Monument record 2634/0/1 - Site of a late Iron Age/Roman iron-smelting furnace, Brigstock Great Park

Fieldwalking survey had identified an area of dark soil which contained large amounts of charcoal, slag and furnace-lining. A small excavation identified a damaged late Iron Age/Roman iron-smelting furnace

{1} In September an area of blackened ploughsoil, some 40m square, containing large amounts of charcoal, slag and furnace lining was investigated initially by trial trench to rule out the possibility that it was a dump of modern material from the nearby Corby steelworks. Once the archaeological nature of the site was proven, an area of 7.6x5m was opened by hand, revealing the remains of an iron-smelting furnace, severely damaged almost beyond recognition, of late Iron age or Roman type, similar to those excavated at Wakerley and nearby Laxton.

<1> FOSTER P., 1988, Changes in the landscape: an archaeological study of the clay uplands in the Brigstock area of Northamptonshire, p. 67-8 (Dissertation). SNN71342.

Record last edited

Nov 5 2018 9:34AM