Monument record 4813/6 - Late Iron Age and Roman settlement, Collingtree

Geophysical survey and subsequent trial trench excavation identified clear evidence for occupation, including at least two enclosures and three roundhouses. A 'bell-shaped' storage pit was also identified. The settlement dated to the middle to late 1st century AD. Excavation identified an Iron Age occupation area with evidence for enclosures, ring ditches and pits.

{1} Trial trench excavation confirmed the results of the preceding geophysical survey identifying clear evidence for occupation, including at least two enclosures and three roundhouses. A 'bell-shaped' storage pit was also identified. The settlement dated to the middle to late 1st century AD

{3} - The 2020-21 excavations identified activity that dated to the Iron Age in this area. A large enclosure was visible within the excavation area and showed evidence of at least three phases of re-cutting along the eastern side. Within the south-east corner of this enclosure lies a small sub-trapezoidal enclosure. Another enclosure was identified that extended past the northern limit of the excavation area. It is on the same alignment as the large enclosure and it represents a clear change of use from that enclosure.
There were clear zones of activity with ring ditches, which may represent roundhouses. Three complete ring ditches were found with a further three partial ring ditches. There was evidence for maintenance and re-cutting. One of the ring ditches had two clear phases of construction with a cluster of postholes in and around the entrance that indicated a presence of a possible porch. An infant burial (that had only partially survived) was placed in the southern side of the entranceway of one of the ring ditches. Pottery dated from the middle to late Iron Age was found from all the ring ditches.
Located near the entrance of an enclosure, there was a linear cluster of small pits. A few of these pits appeared to have a stone lining or packing stones, and these may have formed part of a timber structure. There was a line of pits orientated north-east to south-west that may have formed a fence line. A four-poster structure was located to the south of this. A pit group was situated behind one of the ring ditches and appeared to be a cluster of waste pits that pre-dated the ring ditches.

<1> Bithell, S. and Joyce, S., 2018, Land off Junction 15, M1, Collingtree, Northamptonshire: Archaeological evaluation, p. 35 (Report). SNN111300.

<2> Richardson, T., 2014, Junction 15 of M1, Northamptonshire: Geophysical survey report (Report). SNN111702.

<3> 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

Apr 25 2025 4:07PM