Monument record 4813/5 - Middle Bronze Age to Roman settlement

Geophysical survey and subsequent trial trench excavation identified a series of ditches, predominantly orientated north-west/south-east and north-east/south-west. Pottery dating to the early to middle 1st century recovered from one pit was the only dateable material from this area

{1} identifying a zone of 1st century activity comprising a series of ditches, predominantly orientated north-west/south-east and north-east/south-west. Pottery dating from the early to middle 1st century was recovered from a pit, but apart from this one dated features, no other dateable material was recovered from this area.
To the east, a subrectangular enclosure identified by the geophysical survey was not investigated during the trial trench excavation.

{2} Trial trench excavation confirmed the results of the preceding geophysical survey

{3} Further trial trench excavation identified further ditches and pits in a single trench to the north of the area of known Iron Age and Roman features. No further dating evidence was recovered from these features.

{4} - The 2020-21 excavations identified features from the Middle Bronze Age to Roman, suggesting continuous occupation throughout this time frame. All the enclosures were sub-rectangular and thought to have been used as livestock enclosures. The excavations identified two pit alignments that date to the Middle Bronze Age to Early Iron Age. One was aligned north-east to south-west and the other was aligned east to west. These two pit alignments are approximately 100m apart. Two enclosures, dating to the Iron Age, were recorded in this area that followed the same alignments of the pit alignments, possibly respecting the still visible pits. A trackway extended 70m from north-east corner of one of the Iron Age enclosures. The transitional period from Iron Age to Roman brought changes and expansion to the enclosures. Four enclosures were identified in this area, with two of them having internal features such as a gully and two narrow ditches. One enclosure that is not sub-rectangular but was created by five small curving gullies and two straighter gullies to form an enclosed corral that had been heavily modified and re-worked. There were two disarticulated perinatal human remains found within two terminals suggesting a deliberate deposition. The boundary ditch also saw alterations and maintenance with the inclusion of a wider ditch and its now overlying the former pit alignment in the east. The Roman period saw a disuse of the earlier enclosures in this area. Two parallel boundary ditches were identified, that were aligned north-south.

<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 26 2024 11:09AM