Monument record 1342 - Possible Iron Age/Early Romano-British Settlement

Cropmarks of irregular enclosures identified on aerial photographs during the Northants NMP. Fieldwalking survey has recovered Iron Age and Roman pottery from the same area.

{2} Upper Darsdale, Site 34(b). It is possible that the small amount of Iron Age pottery recovered betokens the initial construction of the enclosures. The small quantities of predominantly early Roman pottery might suggest limited activity during the first and second centuries. The distinction between the two groups of cropmarks comprising Site 34 (Mons 1342 and 5252) persists into the Roman period. Only four sherds were found over the eastern cropmarks (Mon 5252), and although the western group has greater quantities of pottery, although still low when compared with other sites. The Roman material is mostly early, though occasional middle Roman pottery is present. While the cropmarks on either side of the valley could denote settlement, the pottery concentrations are barely discernable above the more general scatters, making further interpretation and dating impossible. The decline in settlement by the late Roman period appears to have been largely confined to the boulder clay plateau.

<1> Parry S. et al, 2006, Raunds Area Survey: An Archaeological Study of The Landscape of Raunds, Northamptonshire 1985-94, p.80-81+246 (checked) (Book). SNN105780.

<2> Northamptonshire HER Collection of Aerial Photographs, NCC AP: 9970/001-003 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

Record last edited

Sep 23 2026 3:15PM