Monument record 4023 - Early Iron Age Settlement & Industrial Activity

Excavations revealed two early Iron Age semi-circular structures together with a number of pits and evidence of early iron working. This occupation can be dated to around 800BC.

{1}Dennis Jackson implies that the excavation uncovered either one large site or 2 Early Iron Age sites both dated to around c. 800 BC. He excavated the two areas,170m apart. But implied there may have originally been features in between.Dennis cautiously in his article divides the sites into different sub sites. The iron furnace(s?) outside both areas he tentively links to sub site 2.

{2} Iron Age settlement (SP 880868) NE of Great Oakley village, on Boulder Clay at 115m above OD. Part of an early Iron Age round hut and several pits have been excavated in advance of ironstone-working. Further quarrying in 1978 exposed additional Iron Age features, including a bowl-shaped iron-smelting hearth.

{3} (SP 881866). A date of 800 BC is suggested by Radio Carbon dating methods although it is impossible to date the furnace more precisely.

<1> JACKSON D., 1982, Great Oakley and Other Iron Age Sites in The Corby Area, p4-13 (checked) (Article). SNN40120.

<2> Rees G., 2008, Enclosure Boundaries and Settlement Individuality in The Iron Age, (unchecked) (Article). SNN106040.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, Page 196 (Series). SNN77382.

<4> Brown A.E.(ed), 1982, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1981, Page 4-14 (Journal). SNN100413.

<5> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1977, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1976, Page 209 (Report). SNN723.

<6> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1978, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1977, Page 180 (Journal). SNN2192.

<7> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1979, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1978, Page 103 (Article). SNN45225.

Record last edited

Feb 7 2025 2:55PM