Monument record 2288/1/1 - Neolithic/Bronze Age Round Barrow (Barrow 4)

A ring ditch at Aldwincle excavated in 1971 ahead of destruction by gravel extraction. The site had previously been observed as a cropmark. The area enclosed was circa 22 metres in diameter. Some small sherds of Neolithic pottery were found in the upper ditch fill, and a few flint flakes were also present. No internal features could be associated with the ring ditch, and there was no evidence for there having been a mound, although the interior had been disturbed by a Roman road and Medieval ridge and furrow. Three pits found may either have been dug into the side of the ring ditch, or may alternatively represent the remains of a circle of pits which preceded the ring ditch. One of the pits contained a human skull sealed beneath two slabs of stone. Another of the pits, also grave-shaped, contained similar stone slabs but no human remains. Some human bones were also found elsewhere in the ditch fill. Several depressions and hollows in the excavated area seem to pre-date the monument, but there was no evidence that any were man-made. Firm dating evidence of lacking. The Neolithic sherds cannot be taken to indicate the date of construction of the monument. An Early Bronze Age seems the most likely date at present.

{1}Round barrow (TL 00098041), 300m east of SP 98 SE 19 was excavated in 1970. It was 27m in diameter and surrounded by a ditch 1.7m deep. The interior ws featureless. A pit dug into the side of the ditch contained a skull which was covered by a perforated limestone slab; other human bones were found in the ditch-filling.


{2} Partial excavation prior to gravel extraction; possible external bank; 3 pits of which 1 contained human remains & 2 stone slabs; another just had 2 stone slabs; possibly indicates pit ring prior to cutting of ditch; alternatively a cot ditch; pre ditch features are probably natural; few small neolithic sherds & flint flakes recovered from ring ditch; probable Neolithic henge-type feature & not round barrow; plan.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.5 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<2> Jackson, D., 1976, The Excavation of Neolithic and Bronze Age Sites at Aldwincle, Northants, 1967-71, p.38-41 (checked) (Article). SNN43101.

<3> Brown, A E (ed), 1972, Northamptonshire Archaeology, 7/1 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN25623.

<4> Rowley R.T.; Fowler W.J. (Editors), 1972, CBA Group 9 Newsletter: South Midlands Archaeology (2), 2/8 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN10022.

<5> 1972, Archaeological Excavations (Various Years), (unchecked) (Series). SNN55389.

<6> KINNES I., 1979, Round Barrows And Ring Ditches in The British Neolithic, p. 18 (Document). SNN46207.

Record last edited

Jul 10 2024 8:28PM