Monument record 4622 - Bronze Age cremations, Iron Age settlement and a Roman limekiln, east of Heath Farm (Area A)

Cropmarks of a group of rectilinear and curvilinear ditched enclosures were identified on aerial photographs and finds of prehistoric and Iron Age date were found during fieldwalking survey in 1992. Evaluation confirmed the cropmark evidence and indicated an Iron Age date. Subsequent excavations from 2022 to 2023 ahead of residential development revealed evidence for activity spanning from the Bronze Age to the Medieval period with the principal phases including early Neolithic pits, a Bronze Age cremation cemetery, an Iron Age pit alignment, extensive Iron Age enclosure systems and a Roman lime 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} Geophysical survey undertaken in 2016 correlated well with the cropmark evidence, and confirmed the presence of anomalies of archaeological potential. These comprised a complex of ditches and discrete anomalies as well as a number of anomalies of uncertain origin.

{5} Trial trench excavation undertaken in 2016 broadly confirmed the cropmark evidence and indicated an Iron Age date.

{6} Excavation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology from May 2022-2023 that found a great amount of archaeology. 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, as well 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.

{7} Trial trench evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in 2025. The works consisted of two trenches and was situated to the south of the 2022-2023 excavations. One trench contained three furrows aligned east to west. The other trench contained three archaeological features, two ditches corresponding with cropmarks identified by aerial archaeology and another ditch that was not identified by either aerial photographs or geophysical survey. These ran northwest to southeast and produced a single sherd of late Iron Age or early Roman pottery. This suggests that these remains represent a continuity of the Iron Age and Roman landscape recorded to the north.

{10} Final reporting stage for the 2022-2023 excavations. The five dispersed pits (only four mentioned by source {6}) scattered across Area A which contained large quantities of worked flint, including an Early Neolithic leaf-shaped arrowhead. The composition of the assemblage pointed to knapping being undertaken in the vicinity along with possible domestic hearth waste which contained significant quantities of charred hazelnut and grain. Samples from from three of the pits were radiocarbon dated to the Early Neolithic period. The middle Bronze Age cremation cemetery comprised 19 features (of which 16 produced bone, some in very low quantities and not confirmed as human) arranged in three clusters. Analysis of similar cemeteries in the county and the possibility that this example was associated with a contemporary settlement 500m to the north-east (HER 4619). Radiocarbon dating of samples from the pit alignment indicates that it was most likely established during the late Bronze Age/early Iron Age period, in line with evidence from other dated examples.
The Roman lime kiln was an isloated feature in the landscape, probably located away from settlement to ensure fires didn't spread. The closest settlement was the Roman villa at Harpole. It was probably a 'periodic' or 'flare' kiln, which would have a single charge of limestone that would be burnt, then the kiln would be parially deconstructed and emptied before being relined , rebuilt and recharged. A lone cremation burial located adjacent to the structure may date to the same period. Three nail shanks discovered with the cremation deposits are suggestive of a Roman date. Later use of the site was associated with agricultural practices such as ridge and furrow cultivation, a series of post-medieval ditches as well as a number of pits, a posthole and animal burials.

<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> GSB Prospection, 2016, Northampton West: Geophysical Survey report (Report). SNN110599.

<5> Coyne, J., 2016, Land West of Northampton: Archaeological Evaluation, October 2016 (Report). SNN110600.

<6> Grace Griffith, 2024, Land West of Northampton Northamptonshire: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design (Report). SNN116528.

<7> Alex Foley, 2025, Land West of Northampton, Phase 2, Harpole Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation (Report). SNN116961.

<8> Joanne Barker and Grace Griffith, 2026, Life on the Dallington Brook: Archaeological investigations at Harlestone Park, Northamptonshire, 2022–2023
Archaeological investigations at Harlestone Park, Northamptonshire, 2022–2023 (Website). SNN117096.

<9> Northamptonshire County Council, 1994, The Northamptonshire National Mapping Programme, SP7062_062; SP7062_064 (Digital archive). SNN117168.

<10> Joanne Barker, Grace Griffith Abby Antrobus and Dane Wright, 2026, Life on the Dallington Brook: Archaeological investigations at Harlestone Park, Northamptonshire, 2022–2023
Archaeological investigations at Harlestone Park, Northamptonshire, 2022–2023 (Monograph). SNN117231.

Record last edited

Oct 12 2026 2:37PM