Monument record 150/0/11 - Late Iron Age/Early Romano-British Ditch, Pits & Postholes (Phase I), Old Town

Trial trench excavation in 1991 identified a substantial ditch and, to the south, a number of postholes and pits which may form part of a structure.

{1} To the north of the house a large ditch was uncovered.

{2} Large ditch.

{3} Trench B revealed a substantial ditch on an east-west alignment and parallel to the northern boundary wall. Its full width was not determined. It was at least 2.2m wide x 0.6m deep with gently sloping sides. The base was deepened by a narrow channel c.0.35m wide with vertical sides, from which part of a kiln bar was recovered. A single sherd of Iron Age pottery was recovered from the upper fill of the ditch.
A number of postholes were cut into the natural subsoil. These may have formed part of a structure but further investigation was not possible. The postholes continued into Trench C.
An oval pit c.1m long x 0.5m wide was also revealed, and partly cut the fill of the large ditch. The pit had almost vertical sides and a flat bottom. Part of a further small pit at least 0.5m across was also revealed. No dating evidence was recovered from these features.
All the features were sealed by a layer 0.25m deep which contained a single sherd of Romano-British pottery of C1st/2nd date and a fragment of box flue tile.

{4} Late Iron Age/ early Roman occupation, residual Saxon elements, Medieval and Post Medieval activity, evaluation by M Shaw.

<1> STEADMAN S., 1991, SMR Report Form, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN48864.

<2> Shaw M. (Editor), 1992, CBA Group 9 Report for Northamptonshire Archaeology Unit: Contracts Section, p.36 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN48018.

<3> SHAW M.; STEADMAN S., 1991, Archaeological Evaluation at Egerton House, Brackley, (unchecked) (Report). SNN55454.

<4> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, p.118 (unchecked) (Article). SNN104441.

Record last edited

Jan 21 2020 1:25PM