Monument record 4984/0/1 - Possible Iron Age Settlement, Briar Hill

[Part of the Hunsbury Complex] A number of Iron Age pits were discovered in 1969 and 1975 during development.

{1} Iron Age Settlement (SP 739591) on Northampton Sands, at 80 m. above OD, was discovered in 1969 during housing development. Three pits and a shallow ditch containing Iron Age pottery were excavated. Further pits containing worked flints and Iron Age pottery were discovered in 1975 immediately to the east (SP 73935918).

{2} During the excavation of the pit alignment Iron Age features were noted in house foundations c.180m to the north. The remains of three circular pits and part of a shallow ditch were excavated but it was not possible to carry out any extensive work. The pits were cut c.1.5ft into the sandstone bedrock and varied from 4ft 6ins to 5ft 9ins in diameter. The small amout of pottery recovered dated possibly to the C1st-2nd BC suggesting occupation during this period.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.277/Site 12 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<2> JACKSON D., 1974, Two New Pit Alignments: 1. A New Pit Alignment at Briar Hill Farm, Northampton, p.16+23 (checked) (Journal). SNN21472.

Record last edited

Apr 23 2025 8:20PM