Monument record 9220/2 - Middle Iron Age and Roman settlement, west of Lodge Farm

Geophysical survey undertaken in 2016 identified a large area of settlement activity to the west of Lodge Farm. Subsequent trial trench excavation indicated a shifting settlement focus. To the north was a probable Iron Age enclosure and a number of pits. Some of the pottery dated to the middle Iron Age. To the south was an area of Roman settlement comprising a large rectangular enclosure with internal divisions. The geophysical survey indicated that the settlement extended some 250m further south of the enclosure and although the nature and form of this settlement was unclear in the survey results, a number of Roman pits and ditches were identified during the trial trench excavation.

{2} Archaeological evaluation undertaken in 2017 identified an extensive area of settlement west of Lodge Farm. The northern part of the settlement appeared to date to the Iron Age and comprised at least one rectangular enclosure {1} as well as a number of similarly aligned ditches and pits. This phase of activity appears to pre-date the Roman activity to the south, which is on a slightly different alignment.

To the south the Roman activity principally comprises a large east-west aligned enclosure with internal divisions. Two possible tracks were identified as well as a number of earlier sand extraction pits. The geophysical survey {1} shows that the settlement extends some 250m further south although its shape and nature is not clear. The trial trenches identified a number of ditches and pits but the nature of the activity was not elucidated further.

<1> Davies, R., 2016, Geophysical Survey Report: Rail Central, Milton Malsor, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN111831.

<2> Barton, T., 2018, Rail central, Milton Malsor, Northamptonshire: Archaeological evaluation, Summary report, p. 34-8/ Sites 7 & 8 (Report). SNN111747.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 7:43PM