Monument record 2218/2 - Middle to late Iron Age farmstead, Ashton Road

Archaeological investigation has identified a small Iron Age farmstead comprising an rectilinear enclosure and ring ditches, as well as pits and postholes. Evidence of various craft and minor industry was also found. The features are probably associated with the known Iron Age site to the east. A very late Iron Age/early Roman burial was found within the enclosure. Grave goods included brooches and a toiletry set.

{1} Archaeological trial trench excavation was undertaken, following on from geophysical survey, which had identified a small number of possible ditched boundaries/enclosures and ring dtich. The trenches identified several probable Iron Age enclosure ditches and an undated gully which corresponded to the geophysical anomaly suggested to be a ring ditch. Small quantities of abraded Iron Age pottery were recovered from the enclosure ditches as well as a single sherd of late medieval-early post-medieval Bourne 'D' Ware, which was considered to be intrusive.
The suggested Iron Age archaeology was on the same alignment as the known Iron Age archaeology to the east of the A605, and is therefore likely to be related. The land immediately to the west of the Iron Age features was shown to have been quarried.

{2} Archaeological excavation was undertaken in 2022 prior to development. The excavation indicated that the settlement was likely to be a small Iron Age farmstead comprising a rectilinear enclosure within which ring ditches, likely to be roundhouse ring ditches, were set. Pits and postholes were also identified. Evidence of minor industrial activity was also found, with finds indicating that a possible furnace or kiln for metal or glass production lay close by. Other craft activities are indicated by tools such as iron and bone awls, a knife blade and antler working waste. A fired clay Iron Age triangular weight was also found, perhaps indicating weaving was being undertaken on site.
The most significant find on site was a crouched inhumation located within the southern part of the enclosure. Grave goods included three brooches and a toiletry set. The grave goods were contained with an area of brown staining which suggests that they were held in a cloth bag or wrap. The grave goods date the burial to the very late Iron Age or early Roman period, perhaps AD 20/43-65/70. the overall composition of the toiletry set is of some interest as it does not contain a nail cleaner, but does include two mismatched ear scoops.

<1> Coates, G & Richmond, A., 2013, Archaeological evaluation: Trial Trenching. Land off Ashton Road, Oundle, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN111438.

<2> Kolonko, C, 2022, Archaeological excavation on land off St Christopher's Drive, Oundle, Northamptonshire, March 2022-April 2022 (Report). SNN115438.

<3> Crank, N. (Editor), 2023, South Midlands Archaeology (53), P. 68 (Journal). SNN116414.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 8:13PM