SNN110799 - Late Iron Age occupation on land at West End, Raunds, Northamptonshire, September 2014 to June 2015

Between September 2014 and June 2015 MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) carried out an archaeological excavation on land north of Brick Kiln Lane, West End, Raunds, Northamptonshire. There were two periods of activity comprising a late Iron Age to early Roman farmstead and enclosures and a medieval windmill mound and ditch. The site occupied the higher ground overlooking the River Nene valley. The late Iron Age activity comprises a small unenclosed farmstead with clearly defined domestic and livestock management zones. The domestic area included a roundhouse eavesdrip gully and two ancillary ring ditches comprised working areas. The livestock zone consisted of a much maintained rectangular enclosure and field system. The ring ditches and enclosure went out of use sometime before AD 100 and were replaced by a boundary ditch which respected the alignment and position of the enclosure and field system. In the medieval period the site was under plough and was located near the parish boundary of Raunds and Ringstead. The position of the late Iron Age boundary ditch continued to be respected into the medieval period, with a headland in roughly the same location. The high ground was considered to be advantageous, with a medieval post mill located on the headland. This post mill ceased to be used before the 18th century as it does not appear on the historic maps.