Monument record 7316/0/1 - Saxon settlement, east of Landimore Road

Archaeological excavation identified several phases of Saxon settlement. It probably originated in the 5th century AD and continued into the 9th century. There were successive phases of enclosure, pits, sunken featured buildings and two inhumations. It is considered likely that other features have been lost due to deep ploughing of the site.

{2} Part of a possible enclosure ditch, as well as two other ditches were found in the northern part of Area B. Although no dating evidence was recovered it was considered that these features were likely to date to the Iron Age.

{3, 4} Subsequent excavation identified a sequence of enclosures dating to the Saxon period. The earliest evidence comprised two shallow pits, scoops or hollows overlain by what was interpreted at the time as 'midden material'. Subsequent anaylsis suggests that the hollows were likely to be plough damaged grubenhauser (also known as sunken featured buildings). Pottery from the features dated between the 5th-7th centuries AD. A rectilinear enclosure was constructed in the middle Saxon period. It is considered likely that this enclosure was used for domestic purposes, but that all evidence of internal features had been lost to deep ploughing. The enclosure was extended and recut in later phases. Associated features included pits and further grubenhauser as well as a wider field system. The grubenhaus has been interpreted as a workshop and may have accommodated a loom.
Disarticulated human remains within the the final fills of grubenhaus 1 displayed evidence of excessive dismemberment and may be relics of a (concealed?) homicide. Two burials were also identified. Isotopic study was conducted on burial SK105. The results suggest that individual was brought up in Britain in a relatively close vicinity to the burial site. Injuries sustained around the time of death included sharp force trauma to the skull and right scapula. Six blows to the head with a heavy long-bladed weapon, concentrated at the back of the individual and lack of defence wounds, suggest that they were sustained in an act of homicide. This phase was the most archaeologically visible on site, although it is likely that many features, such as buildings within the enclosure, had been removed by later ploughing.

A sherd of Ipswich is a rare find around Northampton and is usually found at sites which are either religious or were a specialist producer of commodities for trade. Suggestion that this site was involved in iron production. The presence of a single sherd of St Neots ware suggests that activity had more or less ceased by the 10th century.

<1> Butler, A., 2008, Geophysical survey of land at Wootton, Northampton September - December 2007 (Report). SNN106506.

<2> Carlyle, S., 2008, An archaeological evaluation of land near Wootton, Northampton October 2007 to January 2008, p. 10 (Report). SNN106507.

<3> Parker, T, 2019, Archaeological Excavations at Hardingstone, Northamptonshire: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design for Analysis and Publication (Report). SNN113751.

<4> Parker, T, 2021, Archaeological excavation: Land to the east of Hardingstone, North of Newport Pagnell Road, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN116064.

<5> Tom Parker, Reuben Thorpe and Milena Grzybowska, 2023, Bronze Age Ring ditches and an Anglo Saxon farmstead on land to the east of Hardingstone, Northampton (Article). SNN116521.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 7:15PM