Monument record 5092 - Iron Age settlement (Settlement 1), Pineham

Archaeological fieldwork between 1989 and 2014 during residential and light industrial development of the area recovered evidence for Neolithic to Iron Age activity. The earliest evidence of activity was two early Neolithic pits. Two heavily truncated Bronze Age round barrows were also found, although no evidence of associated burials or cremations survived. A settlement was probably founded between the early 4th and late 3rd centuries BC. The formation and siting of the settlement was influenced by an earlier co-axial boundary system, with the earliest phase of settlement comprising a pair of domestic enclosures located either side of the ditch forming the east to west boundary. Both enclosure ditches were deep, characteristic of Wootton Hill style enclosures and notable for their middle Iron Age date. An Iron Age 'sword-type' currency bar was found at the base of a later D-shaped enclosure ditch. The north to south boundary ditch on the eastern side of the settlement developed into a trackway which was probably used for stock management. Various field systems were connected to the main enclosures; these features contained little evidence of domestic activity. In the later Iron Age, a more formalised layout was created with a linear field system consisting of larger enclosures linked to the trackway and smaller enclosures to the west as well as a domestic enclosure at its southern limit. There is a disparity in the dating of the field system, middle Iron Age, and the associated enclosure, late Iron Age, indicating that the enclosure was established earlier than suggested by the material evidence. The settlement declined by the end of the 1st century BC; no 'Belgic' type pottery, which would indicate occupation dating to the early to mid 1st century AD, was found.

{1} Cropmarks of 1981 show part of an enclosure and linear ditches, and ring ditch at SP713585.

{2} Middle to late Iron Age settlement, evaluation by M Shaw.

{3} Together, pottery evidence and the geophysical survey would suggest a small late Iron Age settlement, with probable continuity into the Roman period.

{5} Geophysical survey was undertaken in 1999. Scanning and detailed survey identified significant archaeological remains in two of the fields. The results indicate a number of ring ditches, enclosures and trackways that are associated with a large prehistoric/Roman settlement. The full extent of the archaeology has not been ascertained, although scanning and detailed survey does suggest that the archaeology is contained within these two fields.

{6} Further archaeological evaluation undertaken in 2000 broadly confirmed the results of the geophysical survey. The western settlement dated to the middle to late Iron Age and comprised a series of rectilinear enclosures, some of which contained the remains of roundhouses. There were also numerous pits.

{9,10, 12 & 13} ULAS undertook large-scale excavation over 12ha in size and focused on two fields. In the west field, the majority of the archaeological evidence consisted of Iron Age settlement enclosures (Settlement 1), with multi-phase roundhouses, associated ditches, and field systems laid out over a ridge of high ground overlooking the floodplain of the River Nene.

The earliest evidence of activity was two shallow pits dated to the early Neolithic period on the basis of the flint assemblages and pottery recovered from them, supported by subsequent radiocarbon dating (3760-3640 cal BC).

Two extensive linear boundaries formed key components for the development of the landscape during both the Iron Age and Roman periods. The east-west boundary was traced over c700m, intersecting with a north-south boundary that was traced for c300m. The ditches, though undated, are probably late Bronze Age/early Iron Age in orign.

A settlement was founded between the early 4th and the late 3rd centuries BC, initially comprising two domestic enclosures constructed either side of the earlier east-west ditched boundary. Both enclosures were surrounded by exceptionally deep ditches, reaching 5m in width and 2.2m in depth.

The southern enclosure was 0.2ha in area and contained a centrally-placed roundhouse, sub-enclosures, pit clusters, and post-holes. The enclosure entrance way was just 1.5m wide and contained a large post-hole set to one side.

The northern enclosure was over twice as large (0.5ha) and appears to be multi-phase (being incorporated with the gravelled droveway to the east at a later phase). It contained three roundhouses and sub-enclosures. A complete iron currency bar was recovered from one ditch, seemingly deliberately placed in the bottom of the ditch at the apex of a later 'D' -shaped enclosure, at the location of the original southern terminus of the northern enclosure. It is possible the bar may indicate the settlement had trade links with nearby Hunsbury Hill fort (located 2km to the east) where it has been suggested that these types of objects may have been manufactured. A further unusual deposit was of a complete cattle skull located within the south-eastern corner of the southern enclosure. The scale of the enclosure ditches is similar to some other Iron Age enclosed settlements in the East Midlands termed 'Wooton Hill Style Enclosure'.

The north-south boundary along the eastern edge of the settlement developed into a trackway. Various field systems were connected to the domestic enclosures and the trackway. The field systems generally contained little evidence of domestic activity and were presumably used for stock management.

