Monument record 4622 - Bronze Age to Medieval Activity, east of Heath Farm

Cropmarks of a group of rectilinear and curvilinear ditched enclosures were identified on aerial photographs. Excavations from 2022 to 2023 revealed evidence for activity spanning from the Bronze Age to the Medieval period including a Bronze Age cremation cemetery, an Iron Age pit alignment and a Roman kiln.

{1} Enclosures (SP 705625) lie in the extreme NE of the parish, ENE of Heath Farm, on Northampton Sand at 100 m. above OD. Air photographs (in NMR) show cropmarks of a group of ditched enclosures arranged in a rough line NW-SE. No entrances are visible and only one of the enclosures has interior features.

{3} Cropmarks. A group of rectilinear and curvilinear ditched enclosures. Most are aligned NW-SE and appended to north side of central ditch. At least one enclosure has internal features which may be dwelling. Activity seems to continue to south-west of central axis where amongst other short stretches of ditch there is a 32mx19m oval enclosure.

NCCAP:SP7062/004-6+10-11+13-14+25+29+32-35

{4} Excavation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology from May 2022-2023 that found a great amount of archaeology. The findings will be listed in accordance to the time periods. The earliest evidence for human activity within this area occurred during the prehistoric period and comprised four dispersed pits within the western half. The Middle Bronze Age activity comprised 16 burials, which forms a cremation cemetery. Three small pits were also situated within this area and could be contemporary. Of the 19 features, at least 11 can be considered deliberate cremation burials as they contained bone. The remaining features have been deemed cremations due to the close spatial proximity and similarity in morphology and fills to the other cremation burials. Three of the cremation burials contained sherds of middle Bronze age pottery. The earliest Iron Age activity was a north-east/south-west pit alignment that consisted of 48 pits and spanned approximately 240m long.The Middle to Late Iron Age activity on the site was represented by the series of individual and conjoined enclosures, aswell as their sub-enclosures and internal features. Also, there were pit groups, post holes, ditches, boundary ditches and gullys recorded. During the Late Iron Age to Early Roman period an enclosure system was established and thereafter, activity in the Roman period comprised of one kiln.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.73/Site 1 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> Pickering J., 1977, AP List for North-West Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN39535.

<3> Holmes M., 1992, Northampton, North-West Bypass: Archaeological Survey, Stage 1, p.5 (checked) (Report). SNN73443.

<4> Grace Griffith, 2024, Land West of Northampton Northamptonshire: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design (Report). SNN116528.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 6:32PM