Monument record 5028 - Saxon Activity Within Hunsbury Hillfort

Around 100 sherds of middle Saxon pottery was found amongst the Iron Age material from the excavations in the hillfort undertaken in 1883-86. A number of other finds of Saxon date have also been found including a silver Saxon sceatta of Series B type AD 575-775. Finds made prior to 1779 include a possible 'cinerary urn'.

{1} Finds from 1883-86; possible Saxon settlement within Hunsbury Hillfort. Finds of c.100 early to middle Saxon pot sherds.

{2} While pottery from the 1880s excavation was being sorted it became clear that about 100 Anglo-Saxon sherds were mixed with the Iron Age pottery. The former are distinguishable by being harder than most Iron Age sherds and by the presences of shining quartz grits. They are mostly black and over half may have come from one or two plain vessels. Two of the sherds illustrated by Fell are Saxon.
A spindle-whorl in a similar fabric and an annular loom-weight, labelled 'From Hunsbury Hill', could also be Saxon.

{3} Saxon Settlement (?) (c. SP 738583), within Hunsbury hill fort. A number of finds of Saxon date have been recovered from the interior of the fort which suggets that it may have been occupied in Saxon times. A recent re-examination of the pottery from the site, chiefly found during the ironstone quarrying of the 1880's has led to the identification of about 100 sherds of early to middle Saxon date though possibly only a few vessels are represented . A spindle whorl and a loom weight are probably also of this date. A silver sceatta (Series B type, AD 575-775) was found in the N. part of the fort in 1956. A `cinerary urn' containing glass and amber beads and a crystal spindla whorl, found at `Hunsbury', was given to the Society of Antiquaries in 1779 (by `Pownell F.S.A.', Minutes XII, 493) while a crystal ball cut into facets is also recorded as coming from `Hunsbury'. George recorded the discovery of `some Saxon pots a few hundred yards from Hunsbury (letter to E.T. Leeds, Ashmolean Museum).

{3}{6} Finds made pre 1779. A Saxon "cinerary urn" containing glass & amber beads, & a crystal spindle whorl. Found "at Hunsbury", & given to The Society of Antiquaries in 1779.

{6} In Akerman's Pagan Saxondom it is stated that in 1853 a crystal ball cut into facets was found in an urn near Hunsbury Hill.

{9} Find of 1956; a silver Saxon sceatta of Series B type AD 575-775; found in the north part of the hillfort in area of SP738584;

{10} Article includes sceat of BII from Hunsbury hillfort - described on pages 1 and 2. Can be found in Local Studies Library ref 936.253

<1> Brown, A E (ed), 1972, Northamptonshire Archaeology, 7/41 (Journal). SNN25623.

<2> Webster L.E.; Cherry J. (Editors), 1972, Medieval Britain in 1971, 16/158-9 (checked) (Notes). SNN5249.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.290/Site 22 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77383.

<4> Fell, C.I., 1936, The Hunsbury Hill-Fort, Northants. A new survey of the material, (checked) (Journal). SNN105242.

<5> GEORGE T.J., Letter to E.T. Leeds, Ashmolean Museum, (unchecked) (Letter). SNN46639.

<6> ACKERMAN J.Y., 1855, Remains of Pagan Saxondom, 39 (unchecked) (Book). SNN46638.

<7> Pownell (F.S.A.), Meeting of The Society of Antiquaries, 12/493 (unchecked) (Minutes). SNN103363.

<8> Dryden H.E.L., 1885, Hunsbury or Danes Camp, and the Discoveries There, p.61 (checked) (Article). SNN22391.

<9> 1976, BRITISH NUMISMATIC JOURNAL, 16/1+2 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN22401.

<10> METCALF D.M., 1976, Twelve notes on Sceatta Finds, vol46 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN105241.

Record last edited

May 2 2025 11:33AM