Monument record 6766/1 - Middle to Late Iron Age Settlement, Bottom Sheep dale Field

Archaeological investigation ahead of quarrying identified a long-lived curvilinear boundary, either side of which were a series of rectilinear and curvilinear enclosures which were probably used for domestic as well as agricultural purposes. There were several roundhouse ring ditches and a large number of pits which were often located close to the enclosure ditch edges.

{1} The geophysical survey revealed extensive archaelogical features, some of which may date to the prehistoric or Roman periods.

{3} A series of early-middle Iron Age enclosures were identified in Spring Close, with a lower level of activity in the area to the west. The correlation between the aerial photographic, geophysical and excavation evidence in the field was variable. The anomalies were not always detected in the evaluation trenches, which may indicate that they were a product of the natural geology. The evaluation confirmed that the network of linear anomalies detected on the aerial photographs were not associated with human activity. Relatively few archaeological features were identified in Bottom Sheep Dale Field.

{5} A Watching Brief carried out during topsoil stripping in advance of quarrying in Bottom Sheep Dale Field, Pitsford, recorded settlement remains including enclosures and ring gullies, extending over an area of more than a hectare, as well as a pit alignment comprising 32 pits. Archaeological recording confirmed that the settlement remains were predominantly of late Middle Iron Age date. The pit alignment predated some of the Iron Age enclosures but was otherwise undated. Extensive re-cutting of the enclosure ditches and ring gullies indicated that several phases of activity were represented. A small assemblage of Middle Iron Age pottery and even smaller assemblage of faunal remains and ecofacts were recovered.
Several of the enclosure ditches and ring gullies, as well as the pit alignment, appeared to extend southwards beyond the excavated area, an area due to be quarried in the near future.
The majority of features date to the Late Middle Iron Age and several phases of occupation seem to have occurred within this period. There was some inter-cutting of features, though many remained discrete. Several features were either utilised for long periods or were re-cut frequently over a brief time span. Due to the nature of the local soil types, features may well have silted up over a short space of time, making the regular re-cutting of ditches and gullies necessary.Several deep stone-cut circular pits were possibly used for storage. Other possible storage pits yielded interesting finds including an articulated sheep burial and an intact rotary quern stone base.

The layout of features suggests an organised and disciplined enclosed settlement pattern with the majority of features constructed on the same alignment.

{6}A Watching Brief followed by archaeological recording was carried out in advance of quarrying in Bottom Sheep Dale Field, Pitsford. The continuation of settlement remains previously identified during the first stage of recording in 2001, was recorded over an area of approximately one hectare.
The full extent of many of the enclosures identified in 2001 was established and more settlement features were exposed. Small assemblages of Iron Age pottery, faunal remains and ecofacts were recovered adding to the corpus of material recovered from the previous strip.
The archaeology revealed a continuation of the enclosure and ditch system seen in 2001 works. The large, rectangular enclosure is seen extending away to the west with a potential entrance on the south-west corner. All other features previously identified are also seen to continue including a small enclosure to the east and a small ditch extending from the south-east corner.

The Iron Age features show a break in the occupation to the southwest where the only other feature seen consists of a small pit or potential ditch butt end filled with Iron Age pottery and large numbers of burnt stone, possibly indicated the start of a new settlement area.

{7} An archaeological recoding action covering c.3.7ha was carried out in three stages at Pitsford Quarry on land located to the south of Pitsford village and west of Moulton College, within Bottom Sheep Dale Field (NGR 4765 2666).
The excavations at Bottom Sheep Dale Field revealed a complex sequence of landscape development and occupation in the mid-late Iron Age. The pit alignment was superseded by a complex pattern of settlement dating to the middle and later Iron Age. A curvilinear ditch was constructed on an approximately north-south alignment, a second ditch paralleled it along its northern section. The ditches had been re-cut a number of times. This feature is interpreted as a boundary (similar long boundaries have been observed at DIRFT). The double-ditching at its northern end may indicate a use as a droveway. Two distinct areas of settlement pattern were apparent. In the north-western part of the site, to the west of the boundary feature, were a series of large, adjoining, rectilinear enclosures, with entrances in their corners, possibly forming part of a field system. In the south-eastern corner of the north-eastern enclosure a smaller cub-rectangular enclosure had been constructed in at least two phases. The north-western corner of the south-eastern enclosure also contained a sub-rectangular enclosure, within which was a ring gully, this had been re-cut at least four times and had an entrance facing northwest, atypical of most similar features of the period

<1> Northamptonshire Archaeology Unit, 1995, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49382.

<2> Holmes M., 1995, Pitsford Quarry, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation, Stage 1, May 1995, p.7 (checked) (Report). SNN72324.

<3> Edmondson G., 2000, An Archaeological Evaluation At Pitsford, Northamptonshire, December 1999, p.12-16 (checked) (Report). SNN100537.

<4> 2000, An Archaeological Evaluation At Pitsford, Northamptonshire, December 1999, Illustrations, (unchecked) (Report). SNN100539.

<5> Hallam T., 2002, Pitsford Quarry (Stage 1), Northamptonshire: An Assessment And Updated Project Design, p.4-6 (checked) (Report). SNN102325.

<6> Hallam T., 2002, Pitsford Quarry (Stage 2), Northamptonshire: An Assessment And Updated Project Design, p.4-7 (checked) (Report). SNN102326.

<7> Hallam T.; Lloyd R.; Steadman S.; Yates A., 2003, Pitsford Quarry Archaeological Recording, Bottom Sheep Dale Field: Assessment and Updated Project Design, 2003, p.6 (checked) (Report). SNN103891.

<8> Rees G., 2008, Enclosure Boundaries and Settlement Individuality in The Iron Age, (unchecked) (Article). SNN106040.

Record last edited

Apr 1 2025 4:27PM