Monument record 721 - Iron Age & Romano-British Settlement, Shacks Barn Farm

In 2001 geophysical survey and trial trenching (part of the A43 Towcester to M40 Dualling Project) resulted in the discovery of a small Iron Age enclosure and 3 areas of Roman occupation at Shacks Barn Farm.

{1} Geophysical survey identified a number of anomalies including a number of linear features, some of which may be former field/enclosure boundaries and evidence of ridge and furrow cultivation.

{2} Trial trench excavation was undertaken. Iron Age and Roman features were identified in a number of the trenches. Features included an enclosure ditch previously identified by geophysical survey. The northernmost section of the enclosure ditch was c.1.2m wide x 0.45m deep. It contained small quantitied of animal bone and pottery, the latter dating to between the C4th-2nd BC. A possible former cut of the ditch suggests some re-working of the enclosure on this side. The southernmost section was more substantial, up to 2.5m wide x 1.15m deep. A small pit 1.4m x 1.1m x 0.25m deep was cut into the external edge of the ditch, and contained pottery similar to that found in the northern section. A single sherd of early Roman pottery was also recovered, though this may be intrusive.
Linear ditch 1.21m wide x 0.33m deep excavated and found to contain sherds of late C1st AD or possibly early C2nd AD Roman pottery. It also produced a fragment of possibly worked bone.
A small quantitiy of Roman pottery, dating to the C2nd AD was excavated from a possible pit, the latter having been heavily disturbed by animal activity.
A complex cluster of gullies and small ditches, cut by a large posthole at the east end of the trench. Also a linear ditch which contained a copper alloy earring and sherds of a C3rd or later mortaria. There was also evidence for a buried soil horizon containing sherds of C1st AD pottery.
Three ditches were excavated in one trench. One contained pottery dating from C1st AD to early C2nd AD. One ditch may be a continuation of another, possibly forming an enclosure. The third feature appeared to be a ditch terminal which had been re-cut at least twice.
Further pits and ditches were noted in trenches to the east, but they were all undated.

<1> Hindmarch E., 2001, A43 Towcester To M40 Dualling Project: Soil Disposal And Landscape Areas: Geophysical Survey, Shacks Barn Farm, Silverstone (Report). SNN100838.

<2> Carlyle-Lancaster S., 2001, A43 Towcester To M40 Dualling Project, Soil Disposal And Landscaping Areas Archaeological Evaluation (Report). SNN101161.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:45PM