Monument record 1379 - Middle Iron Age to early Roman settlement, north-east of Eastfields Farm

Cropmarks of possible enclosures and boundary ditches visible on aerial photos. Geophysical survey and subsequent trial trench excavation corroborated the general layout of the settlement comprising a series of enclosures located along a main boundary ditch. Roundhouse ring ditches were identified inside some of the enclosures. Pottery dated from the middle Iron Age to the Roman transitional period.

{1} Possible rectilinear enclosure.

{2} A straggling, irregular site (Site E) extending over at least 300m and continuing an unknown distance to the east. The geophysical survey identified a large enclosure in the east, from which an irregular boundary ditch extends westwards with other enclosures located alongside it. Many of the enclosures show internal divisions, with one certain roundhouses and other possible examples. There is also evidence of intercutting features, suggesting more than one phase of activity.

{3} Trial trench excavation targeted the curvilinear settlement; this included broadly quadrangular enclosures which extended to the north and south of an east/west aligned ditch, projecting west from a partially exposed D-shaped enclosure on the south-eastern site limits. Archaeological features corresponding with the geophysical anomalies (Site E) produced pottery dating from the Middle Iron Age through to the Iron Age - Roman transitional period.

The largest quantity of middle Iron Age pottery was recovered from the D-shaped enclosure at the eastern end of the settlement. Within the enclosure a series of curvilinear ditches were interpreted as roundhouse drip gullies. Beyond the enclosure only a few sherd of middle Iron Age pottery were found, suggesting the settlement expanded beyond this area in the late Iron Age period. Two sub-rectangular enclosures on the north side of the boundary ditch may represent the remains of a possible farmstead. A possible roundhouse lay withinone of the enclosures as well as internal divisions and a possible droveway. No dating evidence was found in further enclosures to the west indicating they may have been used for stock management.

{4, 5} Possible Iron Age enclosures located along a linear ditched feature are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs and were mapped as part of the Bedford Borough NMP project. The main square enclosure is centred at SP 98045 65835 and measure about 25metres across. Another possible enclosure is located further to the west. They both are situated along a linear ditch which extends from SP 97828 65909 to SP 98097 65852, but may continue further east.

Cotswold Archaeology, 2023, Images and GIS Data from an Archaeological Evaluation East of Rushden, Northamptonshire 2018-2019, https://doi.org/10.5284/1103282 (Digital archive). SNN114784.

<1> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, NCCAP:SP9865/1 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<2> Walford, J, 2017, Archaeological geophysical survey of the proposed Rushden Eastern SUE development site, Northamptonshire, September 2016 to August 2017, p. 7 (Report). SNN112344.

<3> Newman, J, 2019, Land East of Rushden (SUE) Rushden Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation, September 2019 (Report). SNN112343.

<4> Oblique Aerial Photograph, NMR 27155/20 11-JUL-2011 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN111738.

<5> Oblique Aerial Photograph, NHC 16676/19-20 29-JUL-1996 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN111738.

<6> Bedford Borough Council HER, Undated, Bedford Borough NMP, MD003015 (Archive). SNN113023.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:55PM