Monument record 828/0/4 - Possible Iron Age/Roman Settlement near Glassthorpe

Trial Trench evaluation in 2022 followed on from the geophysical survey that identified a ladder type enclosure in this area. The trenches did encounter features in the form of ditches and gullies but no dateable material was recovered. Part of a Roman enclosure complex, probably forming a ladder settlement, was identified by an archaeological evaluation in 2020. The enclosure appears to have originated during the Late Iron Age/Early Roman period and underwent maintenance, expansion and reorganisation throughout the Roman period

{1} Geophysical survey in 2021 found rectangular and pennanular anomolies in this area 4, which may be probable archaeological activity. The morphology of the aforementioned anomalies is indicative of rectangular enclosures containing subdivisions and internal enclosures. The full extent of this area of archaeological activity is much more difficult to identify due to the ridge and furrow cultivation.

{2} Trial Trench evaluation in 2022 followed on from the geophysical survey that identified a ladder type enclosure in this area. The trenches did encounter features in the form of ditches and gullies but no dateable material was recovered.

{3} Area 1 contained a series of interconnected enclosure ditches corresponding with previously identified geophysical anomalies and settlement evidence excavated south of the M1. The earliest component comprised a enclosure ditch, dated by pottery to the Late Iron Age/Early Roman period. The ditch contained six pottery sherds of Late Iron Age/Early Roman date, seven Middle Roman sherds and animal bone fragments, suggesting continued use. The enclosure was modified during the Middle Roman period through construction of a ditch, which truncated another ditch and formed part of the enclosure boundary. Pottery from this feature included Middle Roman and Late Roman material. Further reorganisation occurred during the Late Roman period with ditches. One ditch produced substantial pottery dating from the mid-3rd to mid-4th centuries AD. Ditch 20016 truncated ditch 20019, indicating enclosure maintenance, realignment, or extension.he overall layout matches the form of ladder enclosures characteristic of Roman rural settlements and may represent a northern continuation of a settlement complex excavated south of the motorway

<1> Wilkinson,D, and Langston, A,, 2021, Geophysical Survey Report of Glassthorpe Solar Farm (Report). SNN113546.

<2> Sian Thomas, 2023, Archaeological field evaluation: Flore, Glassthorpe (Northamptonshire) (Report). SNN116965.

<3> Emma Street, 2026, Harpole to Weedon, Anglian Water Pipeline – Phase 1: Archaeological Excavation Report (Report). SNN117199.

Record last edited

Sep 2 2026 2:49PM