Monument record 217/0/6 - Neolithic/Bronze Age and Romano-British Settlement, Buston Farm

Multi-period finds and features: Neolithic pits and Peterborough Ware and Roman settlement evidence

{1} Uncertain finds from SP 5038 3872, now with the Ashmolean museum.

{2, 7, 8} Neolithic and Roman discoveries were made in an area 700 yards NE of the junction of the track to Buston Farm with the main road (ie area SP 508389) during ironstone quarrying before 1910 and up to 1911. The finds were made in fields 393, 415 and 437 (on OS 25").
By 1910 a dozen skeletons had been found lying flat on their backs, at least some with heads pointing NW. The following year four more skeletons were found, two at full length and two crouched, all pointing north. Also found were numerous pits, Neolithic and Roman sherds, Roman coins from Claudius to Constantine the Great, flint scrapers,and a polished stone axe. The site was probably occupied first in Neolithic times, and then in Roman times, first for habitation and then as a burial ground. (Publication on OS 25 1923 covers the finds in fields 415 and 437, but not in 393.
The iron stone workings according to OS 25 1923 were on a line SE of Buston Farm, but the 1910-11 workings were evidently more to the north as they destroyed the two tumuli. (SP 53 NW 14) in field 415. See sketch.)

{3} A skeleton was viewed near Buston farm. Was positioned with its head to the south west. There were quantities of pot sherds around as well as possibly Neolithic and Bronze Age finds, and pits containing Neolithic pottery (Peterborough pottery -how pottery identified not stated). Info: Mr S H Beale of Banbury Municipal School

{4} Ironstone workings from 1909-11. In 1910 at least 12 extended skeletons were found, and in 1911 another 4, of which two were crouched inhumations. There were numerous pits, Neolithic pottery and flint scrapers and a polished stone axe. Some of the Neolithic pottery is said to have been found in pits and has been described as 'of Peterborough type'. Most of the finds are in the Ashmolean Museum.
Roman settlement. Numerous pits, flints and Neolithic and Roman pottery were revealed during ironstone mining between 1909 and 1911. Roman coins from Claudius to Constantine the Great. The Roman pottery was said to extend over a wide area and several complete pots are recorded.

{5} Location plan

{6} Romano-British finds made during ironstone mining in early 20th century by Hickman and Co Ironstone at Buston Farm. Finds located in Ashmolean Museum.

{9} The OS publication was authorised by W Potts, as 'Romano-Celtic pottery and Burials' and 'Anglo Saxon Burial and spearhead (sic)'. In a letter of 27 May 1920 accompanying the authorisation he says - "In the area between it (one of the Tumuli, SP 53 NW, at SP 503386) and Buston Farm House and in the field beyond the latter several
other skeletons were found (one was found in the tumulus) also several pots of Romano-Celtic ware, and the whole site was strewn with fragments of the same pottery. At the extreme limits of the area there was an Anglo-Saxon burial with spearheads (sic) of that period; then the interments and pottery ceased."

The OS changed his authorisation to the published form {1} and doubled up the first legend so as to cover both sides Buston Farm.

{10} Present location of the finds not determined, the farmer says that much of fields 415 and 437 were mined for ironstone in 1910-11.

<1> 1923, OS 25 INCH MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN10697.

<2> 1910, OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY REPORT, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN10511.

<3> 1964, Proceedings of The Prehistoric Society, 30/378 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN10509.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.92 site 5 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP53NW12 (part checked) (Index). SNN443.

<6> Ashmolean Museum Accession Register, (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN10110.

<7> 1912, OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY REPORT, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN10515.

<8> 1911, OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY REPORT, (unchecked) (Series). SNN10512.

<9> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Object Name Book reference, Revision ONB [Object Name Book] Northants 58 SE 1921 (Archive). SNN113537.

<10> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, Ordnance Survey archaeology field investigator JB 13-FEB-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:15PM