Monument record 2917/1 - Palaeochannels and Mesolithic and Neolithic flint scatters, west of the River Nene

A small number of ditches and pits were revealed during trial trench excavation on the River Nene floodplain. Worked flint dating from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic periods was found in the fills. Subsequent excavation identified a buried soil from which a hugely significant assemblage of flint was recovered (over 12,500 struck flints) with a large proportion likely dating to the Mesolithic period. Palaeochannels of the Brampton Nene were also sampled.

{1} Trial trench excavation in 2019 identified a small number of pits and ditches cut into both the gravel and alluvium. Where the gravels were encountered at a higher level in Trenches 38‐41, these represent possible gravel islands or higher areas at the edge of the floodplain. Mesolithic and Neolithic worked flint artefacts were recovered from the fills of several of these, perhaps indicating a preference for valley edge settings for activities in the early prehistoric period.

{3} Archaeological excavation was undertaken ahead of construction of the Northampton North-West Relief Road. In area E a dense concentration of struck flint was recorded. A significant component of the flint assemblage dated to the Mesolithic period and was associated with a buried soil close to the confluence of the Brampton Nene and the Chapel Brampton Brook. The concentration of lithics was located on an elevated sandy spur at the edge of a floodplain sequence; it was present on the exposed surface, within the buried soil and the underlying alluvial gravel deposit. An assemblage of c 5475 struck flints was recovered from the buried soil deposit, increasing to 12,719 with material from soil samples. Perhaps c95% is clearly early and associated with the numerous diagnostic Mesolithic artefacts (84 microliths and six microburins). Scrapers and piercers are common, while notches, denticulates and retouched blades also feature. A limited number of refits were identified indicating that the scatter was in situ. A smaller concentration of Neolithic artefacts was also found in the buried soil deposit, perhaps from a dispersed domestic site, includes two flakes from axeheads of Langdale tuff, three hammerstones (two of quartzite and one of flint). Five sherds of abraded pottery were also recovered. Pits containing burnt plant material were also found within and around the lithic scatter, some may have been hearths, although there was little evidence of in situ burning or scorching. One pit contained well-preserved hazelnuts, sloe stones and a possible plum stone and also possible oven/kiln furniture, suggesting it was later in date.
Palaeochannel deposits were also investigated; deposits of thick minerogenic alluvium sealed organic and minerogenic palaeochannel fills. Three distinct palaeochannel incisions were identified; the earliest and most substantial was the central incision aligned roughly north-south and is believed to be an earlier channel of the Brampton Nene. The sequence cut Pleistocene Head Deposits and underlying Whitby Mudstone Formation bedrock. A radiocarbon date from the central incision produced a middle Bronze Age date of 1200-1005 cal BC, while other channels produced Mesolithic and Iron Age dates.

<1> Lawrence, S and Fellingham, A, 2019, Northampton North-west Relief Road: Archaeological Evaluation Report (Report). SNN112235.

<2> Crank, N. (Editor), 2020, South Midlands Archaeology (50), p. 91 (Journal). SNN112426.

<3> Simmonds, A, Teague, S, and Stafford, E, 2025, Northampton North-West Relief Road, Northamptonshire: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design, Area E (Report). SNN116982.

Record last edited

Jan 30 2026 12:42PM