Monument record 1361 - Probable late Iron Age/early Roman settlement

A complex of enclosures, possible trackways and related boundaries, a pottery kiln and a possible waterhole were identified during archaeological investigations in advance of the development of a solar photovoltaic farm.

{3} Geophysical survey and trial trench excavation identified at least two phases of Late Iron Age–Early Romano-British settlement, forming what appears to be a complex of enclosures, possible tracks and related boundaries, and though no certain structural remains were identified, a pottery kiln and a possible waterhole were uncovered during the trial trenching.

The pottery kiln in trench 5 contained abundant pottery and kiln furniture and provided evidence of the local production of black-coloured ceramics at some point during the 1st century AD. This type of pottery was not recovered from the other trenches but the ceramic assemblages indicate that all of the activity at the site is also late Iron Age to early Romano-British in date. The other finds were consistent with a 1st-century AD date, including two copper-alloy brooches, whilst a residual flint assemblage indicated a background level of earlier prehistoric activity in the area.

The archaeological investigations identified the eastern limit of the settlement.

Subsequent observation of the development found no archaeological features in the main area of development confirming that the limit of the late Iron Age-early Romano-British settlement is within the area preserved in situ. A cable trench trench excavated along the western edge of the site identified a number of ditches associated with the settlement, but these were not investigated further as they were not impacted by the groundworks.

<1> 2015, Land off the A45, Little Irchester, Northamptonshire, Detailed Gradiometer Survey Report (Report). SNN110675.

<2> 2015, Land off the A45, Little Irchester, Northamptonshire, Archaeological Evaluation Report (Report). SNN110674.

<3> 2016, Land off the A45, Little Irchester, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Mitigation: Watching Brief Report, With Proposals for Publication (Report). SNN110676.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2021 12:49PM