Monument record 2288/1/7 - Neolithic Mortuary Enclosure (Aldwincle Site 1)

A multi-phase Neolithic mortuary/funerary monument excavated in the late 1960s in advance of gravel extraction. The earliest phase of activity appears to be represented by a scatter of pits, some containing sherds of earlier Neolithic plain ware pottery. Earlier still is a scatter of Mesolithic flints from the general area and also from unstratified and residual contexts. The first monumental phase is represented by a sub-rectangular enclosure defined by shallow ditches. This enclosure was orientated east-west and measured circa 12 metres by 10 metres. Within the enclosed area were internal settings of paired posts representing a sequence of structures, some of which may have been broadly contemporary, while others may have belonged to the next phase. Between two of the larger post holes were two burials, both adult males. One was disarticulated (and possibly redeposited); the other was a complete crouched inhumation. The second phase saw the original enclosure surrounded by a substantial oval ditch, enclosing an area circa 15 metres by 19 metres. This ditch was possibly accompanied by a substantial external bank, and may have been followed by the construction of a mound over the northern half of the monument. The final phase saw the digging of an outer, concentric ditch enclosing an area circa 36 metres by 32 metres. Sherds of Peterborough Ware were found within this ditch. The central area was probably covered by a barrow mound, a suggestion supported by the fact that a much later ditch cuts across the outer barrow ditch but then makes a notable curve in its course, as if encircling an extant mound. A single radiocarbon date of 2690-2540 bc (uncalibrated) was obtained from charcoal from the bottom of the second phase oval ditch.

{1} Neolithic Mortuary Enclosure, excavated in 1968, overlaid a number of pits representing earlier occupation of the site. It had three main phases of construction. In phase I a rectangular area, 10 m. wide by at least 12 m. long, was enclosed by a shallow ditch. This area, with pits and postholes in it, may be interpreted as a ridge-roofed mortuary house. Phase II saw the construction of a deep ovoid ditch, 19 m. by 14.5 m., with two small causeways through it. Within, a second mortuary house was erected which contained two adult male inhumations. In phase III an outer ovoid ditch, 36.5 m. by 32 m., was dug, apparently to provide spoil for a mound. Many small limestone slabs were incorporated in this mound and Peterborough and Grooved Ware sherds were found in the ditch. Nearby a Peterborough Ware pot was discovered during gravel-digging. The associated material included logs, twigs, hazel nuts and shells.

{4} The Neolithic mortuary enclosure was revealed by the removal of overburden prior to gravel extraction. Unlike the barrows and ring ditches nearby, it had not been previously located by surface indications or by aerial photography. The site was excavated during the spring of 1968 with much of the work carried out by labourers with little previous archaeological experience.
The initial scatter of early Neolithic pits were perhaps domestic, with the commencement of the funerary sequence by the ditched enclosure. The 2-post structures of the two subsequent phases may be of pitched-roof structures

{5} The single determination gave a date of 4560±70 B.P which gives an uncalibrated radiocarbon date range of 2690-2540 BC.

{6}Important small find from excavation has been identified as link from mid C1st military horse harness.

{8} Henslow Meadow Complex. A single radio-carbon date of 4560+ 170 B.P., has been obtained for the Neolithic mortuary enclosure which correspond to an uncalibrated date range of 2690-2540 b.c. An important small find from the excavation has now been identified as a link from a mid 1st-century military horse harness.

{10} A double ditched enclosure was excavated by Dennis Jackson (MOW) at SP 99638031. Two Neolithic inhumation burials were found between two timber centralised uprights. Suggested remains of mortuary house. The site is now quarried away.

{11} The enclosure ditches were flat-bottomed and approximately circular; the outer, 122 ft x 107 ft was continuous; the inner 61 ft x 50 ft has two causeways. They enclosed a sub-rectangular feature, indicated by three short stretches of smaller ditch, within which, and placed centrally, were two postholes flanking two burials; one flexed, the other disarticulated. Six below them, and offset the the west posthole, as an antler pick. Fragments of mid-Neolithic pottery were also found. This central arrangement suggest a smaller version of the mortuary house at Wayland's Smithy (Berks; SU 28 NE 4).

{12} Neolithic mortuary enclosure (SP 99658035), excavated in 1968, overlaid a number of pits representing earlier occupation of the site. It had three main phases of construction. In phase I a rectangular area, 10m wide by at least 12m long, was enclosed by shallow ditch. This area, with pits and post-holes in it, may be interpreted as a ridge-roofed mortuary house. Phase II saw the construction of a deep ovoid ditch, 19m by 14.5m, with two small causeways through it. Within, a second mortuary house was erected which contained two adult male inhumations. In phase III an outer ovoid ditch, 36.5m by 32m was dug, apparently to provide spoil for a mound. Many small limestone slabs were incorporated in this mound and Peterborough and Grooved Ware sherds were found in the ditch.(a) Nearby a Peterborough Ware pot was discovered during gravel-digging. The associated material included logs, twigs, hazel nuts and shells.

{13} SP 996 803. Aldwincle I. Listed by Kinnis as a Neolithic round barrow and mortuary enclosure. Radio-carbon dated at 2610 +- 70 bc, HAR-1411.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.4 (part checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP98SE18 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1973, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1972, 3 (Journal). SNN8956.

<4> Jackson, D., 1976, The Excavation of Neolithic and Bronze Age Sites at Aldwincle, Northants, 1967-71, 12-70 (unchecked) (Article). SNN43101.

<5> JACKSON D.A., 1977, A Radiocarbon Date For the Aldwincle Mortuary Enclosure, 183 (Article). SNN47460.

<7> 1976, Britannia, 39-72 (Journal). SNN5242.

<8> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.184 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77382.

<9> Jordan, D, Haddon-Reece, D, and Bayliss, A, 1994, Radiocarbon Dates from samples funded by English Heritage and dated before 1981, p. 3-4 (Monograph). SNN112521.

<10> Colquhoun, FD, 1969, Field investigators comments, 15-OCT-69 (Notes). SNN112950.

<11> Brown, A.E. (Ed.), 1970, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1969 (Prehistoric), 35-6 (Article). SNN28659.

<12> Daniel G. (ed.), 1971, Antiquity (179), 42-5 (Journal). SNN61983.

<13> KINNES I., 1979, Round Barrows And Ring Ditches in The British Neolithic, P. 13 (Document). SNN46207.

<14> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, Dennis Jackson (MOW) oral 15.10.1969 (Oral Report). SNN111577.

<15> RCHME, Undated, RCHME Inventory: Northamptonshire I (North-East), 890161 (Archive). SNN113295.

<16> Historic England, Undated, Aldwincle excavation photographs (Archive). SNN116477.

Record last edited

Jul 10 2024 8:28PM