Monument record 1780/0/7 - Early Middle Saxon Building

Trial excavation undertaken to determine the preservation of Crow Hill hillfort identified the possible remains of a substantial Saxon building.

{1} An evaluation trench over a concentration of early Saxon pottery which had been found during field walking. Five substantial postholes were found and a slot associated with three further postholes cut into the layer of colluvium. The series of postholes lacked potterey, but the slot contained several large sherds of early Saxon pottery which had been placed vertically to provide packing around timbers. Three of the postholes may have been set at right-angles to the slot and could indicate contemporaneity. If so, a substantial early Saxon structure can be inferred.

{2} Trial excavation by S. Parry. Approximately 75m south-west of the hillfort entrance were six postholes, a slot and possible hearth of a substantial early middle Saxon building.

{3} Trial excavation by S.Parry. Trench 5 revealed (approximately 75m south-west of the entrance) six postholes, a slot and possible hearth of a substantial early middle Saxon building.

{4} Trial excavation by S.Parry. A trench measuring 41m x 1.6m was cut to the south-west of the hillfort, at a point near to its entrance. The area adjacent to the hillfort was devoid of features except for an aceramic gully, posthole and possible furrow. A substantial early-middle Saxon building of posthole and slot construction was identified cutting the hillwash as the south-west end of the trench, some 80m beyond the hillfort entrance. The structure was formed by a line of three closely-spaced large postholes, 0.5m in diameter x 0.5m deep, with a slot and further three postholes aligned at right-angles. The slot was traced for a length of 2.2m where it continued beyond the edge of the trench.Its terminal was formed by a post setting which contained limestone packing. Anonther posthole was also present wihtin the slot. All the postholes were aceramic, but the slot contained vertically placed sherds from a single large early middle Saxon vessel, may of which were found to join. A layer of scorched clay loam 0.9m wide x 0.009m thick could represent the remains of an associated hearth.

<1> Pike, A (ed), 1989, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (19), p.27-28 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN100659.

<2> 1993, Untitled Source, 14/15 (unchecked) (Full Report). SNN47285.

<3> Parry S., 1993, Raunds Area Survey Report, p.14-15 (checked) (Draft). SNN1175.

<4> Parry S. et al, 2006, Raunds Area Survey: An Archaeological Study of The Landscape of Raunds, Northamptonshire 1985-94, p.146 (checked) (Book). SNN105780.

Record last edited

Oct 6 2023 11:15AM