Monument record 1301/0/94 - Early-middle Saxon settlement, Burystead

Part of the wider Burystead excavation. An area of early-middle Saxon settlement, comprising lengths of gully and a scatter of pits and postholes within an area measuring 50m by 25m. A number of post-built structures may date to this phase. A sunken-featured building was probably in use during the earlier part of this phase.

{1} Excavation 1986-7 by M. Audouy. Burystead. Intensive middle Saxon occupation. Long, narrow ditches possibly represent boundaries of plots of land. Postholes indicate small timber buildings or fences wihtin the plots. Also limestone and clay quarrying.

{2} The excavation found a large assemblage of pottery that included some Ipswich ware and Maxey-type wares. However, the bulk of the assemblage was unstratified or occurred as residual material in later contexts.
The majority of the features, which included lengths of gully and a scatter of postholes and pits, lay within an area of 50m by 25m. Some included middle Saxon wares. In addition the oak plank lining of a waterhole has given a radiocarbon date centred on the mid-7th to late-8th centuries. Several post-built timber buildings may be assigned to this phase although dating was uncertain. A sunken-featured building was also found.

{3, 4} Radiocarbon dating of wheat was undertaken during the Feedsax project. Two of three new dates from Burystead affirm their published phasing (c AD 900/950–1200), and indeed refine it to between the early 11th and mid-12th or early 13th centuries. One other newly dated sample from Burystead prompts a major revision. It derives from a well originally dated by both Maxey-type Ware (c AD 650–850) and a mid-7th- to late 8th-century radiocarbon date from the wooden lining. The new date range, spanning the late 9th to late 10th centuries, is later than the published phasing, and suggests that the well may have remained open for much longer than originally envisaged.

<1> AUDOUY M., 1988, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN50304.

<2> Audouy M.; Chapman A., 2009, Raunds, The Origin and Growth of A Midland Village, AD 450-1500 (Excavations in North Raunds 1997-87), p. 122-125 (Report). SNN106414.

<3> McKerracher, M, 2022, Radiocarbon dating archaeobotanical remains from North Raunds, p. 2 (Digital archive). SNN115663.

<4> Mark McKerracher, Helena Hamerow & Christopher Bronk Ramsey, 2025, Medieval Settlement Chronologies: Reflections on an Extensive Radiocarbon Dating Programme (Article). SNN117162.

Record last edited

Jul 30 2026 11:01AM