Monument record 6740/0/1 - Middle Bronze Age field system and Early-middle Iron Age, Roman and Anglo-Saxon settlement, Warth Park

Archaeological investigations prior to development between 2017-2018 found the remains of a middle Bronze Age field system and an early-middle Iron Age unenclosed settlement comprising two former roundhouse ring gullies and a large number of four-post structures and pits [encompassing excavations Areas 4 and C]. A small quantity of Roman pottery was found during fieldwalking undertaken as part of the Raunds Area Project. Extensive evidence of Roman agrarian and industrial activity was found during the 2017-2018 investigations including a cobbled trackway, pottery kiln, corn drier, five inhumations, a cremation and six stone-lined wells in the western part of the site. Later activity included a number of early-middle Saxon sunken-featured buildings and a small enclosure. A trackway may also date to this period.

{1} SP 9807 7273. Roman pottery concentration occurs immediately north of the trapezoidal enclosure but can not be directly associated with it. The assemblage comprised 62 sherds. The majority of the concentration is made up of greyware suggesting a purely domestic occupation. The only concentration in the survey without any shelley ware. Pottery possibly denotes presence of a settlement.

{2} Several postholes were examined, including an Iron Age four-post structure (dated by pottery) in Trench 2 (SP982 726).

{3} A group of five postholes in two east to west orientated rows was revealed in the south-west corner of the watching brief Area C. The substantial postholes contained probable post packing (large lumps of limestone), as well as pottery and animal bone. One contained a complete but not intact Samian ware bowl. Adjacent to the postholes was a group of 13 inter-cutting pits. Finds included 2nd to 3rd century pottery, animal bone, glass and a number of iron and copper alloy objects. The significant amount of Samian recovered from this small group of features indicates high status settlement in the vicinity.
Around 20m to the north of the pit group was a sub-rectangular structure, 3.86m long, 3.1m wide and 0.17m deep, orientated east to west. It had a single fill containing 30 sherds of early-middle Saxon pottery and two sherds of Iron Age pottery. Five baked clay loomweights were also found.
Five postholes were identified in the SFB, three of which were positioned along the central east-west axis.
To the north-east was a possible tree-throw that also contained five sherds of early-middle Saxon pottery and fragments of two loomweights.

{4} Trial trench excavation identified a few features of Roman date indicating that the area was an outlying element of more dense settlement to the north-west.

{6, 8} Archaeological investigations prior to development identified isolated pits containing early Bronze Age pottery across the eastern half of the site, including a pit which contained 51 sherds from a decorated beaker. A middle Bronze Age field system was also identified which significantly used the inner ring of Cotton Henge (re-interpreted as an early Bronze Age round barrow) as part of its layout, indicating it was still visible as an earthwork at this date. Iron Age remains in Area 4 included a settlement boundary which extended around the western and southern part of the site for a distance of c690m and formed by at least three lengths. The ditch was quite sinuous, following the natural topography, and had been recut at least three times.Trial trench evaluation outside of this area to the south and west did not reveal any archaeological remains.

In the eastern part of the excavation area there were two partial ring gullies, probably from former roundhouses. A small sub-rectangular enclosure with an entrance in the southern arm also dated to this phase. There were a large number of postholes, predominantly forming four-post structures (a minimum of 16 were identified), usually interpreted as grain stores. In excess of 58 storage pits were also found. They produced large assemblages of transitional Iron Age pottery. Three pits contained semi-articulated animal burials (one each of a dog, horse and cow- the two partially articulated cow skeletons were laid top to tail in the same pit ), along with baked triangular weights and saddle querns. Notably, from one pit a total of at least 19 triangular weights were recovered along with five saddle querns. A total of 44 other, less substantial, pits were uncovered producing large assemblages of early-middle Iron Age and animal bone. A number of possible 'special/placed' deposits were identified.

A pit group in the southern part of the site included a pit which contained vast quantities of burnt grain. Two samples were taken from opposite sides of the fill: the first contained abundant barley and wheat grain with a significant amount of spelt chaff, while the second contained abundant barley and wheat but much less chaff.

Extensive Roman remains were concentrated in the western half of the site [Area 4]. A settlement boundary which probably originated in the middle Iron Age appears to have been maintained into the Roman period and defined the southern limit of activity. A cobbled trackway passed through an entranceway along the southern extent of the enclosure ditch. Extensive quarrying lay to the west of the trackway, comprising multiple intercutting pits.

A total of five inhumations and one cremation were identified. The inhumations were aligned east-west and a number of nails, signifiying coffins, were found. Five radiocarbon dates suggest burial in the late Roman period. A corn drier and pottery kiln were also found; the pottery kiln -of Lower Nene Valley type- was of figure of eight-shape, with a main chamber to the north and raking-out area to the south.

A total of six stone-lined wells were also present. A large amount of pottery and animal bone was recovered from the fill of the wells. One of the wells had a large construction cut with clay packing between the stonework and the cut itself. A semi-complete, late 2nd century, samian Stanfield 67 flagon was recovered from the base of the well, as well as 14 pieces of leather shoe. The most impressive artefact, found in one of the upper fills, was a near life-sized carved wooden arm, possibly a votive offering. A radiocarbon date of 86-240 AD at 95.4% probability (SUERC-82546; 1842+-30BP) has been attained.

Evidence for Anglo-Saxon activity was dominated by sunken-featured buildings (SFBs), with a few pits, a ditch and a cobbled trackway. A total of seven SFBs were found across Areas 4 and C.

<1> Parry S., 1993, Raunds Area Survey Report, p.161 (checked) (Draft). SNN1175.

<2> Humble J., 1994, Evaluation of Cotton Henge, Raunds, p.178 (checked) (Notes). SNN75827.

<3> Bush, L., 2015, Neolithic and Iron Age to Saxon activity at Warth Park, Raunds, Northamptonshire: Post-excavation assessment (Report). SNN110369.

<4> Kidd, B., 2015, Trial trench evaluation on land at Warth Park, Phase 3, Raunds, Northamptonshire, September - November 2015 (Report). SNN110417.

<5> Bush, L., 2017, Warth Park, Phase II, Raunds, Northamptonshire: Excavation report (Report). SNN111248.

<6> Moan, L, 2019, Multi-period remains at Warth Park Phase 3, Raunds, Northamptonshire: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design (Report). SNN112254.

<7> Davies, S., 2015, Land at Raunds, Northamptonshire Geophysical Survey Report (Report). SNN110418.

<8> moan, L and Billington, L, 2024, Cotton 'Henge' to Craft: Neolithic to Anglo-Saxon remains at Warth Park, Raunds, Northamptonshire (Monograph). SNN116601.

Record last edited

Feb 20 2025 4:11PM