Monument record 945 - Possible Iron Age Settlment, near Glassthorpe

{1/2/3} Cropmarks of a series of probable ditched enclosures and ring ditch identified from aerial photographs. Geophysical survey confirmed the cropmark evidence and identified further settlement features. Subsequent trial trench evaluation confirmed these features and found evidence of Iron Age activity. {4} Area 2 contained ditches, gullies and a pit representing peripheral Late Iron Age/Early Roman activity, probably associated with settlement nearby.

{2} Geophysical survey undertaken in 2021 identified large rectilinear enclosures and several partial enclosures as well as ring ditches within surrounding the enclosures. Discrete anomalies to the west are likely to be a group of pits/postholes. A large rectangular enclosure to the south (945/0/1) has previously been identified as a cropmark. To the north curvilinear anomalies and part of a pit alignment have been identified.

{3} Iron Age activity was also found within Field 3, where the geophysical survey data showed a large square enclosure. The trenching indicated the enclosure was not a complete square, with the north-eastern boundary ditch not being joined to the other three sides. The archaeology in Trench 69 indicated that the north-western boundary ditch had been re-established several times. Trench 69 also encountered internal features in the centre of the enclosure. No material was recovered from the features, making the function of the enclosure difficult to firmly establish. It is possible that the enclosure was linked to a settlement just to the north, in field 5. The enclosure in Field 3 was probably linked to an Iron Age settlement in Field 5, where circular enclosures and a possible roundhouse gully were identified. Pottery found supports an Iron Age date. Another small Iron Age enclosure was excavated at the northern edge of Field 5 and into Field 6. This was a small, circular enclosure, approximately 40m in diameter. The nature of activity within this enclosure is unknown, with only a few small sherds of pottery being recovered. A potential pit alignment was excavated just to the north-east of this enclosure, with one of the pits containing sherds of Iron Age pottery.

{4} Area 2 produced a dispersed group of ditches, gullies and a pit. Dating evidence consisted almost entirely of Late Iron Age/Early Roman pottery. Ditch 20035 was a substantial north-south aligned ditch over 2m wide and nearly 1m deep. Pottery recovered from its basal fill comprised a single Late Iron Age/Early Roman sherd. Pit 25007 contained charcoal-rich dumped deposits showing evidence of burning but no definite in situ combustion. Although undated, it indicates activity occurring nearby. Smaller gullies and ditches, including 25002/25004 and 25000, produced limited pottery or no finds. The function of many features was interpreted as drainage, although some may represent enclosure boundaries. Together they suggest activity on the edge of a nearby settlement.

<1> Northamptonshire HER Collection of Aerial Photographs, NCCAP: 6660/001 & 007 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<2> Wilkinson,D, and Langston, A,, 2021, Geophysical Survey Report of Glassthorpe Solar Farm (Report). SNN113546.

<3> Sian Thomas, 2023, Archaeological field evaluation: Flore, Glassthorpe (Northamptonshire) (Report). SNN116965.

<4> Emma Street, 2026, Harpole to Weedon, Anglian Water Pipeline – Phase 1: Archaeological Excavation Report (Report). SNN117199.

Record last edited

Aug 19 2026 3:57PM