Monument record 8761/1 - Late Iron Age and Roman settlement, south of Malabar Farm

Archaeological evaluation undertaken in 2019 identified a complex of intercutting enclosures. Pits and two possible ring ditches were also found. The settlement appears to date from the 1st-2nd centuries AD, although a small amount of late Iron Age pottery suggests that it originated during this period. Finds included a spindle whorl. A waterlogged layer within one of the trenches in the same area contained a small number of probable Mesolithic flints.

{2} Archaeological evaluation comprising geophysical survey followed by trial trench excavation identified an extensive complex of intercutting enclosures, boundary ditches, pits and at least two possible round house ring ditches.

Generally, the finds from this area were typical of a lower-status rural settlement. The recovered pottery and other datable finds indicate that the complex dates to the mid-1st to mid-2nd centuries AD, although a small number of Iron Age sherds suggest it may have its origins in the late Iron Age. No finds typical of a higher status site, such as samian, amphora or metalwork, were recovered, although three sherds of imported central Gaulish slipware were found in Trench 24. No evidence of industrial or other in-situ processing activities (eg corn-drying) were identified, although a possible spindle whorl was recovered from Trench 29, and a wattle impression on a piece of fired clay from Trench 24 suggests it may be from an oven or other structure.

In Trenches 21 and 23 a series of unclear and apparently irregular and intercutting features were
identified which appeared to be sealed by deep subsoil(s). These were tentatively identified as
extraction pits, although hand excavation of small sections of these features was largely inconclusive.
These excavations did yield small quantities of Iron Age pottery, suggesting they are related to the
complex.

In Trench 24, layer containing possible Mesolithic flints was identified. Sampling of the deposit for environmental remains also revealed evidence of waterlogged material including plant, algae and fly larvae cases. The full extent of this feature was not been identified during the evaluation.

<1> Fortuny, M, 2019, Geophysical Survey Report of Land at Malabar Farm, SW Daventry (Report). SNN112034.

<2> Walsh, A, 2019, Archaeological evaluation at Daventry South West, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN112035.

Record last edited

Feb 20 2025 4:05PM