SNN115355 - Excavations at Wakerley Quarry, Area B, Northamptonshire

Please read our .

Type Report
Title Excavations at Wakerley Quarry, Area B, Northamptonshire
Author/Originator
Date/Year 2022
SMR Input Date (use for label searches) 07/08/2023

Abstract/Summary

Between February and April 2022, Phoenix Consulting Archaeology Ltd carried out a programme of archaeological works across part of a permitted quarry (Area B) at Wakerley, Northamptonshire (centred on NGR SP 946 9780). The works were conducted on behalf of Mick George Ltd in accordance with a condition of planning permission. The results of a previous desk-based assessment, field walking, geophysical survey and trial-trench evaluation had shown Area B to have potential for Iron Age and Saxon period remains. The Site is located within an area that has produced significant evidence of iron manufacture dating to the Iron Age and Saxon period (Fell 2003; Jackson 1981; Jackson and Ambrose 1978), including within the extant area of Wakerley quarry (Mustchin & Richmond 2018; Mustchin et al. 2022). Previously excavated areas of the quarry were found to contain features relating to Saxon period iron manufacture, including ore roasting pits and smelting furnaces (ibid.). Early Roman pits were also encountered. The Area A excavation, located 1km to the south-west of Area B, also contained inhumation burials, one of which returned a calibrated radiocarbon date range of 642–710 calAD (89.9%) at 95.4% probability. Excavation of Area B encountered Late Iron Age and Early Roman features, including a substantive ditched enclosure and a small number of ore roasting pits, albeit generally poorly preserved. These appeared to be distributed between two separate industrial zones. A small gully and other ditches were also recorded, including a large post-Medieval ditch. A single post-Medieval pit truncated the fill of this ditch, while a large number of undated pits were found distributed across the Site. There was a notable paucity of securely stratified datable material.

External Links (0)

Description

Digital copy only

Location

WNC Archives and Heritage Service HER Library

Referenced Monuments (1)

  • Late Iron Age/early Roman iron working site (Monument)

Referenced Events (1)

  • Wakerley Quarry (Area B), 2022 (Excavation) (Ref: PC445)

Record last edited

Aug 7 2023 12:29PM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any questions or more information about this record? Please feel free to comment below with your name and email address. All comments are submitted to the website maintainers for moderation, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible. Comments, questions and answers that may be helpful to other users will be retained and displayed along with the name you supply. The email address you supply will never be displayed or shared.