Monument record 5319 - Late Iron Age/Early Romano-British Settlement, Burton Wold

Cropmarks of probable ditched enclosures have been identified on aerial photographs. Subsequent archaeological investigation was undertaken prior to the construction of a wind farm within the central part of the complex. It revealed rectangular enclosures, pits and other features, dating from the 1st-4th centuries AD. Geophysical survey gave an overall view of the form of the complex as a whole, while excavation allowed a small area within the larger complex to be examined in detail. Sections were excavated through enclosure ditches, gullies and a large pit. The enclosures are thought to have functioned as pens for livestock. Although no evidence of houses or other structures was found, considerable quantities of pottery suggest domestic activity nearby within the enclosure complex. The site went out of use by the 4th century AD.

{1} Cropmarks of possible ditches.

{2} Report not in HER.

{3} The geophysical survey identified a number of features that seem to indicate multi-period use of the site. Within the outer enclosure there is evidence of sub division. Aligned east to west a series of discrete anomalies were observed, these may be interpreted as a pit alignment or may equally be the remains of a recent hedge or fence line. Within the surveyed area, several discrete intense anomalies describe sub-circular features, possibly thermoremnant, ie fired or baked, suggesting industrial activity in the area.

{4} Trench A revealed four features dating from the late Iron Age to the early-mid C2nd AD. It was not possible to establish the full extent and nature of these features. Cuts A3, A5 and A9 are probably pits, whilst cut A7 is probably an enclosure ditch within the main enclosure posisbly demarcating individual pens for livestock. Within Trench B the linear feature is very similar to that found in Trench A, and again is thought to represent the ditch of an enclosure internal to the main enclosure, possibly demarcating pens for livestock. The outer northern enclosure ditch of the site was also identified in Trench B, with evidence of more than one phase, but both dug during the late Iron Age/early Roman period. The pottery within both fills of these cuts was very similar and
dated to the same period and it is therefore assumed that the site was in continuous occupation with the ditch being re-cut as the original ditch was silted up.

{5} A large rectilinear enclosure c.200m x 120m with smaller rectilinear and polygonal enclosures and outlying field boundaries. The location of Turbine 7 falls within this cropmark site, thus it was investigated further by means of geophysical survey and trial trench evaluation.
The site as a whole has much more interior structure to it than either the aerial or geophysical surveys had picked up. Excavation clearly identified internal ditched boundary divisions within the main enclosure. Inside the boundary enclosure are numerous subdivisions and smaller enclosures, mostly with sides aligned towards the cardinal points. In some cases there appear to be entrances or gaps in the ditches of small rectilinear or polygonal enclosures within the larger complex. Also visible are many discrete anomalies, probably pits, some of which form alignments or linear patterns.

The best indicator for the date of the site comes form the pottery which covers the later C1st/C2nd through to the early C4th AD. This suggests that the complex was in use for 200-300 years. Although it may have its origins in the Iron Age, the site is primarily of Romano-British date and character. Heavy recutting of ditches indicates continuity of form and even when new ditches are cut they tend to respect the general alignment of the earlier ones. This suggests a settled way of life for the farming community here.

Settlement clearly took place here as indicated by the quantity of domestic pottery, with the large pit revealed in excavation possibly serving as a water pit for that community. On the other hand the lack of structural features suggestive of buildings shows that parts of the site were not inhabited as such. A significant possibility is that the east-west pit alignment identified in the geophysical survey may have formed an internal boundary between a settlement area on higher ground to the north and animal enclosures to the south. Banks and possibly hedges, would have played a major role in controlling animals within the enclosed area. It is possible that the enclosure system provided over-wintering for stock which grazed more widely in the summer. There was little evidence for arable farming and the quern which was found is of a type which might be found in any Romano-British household. It is possible that the droveway identified in T2 hints at the kind of communications system within which the Romano-British enclosure was embedded, although the nearest known Roman road is some distance away.

<1> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, NCCAP:SP9175/003-5 (unchecked) (Photographs). SNN104822.

<2> Jones R.S., 2003, Burton Latimer, Kettering: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment, (unchecked) (Report). SNN109850.

<3> Butler A.; Burgess C., 2003, Geophysical Survey at Burton Wold Farm, Kettering, Northamptonshire, p.3-4 (checked) (Report). SNN103158.

<4> Evans P., 2003, Interim Report on An Archaeological Field Evaluation at Burton Wold Farm, Kettering, (checked) (Report). SNN103308.

<5> Edgeworth M., 2008, Excavation of a Romano-British Enclosure Complex at Burton Wold Farm, Burton Latimer, p. 29, 32, 35 and 39 (checked) (Article). SNN106432.

Record last edited

Dec 8 2021 4:53PM