Monument record 3518/0/1 - Late Iron Age/early Roman occupation (Northern settlement), Bozeat Quarry

Archaeological investigations over a period of around 20 years have identified a farmstead which was established in the late pre-Roman Iron Age, around 30AD, much of it apparently constructed as a single, possibly planned event. It comprised four ditched enclosures and routeways, although it is likely that the main area of activity extended further west towards Grendon Brook. Associated paddocks and field systems extended east and south of the settlement. This farmstead was located some 0.5km to the north of a more substantial farmstead (HER No: 3519-the southern settlement). No definite domestic buildings were identified; it may be that these were located in the unexcavated areas to the west. However, there were up to 12 pottery kilns in the corner of one enclosure and it is likely that grog-tempered and shell-gritted ware formed some, if not all, of their production. Within the same enclosure were a number of pits and wells which may have been associated with the kilns. Later features included the excavation of a significant eastern boundary ditch, a small cemetery and the construction of a T-shaped corn drier, although the settlement was abandoned by the mid-2nd century AD.

{1} An accreted curvilinear interrupted ditch enclosure complex. It could represent a series of intercutting ring gullies, perhaps related to former roundhouses. The cropmark immediately to the south does not conform to a known monument type.

{2} Fieldwalking survey identified a concentration of Roman pottery within the area of the cropmarks. Geophysical survey identified a series of ditched enclosures and associated features was detected within an area of 2.08ha. At least two periods of activity, Romano-British and early-middle Saxon, are represented. There is also limited evidence that some Iron Age activity may be represented.
The pattern of features revealed by magnetometry is typical of Romano-British landscapes in the county and no individual features in the data plots can be assigned to the early-middle Saxon period. The cropmarks identified by previous surveys are confirmed to be archaeological in origin and representative of former settlement. Metal detecting survey found a white metal spoon fragment and a Roman coin (Ae 4 Goratian-367-383 AD). Another Roman coin (Ae 3 Crispus- 317-326 AD) was found during fieldwalking.

{3} The trial excavation has confirmed that settlement activity is confined to the western part of the application area, and comprises two main periods, the late Iron Age/early Roman and also early middle Saxon. Early middle Saxon features have been identified, although elusive, and possibly more prone to having been destroyed by cultivation.

{4} The 2001 excavation at Bozeat Quarry uncovered the major part of the settlement previously identified by the preceding investigations, although it should be noted that the plan of the cropmarks bears little resemblance to either the geophysical survey or the excavations. The farmstead was established during the late pre-Roman Iron Age (c30AD) with evidence of continuous occupation until the mid-2nd century AD. It may be classified as a complex farmstead with the main features recorded in an area measuring 70m by 50m, although it is likely that it extended further to the west beyond the area of excavation. Sparse features which comprised an associated field system extended further south and east.

The creation of the main area of occupation may have occurred as a single planned event with the construction of four enclosures and related routeways. Two of the enclosures on the settlement's northern edge were C-shaped; one contained a number of large pits, of which some may have pre-dated its construction. In the centre of the settlement was a large sub-rectangular enclosure; the enclosure boundaries were mostly ditched, but part of the south-western corner appeared to be defined by a stone wall. Within the enclosure a number of different activities appear to have been undertaken. In the south-east corner were a group of up to 12 pottery kilns, all which were single-flue of updraught design (most were either Woods type IC or IA). At least three wells were located to the north-west of the kilns as well as a number of pits. Along the northern side of the enclosure were a series of probable paddocks. A further sub-rectangular enclosure with evidence of internal sub-divisions lay to the east and a series of paddocks and fields to the south.

During the 2nd century there appears to have been some re-organisation; the eastern extent of the settlement was defined by a large ditch. There were six burials scattered across the area of settlement and a T-shaped corn drier was constructed at the western edge of the excavated area. The inhumations were loosely grouped on a 30m area; three of the burials cut earlier features. There were four adults, a juvenile and a perinatal. Both the younger individuals were buried with adult females. The surviving flue and drying of the corn dryer comprised up to two courses of cobbles or small boulders, some of which had been burnt red. No plant remains were found in the fills of the structure.

The pottery from this settlement was predominantly or local origin, no doubt due to the large number of pottery kilns. There was, however, a noticeable lack of other finds- only three coins were found.

<1> 1996, Archaeological Assessment of Land at Bozeat, Northamptonshire: Stage 1 (Desk-Based) (Report). SNN75776.

<2> Holmes M., 1996, Archaeological Assessment of Land at Bozeat, Northamptonshire: Stage 2 (Report). SNN72802.

<3> 1997, Archaeological Assessment of Land at Bozeat, Northamptonshire: Stage 3, p.34-5 (checked) (Report). SNN72910.

<4> Atkins, R., 2018, Late Iron Age and Roman settlement at Bozeat Quarry, Northamptonshire: Excavations 1995-2016 (Monograph). SNN111152.

<5> Crank, N. (Editor), 2019, South Midlands Archaeology (49), p. 74-5 (Journal). SNN111755.

Record last edited

Nov 25 2019 2:46PM