Monument record 2046 - Neolithic & Bronze Age Occupation, Ecton Quarry

Excavation prior to quarrying found shallow hollows, patches of burnt clay and at least one hearth. The features were associated with a scatter of worked flints and sherds of Ebbsfleet, Mortlake and Beaker Ware. Pollen analysis indicated an open grassland environment.

{1} Excavations in advance of gravel-digging re vealed a hearth and a shallow pit containing charcoal and pebbles, together with a number of shallow hollows. Several hundred sherds of pottery of Ebbsfleet and Mortlake types were recovered, as well as Beaker wares. In addition 660 waste flakes and a number of flint tools including scrapers and knives and a fragment of a polished flint axe were discovered. Pollen analysis indicated an open grassland environment. Field-walking in the adjacent area led to the discovery of a number of burnt patches as well as more Neolithic and Beaker pottery. An antler pick was also recorded adjacent to SP83896165.

{2} The interpretation of the site is made difficult by the limited area uncovered. It is also impossible to say if it is a single period site ie if the Beaker sherds are contemporary with the other finds. The site clearly fits into the pattern of widespread interest by Neolithic people in riverside evironments but it is not easy to determine how long the site was occupied - the fint and pottery scatter would indicate an occupation less ephemeral than a few months but whether the site was sporadically or continually occupied for a period of years can only be guessed at.

{2} Detailed report on features and finds

{6} Notes and rough plans and correspondance.

{7} The finds included Neolthic and Beaker pottery, polished flint axe fragment and pebbles.

{10} (SP 83896165). Habitation site, shallow pits, hollows and burnt patches of clay, located on the site of a silted up stream. The pottery included Peterborough Ware and three sherds of finer pottery claimed to be Beaker Ware.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.47 site 1 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> Moore, W.R.G.; Williams, J.H. & Boddington, A., 1975, A Later Neolithic Site at Ecton, Northampton, p.3 (checked) (Article). SNN22773.

<3> Brown, A E (ed), 1972, Northamptonshire Archaeology, p.3 (checked) (Journal). SNN25623.

<4> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1973, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1972, p.3 (checked) (Journal). SNN8956.

<5> Williams J.H., 1973, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (3), p.29 (checked) (Journal). SNN896.

<6> Northampton Museum Notebook: Vertical Section and Notes, (checked) (Uncertain). SNN47177.

<7> Ecton Gravel Pit, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN47176.

<8> Rees G., 2008, Enclosure Boundaries and Settlement Individuality in The Iron Age, (unchecked) (Article). SNN106040.

<9> Department of Environment, 1973, DOE Archaeological Excavations 1972, p. 35 (Series). SNN105605.

<10> British Archaeological Reports (BAR 125), P. 147, 293 (Series). SNN116373.

Record last edited

Feb 7 2025 2:07PM