Monument record 8202/0/1 - Probable early middle Saxon boundary and possible structures, with evidence of earlier Roman activity

An east-west aligned ditch which had been excavated along the top of a natural slope. A large quantity of early-middle Saxon pottery was recovered from the fill, as well as residual Roman pottery

{2}Wide ditch cut along hill-slope, aligned east-west. The ditch would appear to continue further to the west although it had been overlain by later ditches. Ditch up to 7m wide and 1.1m deep at centre where best preserved and cut through natural clay. The ditch was deliberatly back-filled with a layer containing pottery and bone; features were cut into the backfill.A ditch as large as this which was traced for 50m across the site would have served an important function, whether defensive or simply as a major line of demarcation.

A large deposit of early Saxon pottery was found in one of the dis-use fills of the ditch. The assemblage included one of the largest groups of decorated early Saxon pottery from a non-funerary context in the county. The decoration suggests that the majority of the pottery dates to the 6th century, although small, residual fragments of possible 5th century vessels were also noted.

South of the ditch, were discrete clusters of slots / post-holes which may have been part of two structures. Both had an east-west aligned slot with a row of post-holes running parallel 2-2.5m to the south. None of the features produced any datable finds.Structural remains may be vestiges of buildings or the interupted line of a rampart-revetment or palisade-frame.

{1}Straight ditch ran east-west across the site. No contemporary structural remains were identified. The pottery is of 5th to 6th century date, with some residual Romano-British material. C. 900 sherds. 45 sherds are stamped or decorated, but none of the stamps matches the pattern of an antler stamp-die which was also found.

<1> SODEN I, 1996, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter, 31-33 (Note). SNN40070.

<2> Soden I., 1997, Saxon & Medieval Settlement Remains at St John's Square, Daventry, Northamptonshire 1994-5, (unchecked) (Report). SNN43504.

Record last edited

Apr 7 2017 11:31AM