SNN115063 - Saxon Rise 2, Northampton Road, Brixworth, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Excavation

A programme of archaeological investigation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology between June and October 2016 at the request of Barratt Northampton at Saxon Rise 2, Brixworth, Northamptonshire. An area of 3.44ha was excavated across the development site. Two Early Neolithic pits and one of Early Bronze Age date were identified, along with ditches and pits more broadly dating from the Bronze Age to Early Iron Age. The most significant remains comprised trapezoidal and sub-circular enclosures, two possible ring ditches and extensive pitting dating to the Middle to Late Iron Age, including one pit of Middle Iron Age date, which contained a male inhumation burial. An extensive assemblage of pottery spanning these periods was recovered from a number of features, along with an unusual and significant iron metalwork hoard from a Late Iron Age pit, likely a ritual deposit. Activity continued from the Late Iron Age into the Romano-British period, shifting towards the south of the site, and was characterised by the development of an enclosure complex, probably part of a farmstead of complex form. The enclosure system extended outside the excavated area, and the excavated areas may have had a crop-processing function, as suggested by drying ovens. The construction of a large drying oven suggests an expansion of crop-processing activities at the site in the later Roman period and brewing possibly took place in the vicinity. The western ditch delineating the farmstead appears to have marked a major boundary during the earlier Roman period and was maintained throughout the Roman occupation of the site, eventually being replaced by a stone wall. Pottery spanning the entire Roman period was recovered from a range of features and deposits across the site. Few post-Roman features were identified, with no evidence of occupation until the establishment of a ridge-and-furrow agricultural system in the medieval or post-medieval periods. There was evidence for a post-medieval boundary wall and possible quarry pits, along with a modern ditch, postholes and dog burials.