Monument record 5258 - Possible Iron Age, Romano-British &/or Early Middle Saxon Settlement

Cropmarks of possible Iron Age/Roman ditched enclosures and a ring ditch have been recorded on aerial photogaphs; some of this activity is probably contemporary with that at Crow Hill hillfort to the north-east. Small-scale archaeological investigation has identified Iron Age pits and fieldwalking survey has found concentrations of Iron Age, Roman and Saxon pottery. Part of the area is designated as a Scheduled Monument. Trial excavation to the south-west has identified a small number of undated features which may be associated

{1} Describes the site as a possible "Celtic temple" with an avenue (5258/0/5) up to the temple site (5258/0/1 and 5258/0/2).

{2} One undated ditch in the southern part of the development area was aligned at a different orientation to furrows identifed in one of the trenches. The other undated possible features comprised a possible spread, an undated gully at the north extent of the site and a tree bowl. Two unstratified Roman pottery sherds were recovered and a small quantity of animal bone was also found.

{3} Outside the enclosure, to the east and south-west, smaller amounts of pottery and associated cropmarks indicate the presence of contemporary occupation around the hillfort. A smaller enclosure complex, probably contemporary, is located some 350 m. to the south-west of the defended Iron Age enclosure at Crow Hill.

{5} An archaeological watching brief was undertaken during groundworks for a new business development on land at Nene Business Park. In the south-western corner of the site, adjacent to a Scheduled Monument, pits and ditches associated with Iron Age pottery were recorded.

<1> Pickering J., 2003, Notes on aerial photos taken in 1986, (checked) (Note). SNN107626.

<2> Beers, P, 2017, Trial trench evaluation on land at Nene Business Park, Irthlingborough Northamptonshire June 2017 (Report). SNN111233.

<3> Scheduled Monument Notification, English Heritage SAM Record Form 5th Jan 1990 (Note). SNN113001.

<4> Crank, N. (Editor), 2018, South Midlands Archaeology (48), p. 64 (Journal). SNN111393.

<5> Dawson, M. & Leigh, D.J., 2012, The Excavation of Romano-British Features on Land at Nene Business Park, Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire June 2010-December 2011, p.4; https://doi.org/10.5284/1104318 (Report). SNN109200.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:05PM