Northamptonshire Archaeology Volume 42 (2023)
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Introduction: An Iron Age special edition
Andy Chapman
[pp 1 - 6]

Hunsbury Hillfort, Northampton: A Typological and Metallurgical Study of the Non‑Ferrous Metalwork
Ian Barnes
The report revisits the work undertaken by the author in 1985 as part of their postgraduate study and looks in detail at the non-ferrous metalwork recovered during a watching brief on ironstone quarrying on the site of Hunsbury hillfort in the 19th century. The report also provides an overview of the hillfort and its development, and the history of its investigation since the late 19th century. The metallurgical study demonstrates that Hunsbury was occupied through the major part of the Iron Age, and probably into the early Roman period. Influences can be seen from the south-west with material demonstrating traditional Wessex traits; but the inhabitants, or visitors, were also exposed to influences from the north and northeast. These conclusions derive from the complex, and sometimes obscure, findings from Hunsbury that include the possibility that the rampart was vitrified, and that a chariot burial, along the lines of the tradition seen in East Yorkshire, was present within the interior. Metallurgical analysis shows an assemblage that compares in nature to other hillfort assemblages similarly analysed hinting that the 19th century rescue of material was successful. Alloy groupings seen at Danebury and Maiden Castle can be seen at Hunsbury showing the technology went through a similar development. Finally, one group of material, including a scabbard and shield binding, defined on impurity levels, stands out and may indicate a distinct source or manufacturing technique for this class of object from the site. A full catalogue of the non-ferrous material with parallels updated since 1985, with full descriptions and metallurgical and metallographic details will be available separately, as a digital file, and will be attached to the digital report when deposited online with the ADS.
[pp 7 - 54]

A review of the structure and date of the Iron Age hillfort rampart on Hunsbury Hill, Northampton
Andy Chapman and Dennis Jackson
The results of the excavation of a length of the Iron Age hillfort rampart at Hunsbury Hill in 1988 are reviewed, with the original plan and sections now shown at consistent scales and with consistent orientations. A number of colour images of the excavations are also presented for the first time. In addition, the three radiocarbon dates have been recalibrated to enable a restatement of the date of construction of the original box rampart as, most probably, c.550–400 cal BC. A radiocarbon date from the continuous inner palisade slot, is slightly later, c.420–350 cal BC, and this provides no support for the suggestion that it was an initial standalone construction, pre-dating the box rampart. In fact, it may indicate that this revetment was an integral part of the box rampart construction that was subject to later refurbishment.
[pp 55 - 66]

Understanding Middle Iron Age settlement, an Iron Age pottery chronology, and the introduction of the rotary quern
Andy Chapman
This overview opens with a history of Iron Age studies in the county: from the quarrying of the interior of Hunsbury hillfort in the 1880s, the rescue work of Dennis Jackson in the 1970s and 80s, the emergence of a county archaeological unit in the 1970s to cover development-led excavation projects, and the move in 1990 to commercial archaeology directly financed by the developers, with the consequent project tendering resulting in numerous organisations working within the county, and a substantial increase in the number of excavated sites. A number of issues relating to generating an understanding of Iron Age settlement from the ever-growing database are examined: in particular chronological divisions within the Middle Iron Age through a more refined ceramic typology supported by radiocarbon dating; the interpretation of large open settlements and whether the roundhouse clusters within them represent family units or that at least some operated communally, perhaps as extended family/kinship groups, and also with some clusters of structures having functional roles. The rectangular/square farmstead enclosures of the later Middle to Late Iron Age are also examined. Some aspects of roundhouse structures and Iron Age pit burials are also considered. Finally, there are specific studies relating to the Iron Age pottery chronology for Northamptonshire, the date of introduction of the rotary quern in the Midlands, and a consideration of how the growing use of the rotary quern, with its greater productive capacity, may have led to an increase in the size (volume) of pottery storage jars.
[pp 67 - 124]

