SNN103891 - Pitsford Quarry Archaeological Recording, Bottom Sheep Dale Field: Assessment and Updated Project Design, 2003

An archaeological recording action covering c.3.7ha was carried out in three stages at Pitsford Quarry on land located to the south of Pitsford village and west of Moulton College, within Bottom Sheep Dale Field (NGR 4765 2666). The methodology employed comprised watching brief followed by excavation. A series of excavations provisionally dated to the mid-late Iron Age were excavated and recorded. The first phase of activity on the site was a pit alignment, comprising 85 pits aligned NNW-SSE, none of which produced any diagnostic artefacts. The pit alignment was superseded by a ditched curvilinear boundary constructed on a roughly north-south alignment. This feature was maintained over time as a series of re-cuts. To the northwest of the boundary a series of substantial ditches defined a number of large adjoining rectilinear enclosures, probably representing a field system. Within these large enclosures were a number of smaller rectilinear enclosures, ring gullies, probably representing the remains of round houses, and several pit groups. Excavation again showed that considerable effort had gone into the maintenance of these features, with numerous re-cuts identified. To the east of the boundary occupation was defined by the construction of discrete inter-cutting rectilinear enclosures and pit groups. Several of the enclosure ditches had been re-cut. The excavations at Bottom Sheep Dale Field revealed a complex sequence of landscape development and occupation in the mid-late Iron Age. It is proposed that a full programme of post-excavation works be undertaken to analyse and disseminate the results.