Monument record 2671/1/1 - Neolithic Mortuary Enclosure with late Neolithic/Bronze Age reuse, Tansor Crossroads

Partial excavation of a mound which proved to be of Neolithic origin, though some possibly Mesolithic flints and some charcoal dated to the late 6th millennium BC (calibrated) hint at earlier activity. The initial phase of the monument seems to belong to the late 4th millennium BC, and comprise a rectangular enclosure at least 20 metres across defined by ditches and pit complexes, with an east-facing entrance. The interior featured some pits and postholes, and finds included sherds of Mortlake Ware. The pits on the south subsequently were recut, and also replaced by elongated slots. Beaker sherds and radiocarbon dates suggest that this phase belongs to the 3rd millennium BC. Subsequently the monument was transformed into a round or oval barrow in the Early Bronze Age. A ring ditch circa 35 metres in diameter was dug, and a mound appears to have been constructed in the central area. Some Beaker and urn sherds occurred in the secondary fills of the ditch. Later, still within the Early Bronze Age, a causeway was constructed across the ditch on the south east. A shallow pit and a large deposit of burnt material in the ditch seem to belong to the Late Bronze Age. Later activity was represented by Romano-British pottery and evidence for two Saxon inhumations. No human bone survived on the site

{1} Cropmarks; identified in 1989 by Steve Upex; two ring ditches, the northernmost is much larger and may be a circular enclosure rather than a round barrow; light gravel interiors may indicate the remnants of a mound.

{2} Prehistoric barrow, other ring ditches and worked flint; evaluation by M. Shaw and M. Webster.

{4} The mound initially presumed to be a Bronze Age round barrow was upon excavation found to conceal a Neolithic mortuary or funerary enclosure; the chronology of this Neolithic monument is defined by a series of radiocarbon dates. A small Neolithic pottery assemblage was recovered from the central pit. The mound and encircling ditch appear to date to the late Neolithic/early Bronze age with respect for mound continuing into late Bronze Age.

{5} The earliest evidence of activity found during the excavation was a few pieces of worked flint of possible Mesolithic date. A radiocarbon date of 5245-5065 cal BC was obtained for charcoal from surrounding soil.

The Neolithic funerary monument was only 20% excavated. The original monument probably comprised a rectangular enclosure with an eastern entrance and it is possible that it had a broad entrance at least 6m wide. The original enclosure may have measured 20m north to south. A number of small pits/postholes were found within the centre of the enclosure. The largest pit was circular and almost vertically sided, 1.05m in diameter x 0.55m deep; this pit contained pottery, hazelnut shells and pieces of charcoal. It may have been part of the primary mortuary structure. The neutral to acid soils at Tansor resulted in the loss of virtually all bone from monument. The first phase of the monument was marked by a series of substantial pits to the southern side of the complex. It is assumed that there was a corresponding arrangement to the unexcavated north side. These were later filled in and replaced by a new line of pits further to the north. The original phase of monument included a curvilinear gully or slot which appears to have defined an eastern façade; this appears to have been removed in the second phase of the monument. The eastern end would however have appeared to have remained both the point of access and focal activity area with two leaf arrowheads being recovered from this location. The monument was in use for not less than 1,000 years with radio carbon dates from charcoal in separate pits dating 3635-3365 BC and 2030-1885 BC.

The encircling ditch of the round barrow was near circular in plan and enclosed an area of circa 35m diameter. The ditch had a U-shaped profile and was consistently 1.6m deep with a broad, flat bottom and 1.0m wide. There was no remnant of a central mound although there was a "ghost" of the mound in earthwork and the partial preservation of an early soil horizon beneath it. It is estimated that the encircling ditch would have produced enough material for a mound just under 1m high. Small quantities of flint and sherds of Beaker pottery were recovered from the secondary fill of the ditch. A causeway was later inserted on the south-eastern side of the ditch (presumably for access to the central mound). To the south of this was a narrow slot or short length of ditch which may have served to demarcate the entrance way. A continuous layer (containing charcoal, ashy soils and burnt pebbles) was located between the centre and the outer area of the ditch. Charcoal deposits from this context given radio carbon dates of 1285-1045 BC and 1110-900 BC. Evidence that respect for the barrow continued to the end of the Bronze Age, by the siting of other features so as to respect the monument.

A small quantity of Romano-British pottery (dating from the C3rd/C4th) was recovered from the brown loam layer sealing the enclosing ditch of the round barrow.

Two early Saxon burials were recovered from the central area of Neolithic mortuary enclosure/Bronze Age round barrow. No bone had survived but the former presence of an adult female inhumation in a pit 2.30m long was denoted by a soil stain and a small assemblage of beads associated with silver wire rings and a silver pendant. A nearby pit 0.95m long had probably contained an infant or child inhumation, as a plain early-middle Saxon pottery vessel stood at one end of the pit. Burials probably represent part of a small Saxon cemetery set on or around the prehistoric mound.

<1> Upex S.G., 1989, Oral Report to SMR, (checked) (Oral Report). SNN50456.

<2> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, p.124 (part checked) (Article). SNN104441.

<3> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Photographs). SNN104822.

<4> CHAPMAN A., 1995, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49463.

<5> Chapman A., 1998, The Excavation of Neolithic and Medieval Mounds at Tansor Crossroads, Northamptonshire, (checked) (Report). SNN44087.

<6> Chapman A, 1996-7, The Excavation of Neolithic and Medieval Mounds at Tansor Crossroads, Northamptonshire, 1995, (checked) (Article). SNN104069.

Record last edited

Feb 8 2024 12:01PM