Monument record 4619 - Bronze Age and Iron Age Settlement & Associated Activity, Sandy Lane

Archaeological investigation ahead of the construction of a new road identified a small oval enclosure of possible domestic or funerary character with associated pits and postholes, both radiocarbon dated to the Early to Middle Bronze Age. Late Bronze Age activity comprised a small unenclosed settlement comprising two roundhouse structures and associated pits and postholes. Evidence for craft production included fired-clay loomweights and a perforated stone disc. Middle Iron Age activity included an area of settlement comprising structural remains and associated pits, postholes and hearths in Area 2 and a short pit alignment formed of six pits.

{1} A pit alignment and interrupted ditch or further pit alignment running parallel and about 10m apart on a north-east to south-west alignment. Two shorter stretches of ditch are appended at right-angles, whilst other fainter features may indicate additional activity.

{2} Cropmarks of pit alignment, linear ditch, a possible rectangular enclosure and a possible ring ditch. Other faint traces of possible archaeological features (not plotted).

{4} Fieldwalking in 1992 by the Contracting Section of Northamptonshire Archaeology Unit. Four worked flints were recovered. These were unremarkable and failed to help date the linear cropmarks within the field.

{5} Geophysical survey of an area outlined for development. In Area 2, a positive linear anomaly can be seen in a north-east to south-west orientation, also identified within aerial photography and probably a cut feature of archaeological origin. It appears to continue the line of White Lane situated to the north of the survey and suggest that it is the possible continuation of a track way or series of previous field boundaries. A large number of positive linear anomalies and discrete positive anomalies may represent a general area of archaeological activity.

{6} Trial trench evaluation was undertaken along the route of the Sandy Lane Improvement Scheme. A linear gully was present at the south-east end of Trench 25. It was 0.7m wide x 0.2m deep and aligned north-west to south-east. Both edges sloped at 45 degrees to a broad, slightly concave base. The fill of the gully contained frequent large angular limestone fragments indicative of its probable use as a drain. Gully corresponds with Anomaly no.2 in Geophysical Survey.

At the north-west end of Trench 26 there was a north-east to south-west aligned gully. It was 0.6m wide x 0.16m deep. Both edges sloped at 45 degrees to a broad, flat base.

The gully in Trench 26 is likely to be a continaution of a linear anomaly identified in the geophysical survey and the possible drain in Trench 25 corresponds well with another anomaly.

{8} The gully of a possible roundhouse, containing prehistoric pottery, and at least 10m in diameter was revealed during the watching brief. Six small prehistoric pits or postholes were located close by and more lay further to the east. A second area of settlement was also observed (and excavated) comprising more than 50 postholes, small pits and hearths and two possible post-built roundhouses, both of which were undated. An alignment of six early/middle Iron Age pits over a distance of 18m was also identified, but had been truncated by a later ditch. An alignment of early/middle Iron Age pits had been truncated by one of three parallel ditches. Elsewhere an unurned cremation burial was present, along with a hearth and further undated ditches.

{10} Middle Iron Age activity was identified within Areas 2 and 3 and included an area of settlement comprising structural remains and associated pits, postholes and hearths in Area 2 and a short pit alignment formed of six pits in Area 3.
The settlement was located in Area 2 [north of Port Road] and comprised two post-built roundhouses, three possible 4-post structures and a number of scattered pits, postholes and hearth structures.

In Area 3 to the south, Middle Iron Age activity was represented by a pit alignment which extended
across the centre of Area 3 for a distance of 18m (HER 4619/0/1). No further excavated evidence for the alignment was seen to the north-east, although the pits had been truncated by a later ditch.

Late Prehistoric features within Area 3 comprised two hearths located to the north of Area 3, two parallel ditches making up either side of a trackway/droveway, an enclosure and associated ditches, pits and postholes towards the middle of the area. The enclosure, oval in plan, was uncovered in the central part of Area 3, comprising two semi-circular ditches which enclosed a space 8.5m in diameter. An entrance to the west was 1.9m wide.

{11} A radiocarbon determination on charcoal from the fill of the small oval enclosure ditch in Area 3 was dated to 1683–1526 cal. BC (SUERC-74054, 95.4% probability). The enclosure may represent a small stock enclosure or the remains of a structure. While there were no internal features, six small pits were located within 15m of it. A radiocarbon determination on a charred nut from the fill of one returned a date of 1727–1530 cal. BC (SUERC-74055, 95.4% probability). Late Bronze Age activity was focused on the northern part of Area 2 and comprised a small unenclosed settlement consisting of two roundhouse structures, both containing hearths, and a number of associated pits and postholes. A radiocarbon determination on charcoal from one of the hearths returned a date of 1194–998 cal. BC (SUERC-74053, 95.4% probability). Middle Iron Age activity was identified in Areas 2 and 3 and included several postholes, possibly representing a number of four-post structures and a fence-line, along with an alignment of six pits, which extended beyond the limits of the excavation. Middle to Late Iron Age activity was recorded within Areas 3 and 4 and consisted primarily of a track or droveway defined by flanking ditches, the southern one of which followed the alignment of and cut the earlier pit alignment in Area 3, but did not produce any finds later than the Later Prehistoric period. In addition, there were several field boundary ditches that appeared to take their alignment from the route of the trackway.

{13} Pit alignment (SP 709630), close to the south parish boundary, on Northampton Sand, at 100 m above OD. Air photographs (in NMR) show a pit alignment visible for some 225 m, running in a broad curve generally south-west to north-east.

<1> FOARD G.R., Oral Report to SMR, (checked) (Oral Report). SNN51313.

<2> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, NCCAP:SP7063/004-8+11-12 (unchecked) (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<3> Foard G.; Richardson D., 1983, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1982 (Aerial Photography), p181 Harlestone (Checked) (Notes). SNN100412.

<4> Holmes M., 1992, Northampton, North-West Bypass: Archaeological Survey, Stage 1, p.5-6 & 15 (checked) (Report). SNN73443.

<5> Heard H., 2006, Sandy Lane, Duston, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105862.

<6> Taylor E., 2006, An Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation: Sandy Lane North Improvement Scheme, Northamptonshire, November 2006, p.5 (checked) (Report). SNN108109.

<7> NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGY UNIT, 1992, Survey Report, p.16 (part checked) (Note). SNN48501.

<8> Chapman P. (Ed.), 2012, Archaeology in Northamptonshire, 2010, p.200 (checked) (Article). SNN108374.

<10> Garland, N, 2017, Sandy Lane Improvement North, Northampton: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design, March 2017 (Report). SNN110981.

<11> Banks, P, 2018, Sandy Lane Improvement North, Northampton: Summary Publication (Report). SNN111351.

<12> Garland, N., Banks, P. and Stansbie, D., 2019, A later prehistoric landscape at Sandy Lane, Northampton, p. 77-86 (Article). SNN111727.

<13> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 98/Site 3 (Series). SNN77381.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:03PM