Find Spot record 1818/0/0 - Early Middle Saxon & Late Saxon Pottery Scatter (Site 24b)

{1} Several concentrations of Saxon pottery sherds found on the periphery of the village at various locations. Early-middle Saxon and late Saxon sherds found at differing locations. Linear concentration of 48 late Saxon sherds found on area between Main Street and Back Lane suggest this area may have formed part of original village layout. A further strip outside Back Lane suggest the periphery of the settlement was also occupied.

{2} Site 24, Ringstead village. Two concentrations of early middle Saxon activity identified, called sites 24a (20 sherds from c.1ha at SP98837546) and 24b (114 sherds from c.2.2ha at SP98997491).
Early middle Saxon occupation of Ringstead is suggested by pottery surface scatters located high on the flanks of the valley close to the margins of the later village. Medieval occupation seems to have been confined to the area of the present village, possibly with additional back lane development to the south.
Fieldwalking has identified early middle Saxon scatters on either side of the valley, some 600m apart. A further collection of 5 early middle Saxon sherds was made from spoil heaps during building construction between High Street and Back Lane some 250m down-slope from the northern surface scatter at SP98837524. This could represent another focus of activity, though no features were identified in the builders' trenches.
The northern scatter (24a) was confined to a single field and comprised some 24 sherds in 2ha. Occasional pieces of roasted iron ore were also present but it was uncertain whether they were the debris of contemporary metal-working or derived from later industrial processes. A light scatter of early middle Saxon pottery, separated by the smaller stream but occupying a similar upper valley side location some 600m upstream may represent a manure scatter or possible further settlement.
Scatter 24b was more substantial, with 86 sherds found in 2ha and a further 228 pieces recovered by intensive collection within part of the area. The full extent is uncertain as Slade Farm has been built over a large part of it. An outlier of 10 sherds in a single stint some 250m east could reflect further activity. The identification of 5 sherds of Ipswich ware from the initial survey, and a further 4 sherds in the intensive collection suggests middle Saxon activity. A lighter density of 27 sherds covering some 6ha upslope may suggest an associated manure scatter. The centre of the concentration coincides with late Saxon and medieval scatters but need not imply contunuity.
A linear concentration of 48 late Saxon sherds was identified aloong the south bank of the stream close to the main concentration of early middle Saxon pottery at 24b. Areas of pasture to the north and west precluded the recovery of its full extent, but the eastern and southern boundaries are well defined. The location of the finds in the area between the main street and back lane suggests that the route may have been part of the original vilage layout. The main concentration occurs within an area shown as ancient closes on the Inclosure map, but its continuation for up to 200m may suggest settlement shift. To the west, a less dense scatter of 17 sherds, together with 127 sherds from intensive collection, forms a strip some 60m wide outside the back lane. It may indicate that the periphery of the settlement was occupied.

<1> Parry S., 1993, Raunds Area Survey Report, p.176-78 (checked) (Draft). SNN1175.

<2> Parry S. et al, 2006, Raunds Area Survey: An Archaeological Study of The Landscape of Raunds, Northamptonshire 1985-94, p.93+211-3 (checked) (Book). SNN105780.

Record last edited

Sep 18 2008 3:13PM