Monument record 4813/3 - Middle Iron Age to middle Roman settlement, Collingtree

Geophysical survey and subsequent trial trench excavation identified at least four sub-circular ditched enclosures with an associated trackway. Artefactual evidence suggested occupation began in the middle Iron Age continuing into the mid to late 1st century AD, possibly extending into the 2nd century AD. Excavation evidence found activity that dates from middle Iron Age to the middle Roman period.

{2} Trial trench excavation confirmed the results of the preceding geophysical survey which had identified at least four sub-circular enclosures with an associated trackway. In the north-west of the area, one of the enclosures measured 45m by 55m, with a smaller enclosure, measuring 35m by 25m, next to it.

A partial human cranium was recovered from one of the curvilinear enclosure ditch fills dated to the late Iron Age/early Roman period. A sharp force trauma was observed on the cranium and is indicative of a perimortem injury.

The artefactual evidence suggests that the site was occupied from the middle Iron Age into the middle to late 1st century, with activity possibly continuing into the 2nd century AD.

{3} Further, more extensive, trial trench excavation proved that the areas of settlement extended over a larger area than identified during the earlier phases of evaluation. The evaluation identified ditches and pits to the north, south-west and south of this area that may be related to this settlement. In general, the ditches were either undated or only contained limited Iron Age and/or Roman finds.

{4} - Excavations in 2020-21 found evidence for activity dating from Iron Age to middle Roman within this area. The Iron age evidence comprises of three enclosures and two boundary ditches. The transitional period saw changes to the area where two new enclosures that overlaid the Iron Age enclosures were constructed and were likely designed to aid with livestock management. To the north of the enclosures laid two unenclosed adjacent ring ditches and a droveway that stretched through most of the excavation area in a north-south alignment. A droveway demarcated the edges of the enclosures. To the west of the droveway was a boundary ditch and an enclosure. The southern enclosure ditch had been re-used in the later Roman period for crop cultivation. A possible funnel feature which may have aided controlled cattle movement in the landscape was identified in the south-west corner of the enclosure. All the transitional period ring ditches, enclosures and droveways in this area had been abandoned. During the early to middle Roman period, there were only a few enclosures, some boundary ditches and a new cultivation system. There were areas where sparse groups of elongated pits/ditch segments were recorded. These latter features are of unknown use but it seems likely to be associated with agricultural activity.

<1> Richardson, T., 2014, Junction 15 of M1, Northamptonshire: Geophysical survey report (Report). SNN111702.

<2> Bithell, S. and Joyce, S., 2018, Land off Junction 15, M1, Collingtree, Northamptonshire: Archaeological evaluation, p. 35 (Report). SNN111300.

<3> Clare, R, 2021, Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation on land between Courteenhall, Blisworth and Milton Malsor, Northamptonshire
May-July 2020 (Report). SNN112760.

<4> J. Elston, T. Preece, A. Rojek, A. Shipley, 2023, Archaeological mitigations on land between Courteenhall, Milton Malsor and Blisworth and Roade Bypass, Northamptonshire. Assessment Report and Updated Project Design (Report). SNN115905.

Record last edited

Feb 16 2024 10:17AM