Monument record 1160/2/3 - Late Saxon Defensive Bank & Revetment, Northampton's Saxon defences

Excavation at Green Street in 1996 identified well-preserved remains of the late Saxon town defences. They comprised a clay bank with a timber revetment and a substantial ditch probably constructed in the earlier 10th century, either late in the Danish occupation or shortly after the late Saxon reconquest.

{1} Late Saxon clay bank and timber slots of revetment of bank. Defensive bank sealed middle Saxon soil horizon.

{2} Original defences comprised 6.0m wide clay bank and a contemporary ditch 8m wide, 2m deep and 0.80m beyond revetment. Cut into the bank was a linear slot with post pits at intervals of 0.75m. This comprised a timber revetment which was constructed of substantial upright posts with horizontal planking - this was seen in trench 1, but not in trench 2. The absense of any timbers indicates that the revetment has been systematically dismantled. Possible that its outer face / upper levels had been mortared. The dating of the late Saxon defensive features to 900-975 AD was based on analysis of the small amount of pottery recovered.

{3} A sample of animal bone from beneath the defensive bank has been radiocarbon dated, giving a broad date spanning the 9th century, which doesn't clarify whether the bank was constructed during the Danish occupation in the late 9th to early 10th centuries or following the Saxon reconquest in the early-mid 10th century.

<1> CHAPMAN A., 1996, SMR Report Form, (checked) (Notes). SNN49470.

<2> Chapman A., 1998, Excavation of The Town Defences at Green Street, Northampton 1995-6 (Article). SNN39672.

<3> Chapman, A, 2021, The late Saxon town defences at Green Street, Northampton: a review of the evidence and a radiocarbon date, p. 129-136 (Article). SNN112913.

Record last edited

Feb 2 2022 2:43PM