Monument record 7070 - Neolithic Burial Activity, south of Broamenthill Spinney

Two Neolithic long barrows of the Cotswold-Severn type initially identified as cropmarks on aerial photographs and subsequently subject to archaeological investigation prior to road construction. Trial trenching demonstrated that the long barrows were both badly damaged by ploughing and that nothing now remains of the mounds; both have, however, been preserved in situ. A ditch to the west dated to the middle Bronze Age and a flint scatter, dated largely to the Neolithic, but with a substantial late Mesolithic and early Neolithic component, was concentrated around the barrows

{1} Field name: Brumut Hills.

{2} Mesolithic flints found.

{4} The two long barrows are located upon a broad plateau at c105m above Ordnance Datum that overlooks the Upper Nene Valley to the south and the tributary valley that joins it from the north-west. From the plateau the main view is north-west across the tributary valley towards Dodford Hill, but the greater extent of the Upper Nene cannot be seen over the brow of the plateau to the south and east. However, the long barrows may be viewed clearly from all of the surrounding high points of land; Brockhall to the north, Waydale Hill to the north-east, Glassthorpe Hill to the east, Flore Hill to the south-east, Hobhill to the south-west and Dodford Hill to the west. The long barrows therefore lie
within a natural topographical amphitheatre, assuming hills sufficiently clear of trees to allow a clear line of sight.

The plateau itself is located immediately north-east of the confluence point between the River Nene and one of its tributaries. The geology at this point comprises predominantly Inferior Oolitic Limestone, which varies between white, greyish-brown, orange-brown and pinkish-red rock according to the proportion of iron and other salts present as mineral concentrations. The strong magnetic responses from geophysical survey are attributed to the iron content of the stone and the anomalies for the long
barrow ditches are particularly strong because the stone that has been quarried from them, and mounded up to create the long barrows, has now been scattered widely across the field by subsequent ploughing.

Neither long barrow is visible from the surface, no earthworks survive. Plough truncation from the medieval period onwards has swept away all surface evidence for the mounds.

{6} Fieldwalking was carried out across three fields adjacent to the Neolithic long barrows (pre ref: 7070) ahead of road construction.
The technological characteristics of the assemblage indicate a Neolithic date with a substantial late Mesolithic and early Neolithic component. The five bladelet cores, microlith fragment, bladelets and the side scraper were indicative of the Mesolithic period and the early Neolithic. The presence of bladelets and soft hammer struck flakes and blades are also typical of the late Mesolithic to early Neolithic. However, the high percentage of flakes to blades is more typical of a Neolithic assemblage. The irregular multiplatform cores are late Neolithic to early Bronze Age in date, along with cortical striking platforms and squat flakes.

<1> 1932, Fieldnames Map (SP66SW), (unchecked) (Map). SNN109228.

<2> Hall, D., 1980, Oral Report to SMR, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN50401.

<3> Brown, J., 2013, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for the Weedon Bec and Flore Bypass, Northamptonshire, p.18 (checked) (Report). SNN109173.

<4> Brown, J., 2014, Archaeological geophysical survey and trial trench evaluation of the A45 Northampton to Daventry Link Road, Northamptonshire, 2013-2014, checked (Report). SNN110061.

<5> Brown, J., 2015, Further archaeological evaluation for the A45 Northampton to Daventry Link Road, January 2015, checked (Report). SNN110326.

<6> Brown, J., 2019, The Brumut Hills: Two Neolithic long barrows near Flore (Article). SNN111724.

Record last edited

Nov 5 2019 11:56AM