Monument record 8566/0/1 - Early middle Iron Age Enclosure With Associated Pits

Part of a large ditched enclosure with a smaller rectangular enclosure in its southest corner, both containing pits. Traces of another enclosure were recorded to the south.

{2} The two trenches excavated in Enclosure Complex 4 confirm the readings of the geophysical survey which identified a single enclosure and a number of pit-type anomalies. The pottery recovered from the enclosure ditch (1911) was of mid-late Iron Age date as was that from the pits found within the enclosure. Again these pits may have been used for the disposal of rubbish, possibly indicating domestic occupation within the enclosure.

{4} Three sides of a ditched enclosure, 65m wide, were recorded. The ditches were up to 2.92m wide and 0.90m deep. Two ditches forming short spurs joined the enclosure ditch, one sub-dividing the enclosure. A later sub-rectangular enclosure was superimposed on the south-eastern corner of the large enclosure. It was 32m by 39m with a north facing entrance.
To the south was a sub-circular ditched enclosure with an east facing entrance. Its north-west side was badly truncated. There were a small number of pits and postholes in each of the enclosures. The pottery was thought to be mid-late Iron Age during the evaluation stage, but dating was refined during excavation to the early/early-middle Iron Age.

<1> Ovenden-Wilson S.M., 1997, Grange Park, Northampton (Report). SNN105401.

<2> Thomas A., 1998, Grange Park, Courteenhall, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation, (checked) (Report). SNN44028.

<3> Buteux, S, 2001, Grange Park, Courteenhall, Northamptonshire - Archaeological Investigations 1999; Post-Excavation Ass, p. 25 (Report). SNN101159.

<4> Jones L.; Woodward A.; Buteux S., 2006, Iron Age, Roman and Saxon Occupation at Grange Park: Excavations at Courteenhall, Northamptonshire, 1999, p. 45 (Series). SNN105830.

Record last edited

Jan 8 2018 10:07AM