Monument record 5812/2 - Site of possible Bronze Age activity and Roman settlement

An extensive area of rectilinear enclosures was identified during geophysical survey. Trial trench excavation at the south-western edge of the site identified a number of ditches, some of which did not correspond to the geophysical survey results. Roman pottery was recovered from one of the ditches. A possible Bronze Age boundary ditch was also identified.

{1} Geophysical survey was undertaken over an area of c162ha. A series of linear positive magnetic anomalies covering approximately 10ha in total appear to represent an extensive rectilinear field system, laid out on the north and west side of a routeway with a north-east to south-west alignment, possibly representing a Romano-British ladder settlement;
{2} Trial trench excavation was undertaken in 2014. A single trench investigated the extreme south-western limit of the enclosure complex. A north-south aligned ditch with a well-preserved posthole in the north-west facing section suggesting that it formed a boundary. Three flint artefacts dated to the early Bronze Age.
{3} Further trial trench evaluation was undertaken in 2018 at the south-western extent of the enclosure complex. A number of ditches were identified, only some of which corresponded to geophysical anomalies. Most were undated, but a pottery assemblage comprising 38 sherds of 1st-2nd century AD pottery were recovered from the fill of one ditch.

<1> Railton, M., 2013, Moulton Heights, Moulton, Northampton: Geophysical Survey Report, p. 29 (Report). SNN109451.

<2> Moore, B., 2014, Moulton Heights, Moulton, Northampton: Archaeological evaluation report, 2014, p. 14 (Report). SNN111026.

<3> Orzechowski, K & Muldowney, L., 2018, Archaeological trial trench evaluation at Moulton Heights, Moulton, Northampton (Phase 2), February-March 2018, p. 12-15 (Report). SNN111590.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 8:09PM