SNN104539 - Late Iron Age and Roman Settlement at Weekley, Northants.

Rescue excavation in advance of proposed ironstone quarrying at Weekley, Northamptonshire revealed evidence of continuous occupation from the later Iron Age into the Roman period in a series of ditched enclosures covering an area of at least 2.5ha. The local importance of a strongly defended enclosure which was apparently constructed at the time when the Belgic influences were spreading northwards may be reflected by the development of an adjacent Roman villa. Pottery production in the mid 1st century AD, denoted by a series of updraught-kilns and preceding bonfire clamps, possibly continued an existing tradition. A large quantity of La Tene decorated pottery could have been made nearby; with its distinctive curvilinear ornament, the ware may have had a tribal distribution. The occurrence of imported vessels, including examples of Glastonbury ware from south-west Britain, attests distant trading connections and probably indicates the site’s relative importance from an early date.