A Middle Iron Age settlement at Foxhills, Brackley
Stephen Morris
MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) excavated at Foxhills, Brackley that, along with an area previously excavated at the neighbouring Sawmills site, included most of a Middle Iron Age settlement. There was limited pit digging at the Early Iron Age/Middle Iron Age transition, c.420–380 cal BC. The main occupation probably began around c.300 BC as an extensive open settlement comprising a number of separate but closely-spaced focal zones, each containing one or more ring ditches along with small enclosures/auxiliary structures. One of these may have been a domestic focus, another a craft industry focus, while the other two contained dense clusters of storage pits. In the later Middle Iron Age (c.250/200–150 BC) the two large pit groups appear to have been replaced by clusters of four-post structures, probably granaries, avoiding the areas previously occupied by the pit groups, with more granaries added to the domestic focus. The settlement had probably declined by c.150 BC, although there was a low level of sporadic activity in the Late Iron Age (100BC–AD43). The chronology is based on the pottery and radiocarbon dates, supported by the recovery of 13 saddle querns but no rotary querns (which were only introduced in the later Middle Iron Age). The finds assemblage includes locally-made pottery, 16 copper-alloy and iron objects, eight pieces of worked bone and antler, perhaps indicative of a higher-than-average status for the inhabitants. Charred cereal grains of wheat, barley and some rye were recovered, but they were often sparse and poorly preserved. The presence of the large number of grain storage pits and four-post structures indicates that grain storage was probably a primary function of this settlement during the Middle Iron Age. As the storage capacity was in excess of that needed for the relatively small number of domestic roundhouses, it was perhaps a specialist ‘outstation’ to a larger domestic focus elsewhere, perhaps the much larger settlement at Radstone Fields, some 600m to the north-west. A nearby settlement at Northampton Road, on the western slopes of the same watershed, 200m to the south, was of similar size and form. Together, all three may have been parts of an extensive agglomerated settlement, acting as a centre for grain storage and distribution across a wider area.
[pp 125 - 194]

An early Bronze Age ring ditch, middle Bronze Age cremation burial and Iron Age activity at Apex Park, Daventry
Charlotte L Howsam, Daniel Stansbie and Steve Lawrence
Excavations by Oxford Archaeology at Apex Park, Daventry, revealed an early Bronze Age ring ditch. This appears to have formed part of a larger monument complex, as it lay only 150m from a further early Bronze Age ring ditch uncovered in a previous excavation at Apex Park. The ring ditch from the current excavation did not contain any burials, but a satellite cremation burial had been interred nearby during the middle Bronze Age. Abraded Bronze Age and Iron Age pottery from the upper fills of the ring ditch suggests that it continued to form a focus for activity into the later prehistoric period. Iron Age pits and postholes scattered around the monument probably represent the continuation of a settlement investigated in the previous excavation.
[pp 195 - 212]

Late Iron Age to Early Roman enclosures and a Roman road at Middlemore, Daventry
Charlotte L Howsam, Daniel Stansbie and Gerry Thacker
Excavations at Middlemore Site 8e, Daventry, revealed a Late Iron Age to early Roman enclosure system together with a nearby Roman road or trackway. The enclosure system comprised a series of rectilinear ditched plots, most likely for agricultural purposes. Although limited, the animal bone and charred plant remains demonstrate a mixed agricultural economy. No structural evidence indicative of settlement was present, though a cluster of intercutting pits containing small quantities of domestic waste material are suggestive of nearby occupation. The road comprised a metalled surface and two flanking ditches for drainage, and may have formed part of a local network that connected to the nearby major Roman road of Watling Street
[pp 213 - 219]

Bronze Age, Iron Age and Romano-British Archaeology at Cranford Business Park, Burton Latimer, Kettering
Graeme Clarke
Over recent years, archaeological investigations have begun to shed light on the character and extent of later prehistoric and Romano-British settlement to the east of Kettering. Excavations by Oxford Archaeology East in 2016 on a plateau above the river Ise revealed an Early Bronze Age ring-ditch monument and clusters of cremation burials, radiocarbon dated to the Early Bronze Age. These were followed by the extensive remains of Middle to Late Iron Age settlement, including scattered pits and four-post structures, later developing into a network of enclosures containing roundhouses and trackways associated with stock keeping, predominantly cattle. These were supplanted by a single farmstead prior to the Roman conquest. By the mid-1st century AD, this took the form of an extensive agricultural ‘compound’ largely focused on agrarian activities and malt production, supplemented by the processing of animal products. Occupation appears to have largely ended by the later 2nd century AD, although a few later Roman objects were also found.
[pp 221 - 244]

