Monument record 1711/1 - Area of late Iron Age settlement

Excavation at West End identified the remains of a small late Iron Age farmstead with domestic and working zones supporting a pastoral economy

[Cropmark of a ring ditch does not appear to have been recorded as part of NMP.]

{2} Recorded by Hollowell in 1969.

{3} Cropmark of ring ditch, 30m in diameter with a central pit. SP99507380. The cropmark was possibly the later post mill [HER no 7837/1].

{4} Geophysical survey identified a distinct group of features probably indicating a late prehistoric site. Features included three probable ring ditches, a rectangular enclosure and boundary ditch.

{5} Trial trench excavation identified mid-late Iron features that were fairly consistent with the results of the preceding geophysical survey. The large southern ring-ditch, previously identified as a possible barrow, contained sherds of mid-late Iron pottery and a small quantity of iron slag indicating that it was more likely to be the remains of a roundhouse.

{6} Archaeological excavation was undertaken of the small Iron Age settlement. The earliest activity was a network of south-west to north-east deep cut ditches in the western side of the Area 1. It is conjectured that the ditches formed a small rectangular enclosure orientated east to west. The lower fills of the ditches were water silting deposits with fragments of fired clay. From the Late Iron Age the area of occupation was formalised with the focus being a rectangular enclosure, sub-divided into two roughly equal areas and orientated roughly south to north with a south facing entrance. At some point the entrance was restricted or blocked by a short length of ditch. Within the northern part of the enclosure were six pits although it is not clear if they were contemporary as no dating was recovered from them. A sinuous ditch, possibly a boundary ditch, lay to the east. East of the ditch was a group of four ring ditches, probably round houses, between 11m and 14m diameter, arranged in a linear band from north to south. There were also two industrial features, roughly rectangular in plan. Metalworking debris was recovered the eastern side of the enclosure ditch.

{7} The late Iron Age activity comprises a small unenclosed farmstead with clearly defined domestic and livestock management zones. The domestic area included a roundhouse eavesdrip gully and two ancillary ring ditches comprised working areas. The livestock zone consisted of a much maintained rectangular enclosure and field system. The ring ditches and enclosure went out of use sometime before AD 100 and were replaced by a boundary ditch which respected the alignment and position of the enclosure and field system

<1> Brown A.E. (Ed.), 1970, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1969 (Air Photography), p.32 (unchecked) (Article). SNN58608.

<2> HOLLOWELL R., 1971, Aerial Photography and Fieldwork in the Upper Nene Valley, p.16 Site 1 (checked) (Journal). SNN106546.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.83 Site 1 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<4> Bartlett A., 2011, Site at West End, Raunds, Northamptonshire: Report on archaeological geophysical survey, 2011 (Report). SNN111275.

<5> Coates G.; Richmond A., 2011, Archaeological evaluation: Trial Trenching at West End, Raunds, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN111273.

<6> Simmonds, C., 2015, Archaeological excavation on land at West End, Raunds, Northamptonshire: Interim report, 2015 (Report). SNN110579.

<7> Simmonds C., 2016, Late Iron Age occupation on land at West End, Raunds, Northamptonshire, September 2014 to June 2015 (Report). SNN110799.

<8> Simmonds C., 2017, Late Iron Age settlement and a medieval windmill north of Brick Kiln Road, Raunds (Article). SNN111040.

<9> Horne, B (editor), 2016, South Midlands Archaeology (46), p. 45 (Journal). SNN111326.

Record last edited

Apr 21 2023 9:34AM