Monument record 5778/1 - Iron Age settlement, east of Tallyho Covert

Archaeological excavation of a wind turbine base identified parts of two Iron Age enclosures and a pit alignment.

{1} Geophysical survey within the Turbine 1 area identified a pit alignment. A sub-rectangular enclosure and linked circular enclosure were also identified. The pit alignment seemed to extend from the north-western and south-western corners of the enclosure.

{2} Trial trench excavation identified both the sub-rectangular enclosure, which was c20m square, and the circular enclosure, c8-10m in diameter, in Trench 2. No pits from the pit alignment were observed, although the trench may have been located in a gap between two pits. Late Iron Age pottery was found in the circular enclosure ditch.

{3} Archaeological excavation of wind turbine base 1 revealed evidence of Iron Age settlement comprising parts of of two Iron Age enclosures and a pit alignment. A northern, irregular-shaped enclosure (not previously identified) showed evidence of multiple recuts, suggesting that it had been in use over an extended period of time. There was a possible entrance to the south-east. Pottery, which was concentrated in the eastern part of the enclosure ditch, dated to the early to middle Iron Age. The southern, circular, enclosure appeared to have a single phase of use. Pottery from the ditches dated to the middle Iron Age. The enclosure ditch truncated a larger ditch to the north and south, part of the sub-rectangular enclosure identified by previous phases of investigation. A pit group, including a possible pit alignment, was apparently domestic in nature. Early to middle Iron Age pottery was recovered from the pit fills.

<1> Sabin, D & Donaldson, K, 2009, Kelmarsh Hall Wind Farm, Northamptonshire: Magnetometer Survey Report (Report). SNN115182.

<2> Carlyle, S., 2009, Kelmarsh Wind Farm, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation June and August 2009 (Report). SNN107987.

<3> Garcia Rovira, Dr I, 2017, Kelmarsh Wind Farm, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Assessment (Report). SNN115181.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 7:08PM