Monument record 9599/1 - Possible Prehistoric Settlement, Culworth Grounds

Cropmark remains of a large curvilinear enclosure of probable later Prehistoric date which was mapped from aerial photographs as part of the RCHME: Northamptonshire NMP project. The site has subesequently been photographed by English Heritage. The cropmark remains of a number of linear ditches can be seen in this and adjacent fields, and the cropmarks of a pit alignment extends in a south-easterly direction past the enclosure's NE side. Geophysical survey undertaken in the field in which this enclosure lies as part of the HS2 project identified further enclosures not previously identified as cropmarks. Fieldwalking survey identified a significant flint scatter broadly extending over the same area. Excavation was carried out at land west of Culworth Grounds Farm in 2021. The remains identified are middle Iron Age in date. The features comprise the remains of the western edge of a D-shaped enclosure, several pits or post-holes within the enclosure, and a further section of ditch just outside the enclosure.

{2} Cropmark remains of a large curvilinear enclosure of probable later Prehistoric date visible on aerial photographs at SP 5312 4624. The enclosure is defined by a single ditch and measures approximately 75m 90m. The site was mapped from aerial photographs as part of the RCHME: Northamptonshire NMP project which recorded two further small enclosures flanking the south-west and south-eastern corners of the main enclosure. The site was subesequently photographed by English Heritage.

{3} The cropmark remains of a number of linear ditches can be seen in the field containing the enclosure described above, extending into adjacent fields. The cropmarks of a pit alignment extends in a south-easterly direction past the enclosure's NE side.

{4} Magnetometer survey undertaken in 2013 as part of the HS2 project revealed a substantial archaeological site of probable Iron Age date. The positive linear anomalies in this area represent a complex of ditched enclosures and associated boundaries. Some of the enclosures intersect with each other suggesting the site was long-lived with several phases of development. The largest enclosure, a D-shaped enclosure [previously identified as a cropmark] with a single east-facing entrance and wide ditches which produced exceptionally strong responses suggesting the presence of burnt soil or industrial residues within the ditch fill. At the eastern edge of the enclosure complex is a pit alignment, aligned north-west to south-east. To the north and south boundary ditches appear to be continuations of the pit alignment.

A fieldwalking survey identified a significant flint scatter which broadly extended over the same area as the features identified initially as cropmarks and further refined by the geophysical survey. A total of 68 pieces of worked flint were recovered. The flints resulting from primary knapping technology were three blades, four bladelets, 39 flakes, five cores, one core fragment and three chunks. The blades and bladelets are probably Mesolithic or early Neolithic in date. The five cores are typical of the later Neolithic. The reworked flints comprised three arrowheads, three scrapers, as well as a number of other items.

{5} Trial trench excavation was undertaken as part of the HS2 project. The ditches of the D-shaped enclosure were identified in two trenches. Small quantities of prehistoric pottery and animal bone were found in the ditch fills.

{7} Excavation was carried out at land west of Culworth Grounds Farm in 2021. The remains identified are middle Iron Age in date. The features comprise the remains of the western edge of a D-shaped enclosure, several pits or post-holes within the enclosure, and a further section of ditch just outside the enclosure. The nature of the fills across the large ditch suggest that during usage, the ditches became the focus for the deposition of domestic waste. A moderate amount of pottery was retrieved from the pits, among the collection were five sherds from La-Tène style pottery decorated with stamped or impressed curvilinear motifs, which may hint at a wider network in which the site was engaged. The relationship of the east to west ditch to the enclosure is uncertain. On present evidence there is potential for butchery at the Site, suggesting the enclosure may have served a role in the processing and management of livestock. The absence of Roman and later artefacts suggest that the enclosure had been abandoned at some point during the middle Iron Age.

<1> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<2> Oblique Aerial Photograph, NMR SP 5346/9 NMR 24359/15 14-JUN-2006 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN111738.

<3> Oblique Aerial Photograph, NMR 26952_028 04-MAY-2011 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN111738.

<4> High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd, 2013, London-West Midlands Environmental Statement: Technical Appendices, CFA15, Greatworth to Lower Boddington Survey reports (CH-004-015), Cultural heritage, p. 25-27 & 35-38 (Report). SNN111660.

<5> Milby, S, 2020, AWH Interim Report for Trial Trench Evaluation at Land to the West of Culworth Grounds, Culworth and Lower Thorpe North Cutting (Report). SNN112699.

<6> Headland Archaeology Ltd, High Speed Two Ltd, 2024, Data from an Archaeological Recording West of Culworth, Northamptonshire, 2021-2022 (HS2 Phase One), https://doi.org/10.5284/1119098 (Digital archive). SNN116593.

<7> Owain Scholma-Mason, Rob Falvey, Anna Rebisz Niziolek, Julie Franklin, Sara Machin, Rebecca Devaney, Alison Foster, Kate Turner, 2022, Post-Excavation Assessment Report for Archaeological Recording at West of Culworth, AC310 Assessment Report for Archaeological Recording at West of Culworth, AC310 (Report). SNN116629.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2025 6:52PM