Monument record 4043/1/4 - Middle to Late Iron Age Settlement

Roughly half an Iron Age enclosure was excavated after the area had been truncated by a new road.

{1} Half a circular ditched enclosure 19m x 17m was excavated. No interior features were noted. The surrounding ditch was 1.4m deep and was dated to around the C2nd BC. A series of later ditches, of which one was certainly of Roman date, was also recorded.

{2} Roughly half an Iron Age enclosure was excavated after the area had been truncated by a new road. The enclosure, which measured 19m x 17m internally, was devoid of major features in the excavated area, and may have been a cattle compound. The enclosure ditch was, on average, 1.4m deep, and appears to date to around the C2nd BC. A series of later ditches, including one of Roman date, were also planned and sectioned.

{4}D-shaped enclosure with an average internal diameter of 19m by 16.5m. The ditches were up to 1.5m deep. The bank was probably external. There were probably no houses within the enclosed area, it being mainly used as an animal pen. Pottery recovered dated to the middle to late Iron Age. A few sherds found in the lower silts suggest the enclosure may have originated at the beginning of this period. Three small pits within the enclosure were largely filled with glacial pebbles which may have been used for heating water.
Seven ditches were revealed. Where dated were found to be Iron Age or early Romano-British. Approximately 10 pits and 2 possible postholes were also revealed, dating evidence indicating use in the Iron Age. Implies occupation in Iron Age.
Iron slag, including pieces of furnace bottom, were found in the upper ditch levels. It is therefore likely that ironworking took place in the vicinity of the enclosure even though there were no ironstone outcrops nearby.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.23/Site 4 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1975, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1974, p.149 (checked) (Report). SNN41605.

<3> Miscellaneous Plans, (unchecked) (Plan). SNN39541.

<4> JACKSON D., 1982, Great Oakley and Other Iron Age Sites in The Corby Area, p. 17-20 (Article). SNN40120.

Record last edited

Oct 3 2023 12:59PM