The droveway and associated field systems were subsequently replaced by a field system that spread further southwards [into the area excavated by Northamptonshire Archaeology] forming a linear system of larger enclosures linked to the trackway and smaller enclosures immediately to the west as well as the domestic enclosure [excavated by NA] at it southern limit.

The majority of the pottery assemblage appears to date to the early middle Iron Age, supported by the lack of La Tene decorated bowls. The occurrence of two examples of a lid-seated jar with an internal ledge and paired suspension holes is a noteworthy early middle Iron Age form. One came from a pit Radiocarbon dated to 400-200 cal BC. Lug-handled jars are another unusual feature with an associated Radiocarbon date of 400-200 cal BC.

{8,11} Excavations by MOLA Northampton were undertaken to the south of the ULAS investigations. The earliest activity was a circular ditch measuring 20.8m in diameter without an entrance. It was severely truncated. The ditch fill contained no pottery and only a couple of worked flint flakes. The ditch was respected by the middle Iron Age field systems and had no direct stratagraphic relationship with them. The area within the perimeter of the ditch contained three pits, none of which produced finds. This feature probably represents the remains of a round barrow, although there was no surviving evidence of burials or cremations.

Enclosure systems established in the early Iron Age were replaced during the later Iron Age by a more substantial system containing a sub-square enclosure, with no apparent entrance, with an internal sequence of at least five roundhouses with associated pits, gullies and postholes. Two phases of hearth survived in one of the roundhouses. These enclosures formed part of the larger settlement to the north which suggests a possible polyfocal settlement. Many smaller features such as pits and postholes were distributed throughout the site. The greater number of these lay within the main domestic enclosure and many of these formed small groups clustered together in specific parts of the settlement area. The largest concentrations of pits tended to be located at the rear of the roundhouses. One of the groups appeared to form a regular four post structure in front of Roundhouse R3 whilst several curved gullies that are not part of roundhouses act as subdivisions between the activity areas. The overall distribution of these other features reflects the manner in which the settlement areas were divided up.

<1> FOARD G.R., 1981, ORAL REPORT TO SMR, (checked) (Oral Report). SNN50997.

<2> SHAW M., 1989, Archaeological Evaluation at Watermills, Northampton, (checked) (Report). SNN105029.

<3> SHAW M., 1989, Pineham Barn, Upton, March 1989, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49523.

<4> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<4> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, p.121 (checked) (Article). SNN104441.

<5> GSB Prospection, 1999, Geophysical Survey: Upton, Northamptonshire, p.3 (checked) (Report). SNN102494.

<5> BROWN J., 2007, The Industrial Infrastructure Strip, Map and Sample Areas at Pineham Barn, Upton, Northampton: Assessment Report, p.6-7 (checked) (Report). SNN106237.

<5> Preece, T, 2018, Archaeological excavation on land at Pineham, Upton, Northamptonshire, July 2006 to September 2006, p.6-7 (checked) (Report). SNN112259.

<6> Buteux S.; Jones L., 2000, Archaeological Evaluation Excavation At Pineham Barn, Upton, Northamptonshire, p.7 (checked) (Report). SNN100405.

<7> Morris S., 2002, Fieldwalking Survey at Pineham West Northampton November 2001, p.5 & 8 (checked) (Report). SNN105067.

<8> BROWN J., 2007, The Industrial Infrastructure Strip, Map and Sample Areas at Pineham Barn, Upton, Northampton: Assessment Report, p.8 (checked) (Report). SNN106237.

<9> Horne, B (editor), 2015, South Midlands Archaeology (45), p. 54-6 (Journal). SNN111358.

<10> ULASNews, 2015, Archaeologists return to Pineham, Northamptonshire (Website). SNN110987.

<11> Preece, T, 2018, Archaeological excavation on land at Pineham, Upton, Northamptonshire, July 2006 to September 2006, p.9 (checked) (Report). SNN112259.

<12> Harvey, J and Speed, Dr G, 2020, Archaeological Excavations at Pineham North (residential Area), Upton, Northampton, Volume 1: Excavation Report (Report). SNN112354.

<13> Harvey, J and Speed, Dr G (eds), 2020, Archaeological Excavations at Pineham North (Residential Area), Upton, Northampton, Volume 2: Specialist Reports (Report). SNN112355.

<14> 1982, Aerial Photography in Northamptonshire 1981, p.109 Kislingbury (checked) (Journal). SNN104561.

Record last edited

Apr 29 2025 7:41PM