Monument record 4572 - Prehistoric and Romano-British Settlement

Extensive area of probable prehistoric and Roman settlement. Aerial photographs show overlapping ring ditches and a series of incomplete enclosures and ditches as well as a pit alignment. 2nd/4th century pottery suggests the site of a settlement. Archaeological evaluation identified part of Roman pottery kiln and possible adjacent structure.

{1} Ring Ditches, Pit Alignment and Roman Settlement, in the N. of the parish, close to the Pitsford boundary, on sand at 97 m. above OD. Air photographs show two overlapping ring ditches associated with a series of incomplete enclosures and ditches. Further north other ditches intersect aeast-west pit alignment. Finds from the area include numerous worked flints, four barbed-and-tanged and six leaf-shaped arrowheads and sixteen scrapers, quantities of Roman pottery from the mid 2nd to 4th centuries, samian ware, roof tiles, quern stones and Roman coins. Much medieval pottery is also recorded. Another Roman coin is reported as having been found a little to the east.

{2} Enclosures and ditches observed at SP 768667;

{4} A small brass Romano-British coin, too worn for further identification, found in 1949.

{5} Surface finds consist of Roman pottery of mid-2nd, 3rd and 4th century date ie greyware, gritted ware, colour coated ware, Samian ware, mortaria, shelly ware, fragments of clay roofing tiles; and numerous fragments of 13th, 14th and 15th century medieval pottery. Small finds consist of eleven Roman coins of which five are legible ie Carausius (AD287-293), Allectus (AD293-296), Crispus (AD317-326), Faustina (AD221) and Valens (AD364-378), a small lead weight possibly Roman, a fragment of hone stone, and two large fragments of quern stones. Among the Bronze Age finds are three barbed and tanged arrowheads, four leafshaped arrow heads, four flint scrapers and numerous worked flints.

{6} Further finds of Roman and Bronze Age date. Among the Roman finds are three illegible bronze coins and a small bronze fragment. Prehistoric surface finds ware by far the most numerous and include two end scrapers; one barbed and tanged arrowhead; two leafshaped arrow heads; one flint spokeshave; nine thumb scrapers; two disc scrapers; three flint blades; and one side scraper. There is also a considerable amount of worked flint.

{8} Staged archaeological evaluation was undertaken. Fieldwalking identified a significant number of flint artefacts and Roman pottery sherds in particular. Trial trench excavation identified some evidence of middle to late Iron Age settlement and a focus of Roman occupation comprising enclosures, a 'cellared' building, a pottery kiln as well as individual walls, surfaces and other structural activity.

{11} A low oblique air photograph, in the possession of R Hollowell, shows two overlapping ditched circles at SP 7684 6668. The site is under plough. No visible remains.

{12} Unclassified cropmark seen on aerial photos in 1963.

{13} (SP 7703 6675) R B coin found in 1949.

{14} [coin] Found by Mr R Hollowell in 1949 and in his possession. Also from this site 1c - 4c R B potsherds found by R Moore in 1966.

{15} Mr Hollowell confirmed the siting as in authy {13}; the coin is a small brass too worn for further identification.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.111/Site 6 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> 1982, Aerial Photography in Northamptonshire 1981 (Journal). SNN104561.

<3> HOLLOWELL R., 1971, Aerial Photography and Fieldwork in the Upper Nene Valley, 6/16 site 4 (checked) (Journal). SNN106546.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP76NE5 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<5> Brown, A.E. (Ed.), 1970, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1969 (Roman), 4/11, 19 (checked) (Article). SNN100535.

<6> Brown, A.E. (Ed.), 1971, Archaeology in Northamptonshire, 1970 (Prehistoric), 5/4 (checked) (Article). SNN55279.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP76NE11 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<8> Edmondson G., 2000, An Archaeological Evaluation At Pitsford, Northamptonshire, December 1999, p.11, 24, 25 (checked) (Report). SNN100537.

<9> 2000, An Archaeological Evaluation At Pitsford, Northamptonshire, December 1999, Illustrations, (checked) (Report). SNN100539.

<10> Dawson M., 1999, Pitsford Quarry Environmental Impast Assessment: Desk Based Assessment of Archaeological Evidence August 1999, 4.3 (checked) (Draft). SNN105318.

<11> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 3-MAR-69 (Note). SNN111452.

<12> Aerial Photograph, AP(R Hollowell)11967) (Photographs). SNN112974.

<13> Annotated Record Map, Corr 6' undated (R W Brown) (Map). SNN112961.

<14> Northampton Museum Topographical Index, Site List Mus 6' udnt Pcc (Index). SNN1470.

<15> Colquhoun, FD, 1969, Field investigators comments, F1 FDC 11-APR-69 (Notes). SNN112950.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:02PM