary ditches, one of which appears to be the main axis of the settlement. No obvious evidence of grain processing- no storage pits and charred plant remains were absent-together with a number of enclosures thought to be animal pens and the predominance of cattle culled as young adults, largely indicative of a pastoral economy. Some evidence of metal working- both copper and iron smithing, although no specific areas of metal working were identified.
Finds included an extremely poorly preserved crouched burial, possibly an adult male. A disarticulated and fragmented human lower limb was recovered from within an assemblage of animal bone in a ditch.

{5} Geophysical survey of two fields to the east and west of the site found that the settlement extended further to the east, but not further west. The remains appear to be further ditched enclosures and, possibly, roundhouses.

{6} Further archaeological trial trench excavation was undertaken in September 2019 to both the east and west of the previous areas of investigation. Archaeological features were only found in the southern half of the eastern area and correlated well with the earlier phases with postholes, pits and ditches which provided a small assemblage of Iron Age pottery. The field evaluation also confirmed the extension of the occupation site until at least the limit of the field and edge of the bank of the motorway to the east and the outline of the railway to the south.

{8} Further area of excavation undertaken to the east of the first. The site appears to have been a long-lived polyfocal settlement with a layout that appears to respect a central open area and what appears to be controlled or funnelled access between enclosed spaces. Within the overall layout there were three of four distinct foci of settlement. The layout of the central zone closely resembles a 'ladder settlement'. There are a number of enclosures with especially deep ditches. Reconstructing the site's economy is difficult based on initial analysis of the animal bone assemblage and environmental remains.

<1> Constable, R, 2015, Central M40, Land at Overthorpe Road, Banbury, Phase 2 (Northamptonshire section): Geophysical survey (Report). SNN111120.

<2> Taylor, A., 2015, Central M40, Land at Overthorpe Road, Banbury, Phase 2, Northamptonshire section: An archaeological evaluation (Report). SNN111121.

<3> Sanchez, D, 2017, Middle Iron Age Settlement, Central M40, Overthorpe Road, Banbury, Phase 2, Northamptonshire Section: An archaeological excavation (Report). SNN111117.

<4> Horne, B (editor), 2016, South Midlands Archaeology (46), p. 51 (Journal). SNN111326.

<5> Beaverstock, K., 2019, Phase 4: Central M40, Land at Overthorpe, Banbury, Northamptonshire: Geophysical survey (Report). SNN111769.

<6> Sanchez, D, 2019, Central M40, Phase 4, Land at Overthorpe Road, Banbury, Northampton: An Archaeological Evaluation (Report). SNN112116.

<7> Crank, N. (Editor), 2020, South Midlands Archaeology (50), p. 94 (Journal). SNN112426.

<8> Sanchez, D, and Preston, S, 2021, Central M40, Land at Overthorpe Road, Banbury, Phase 4: Post Excavation Assessment (Report). SNN112670.

Record last edited

Sep 13 2021 2:35PM