Monument record 1835/0/1 - Middle to Late Iron Age Settlement, Twywell

Iron Age enclosed settlement c300-100 BC. Now destroyed by quarrying.

{2} Discovered during the stripping of overburden for ironstone quarrying, it was destroyed after partial excavation. An extensive area of ditched enclosures, circular or curving gullies apparently hut sites, pits and postholes was found. One complete roughly rectangular enclosure was excavated, which measured 45 m. long and between 15 m. and 25 m. wide, with an entrance about 2 m. wide in the N.E. corner. Seventy-five pits outside the enclosure were excavated and a further 80 or 90 were noted within and beyond it. The skeletons of an adult, two children and several animals were found in the pits. One contained a layer of carbonised grain. Over 100 post-holes in two groups and probably marking timber structures, were identified within the enclosure, also three circular gullies or hut sites. The latter, having diameters of approximately 5 m., 10 m., and 14 m., had entrances facing E. and N.E. The associated pottery has been dated to the later Iron Age, perhaps between 300 and 100 B.C

{4} Twyell: The stripping of overburden prior to iron stone quarrying, revealed an extensive area of enclosure ditches, circular or curving gullies, pits and post-holes at SP 952788. A number of enclosures were exposed, but only one had escaped with partial destruction.
Excavation was concentrated mainly on the complex system of minor ditches, pits and post-holes in and around this intact enclosure and on the area enclosed by three circular gullies outside the entrance to it.
Enclosure: 138' long, approx 50' wide at east end and 85' wide at west. Entrance in north-west corner, averaging 10' wide and with at least 4 periods of recutting; ditch taken across it in final phase. Ditch 7' deep on lower NE side, 3' 6" deep on higher ground.

75 pits outside the enclosure on the north excavated, almost all circular and mainly between 2' and 5' in depth and diameter. Between 80 and 90 more pits (many intersecting) identified within the enclosure at the SE corner; these tended to be larger, deeper, and more oval in shape than the others. One adult, 2 children, and several articulated animal skeletons (mainly dogs) were found in the pits. One pit containing a solid layer of carbonised grain was the only suggestion of agriculture on the site. Over 100 post-holes were identified within the enclosure, in 2 groups,
one in the centre and one in the NE corner, probably marking 2 timber structures. 'The circular hut-foundations' (ie the previously mentioned circular 'gullies') had internal diameters of 24', 38' and 42'. All had entrances facing east or north-east. Post and stake holes were found within and outside the 2 larger. Although in an area of iron-stone outcrop, no evidence of smelting was found.
Although no dating is given and no dateable finds mentioned, the site is included under 'Prehistoric', showing that the excavator considered it Iron Age rather than Romano-British.

{7} Carbon dating of grain and pit/ditch material 280 BC. All material found now at Oxford. Settlement now entirely quarried away.

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP97NE36 (part checked) (Index). SNN443.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.101/Site 4 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<3> JACKSON D.A., 1975, An Iron Age Site at Twywell, Northamptonshire, 10/31-94 (unchecked) (Article). SNN58217.

<4> Jackson D., 1968, Archaeological Excavations (Various Years), p.9 (unchecked) (Series). SNN55266.

<5> Jackson D., 1970, Fieldwork and Excavation in North Eastern Northamptonshire, p.43-4 (unchecked) (Article). SNN4821.

<6> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.194/Site 4 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<7> Colquhoun, FD, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 FDC 4-SEP-70 (Notes). SNN111540.

Record last edited

Feb 4 2025 8:14PM