Monument record 4621/2 - Possible Iron Age or Roman Settlement, land north of Roman Road

In 2023, Trial Trench works confirmed the presence of an Early Iron Age/Roman Settlement that was previously identified through geophysical survey and aerial photography.

{1} In 2022, Magnitude surveys undertook a geophysical survey of the land north of Roman Road, Northampton West. Evidence was found to suggest a possible Iron Age or Roman settlement. This settlement comprised enclosures, pits, trackways and possible burnt features. This survey confirms and expand upon the previous aerial photographs which first identified the presence of a settlement. Anomalies that possibly relate to an unmapped quarry were also identified.

{3} Trial Trench undertaken by Albion Archaeology in 2023 confirmed the presence of the Late Iron Age/ Early Roman settlement. The settlement extended over c. 5ha and continued east beyond the limit of the PDA. The core of the settlement was defined by a double-ditched boundary. In addition with the geophysical survey, it is suggested that the settlement core comprised two interlinked enclosure systems. Both contained smaller, curvilinear enclosures, some of which may have contained roundhouses but there is no direct evidence for this. A small number of pits and postholes were also found within both enclosure systems. The peripheral area of the settlement to the west appears to comprise larger enclosures, with less evidence for internal subdivision. The majority of the pottery recovered is in the late Iron Age/early Roman tradition, with only five early Roman sherds present. It therefore seems likely that the settlement had gone out of use by the mid-2nd century AD.

<1> Eleanor Dacre, 2022, Geophysical Survey Report of Land north of Roman Road, Northampton West, Northampton (Report). SNN116923.

<2> Northamptonshire HER Collection of Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<3> Tori Guy, Mike Luke, 2024, LAND NORTH OF ROMAN ROAD, NORTHAMPTON WEST, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRIAL TRENCHING (Report). SNN116925.

Record last edited

Feb 9 2026 8:58AM