Neolithic and Bronze Age pits, and Middle-Late Iron Age and Roman settlement at Brixworth, Saxon Rise
Jo Barker, Peter Boyer and Tom Brindle
Archaeological excavations were undertaken in 2013 and 2016 at Saxon Rise, Brixworth, Northamptonshire, ahead of major residential housing development. The excavations identified a small number of Early Neolithic and Early Bronze Age pits. The Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age was represented by pits and a pair of post-built structures. Extensive remains of Middle to Late Iron Age settlement possibly represent two foci within a large, agglomerated settlement, occupying the hillside overlooking lower ground to the south-east, now occupied by Pitsford Water. Many of the grain storage pits had been reused for secondary purposes, including disposal of #domestic waste, burial of the dead and for the structured deposition of a wide range of artefacts, including querns, currency bars, and an unusual hoard of ironworking tools and weapon fragments. The group of radiocarbon dates indicate that while occupation may have begun as early as the 4th century BC, a beginning in the later 3rd century BC may be more likely, with the settlement flourishing through the 2nd and 1st centuries BC. Settlement shifted slightly in the Late Iron Age to Roman periods, when an enclosure complex became the focus for activity. The new enclosure system was occupied between the 1st century AD and the end of the Roman period, albeit with modifications over time. Domestic activity was represented by pottery, animal bone and domestic hearth waste. The presence of three corn drying ovens suggest parts of the complex were used for crop processing, and possibly metalworking during the late Roman period. Funerary activity included an urned cremation burial, while continued ritual expression in the form of structured deposits is suggested by a group of objects placed within one of the corn drying ovens
[pp 245 - 271]

A Middle-Late Iron Age settlement at Hampton Drive, King’s Sutton
Claire Christie and Kate Bain
Headland Archaeology UK carried out an excavation in 2014 on land north of Hampton Drive, King’s Sutton, Northamptonshire, in advance of residential development. The excavations revealed a series of roundhouses, ancillary structures and pits dating to the Middle-Late Iron Age. The first phase centred on a small ring-ditch enclosing a roundhouse with a posthole defined doorway. This was followed by the construction of larger ring-ditches defining roundhouses and ancillary structures and enclosures. The recovery of large quantities of fuel ash slag from some of the roundhouses may suggest that these wattle and daub structures burnt down. The environmental and artefactual assemblage indicated that the site was primarily domestic in character, with indications of arable and pastoral farming. Metalworking was indicated by the recovery of crucible fragments and metalworking residue. In recent years, a number of development-led archaeological investigations surrounding King’s Sutton have identified Iron Age settlement, and this has provided the opportunity to explore the site in its wider context, not just as a small-scale Iron Age settlement but as part of a more extensive Iron Age landscape along the river Cherwell.
[pp 273 - 288]

Bronze Age ring ditches and an Anglo-Saxon farmstead on land to the east of Hardingstone, Northampton
Tom Parker, Reuben Thorpe and Milena Grzybowska
Excavations on land to the east of Hardingstone were undertaken by Archaeological Research Services in 2019–2020 in advance of residential development. Despite extensive truncation from medieval and later ploughing, along with post-medieval ironstone quarrying, the remains of two Bronze Age ring ditches and Anglo-Saxon enclosures, buildings and two inhumation burials were investigated. The upper fill of one of the ring ditches was radiocarbon dated to the late 2nd millennium BC. Traces of Early Anglo-Saxon occupation broadly dating to the 5th to mid-6th century AD were identified on the northern edge of the site. Subsequently, an enclosed farmstead had been established by the mid-7th century AD. Two inhumation burials were also recovered. One was an elderly man, radiocarbon dated to the 8th to early 9th century AD, who had been killed by multiple blows from a heavy long-bladed weapon and buried in one of the enclosure ditches. Isotopic investigation indicated that he originated from the Midlands. The farmstead had probably been abandoned by around the end of the 9th century AD.
[pp 289 - 303]

Northamptonshire County Council’s historic environment curatorial team, 1973 to 2014: a personal view
Graham Cadman
This paper complements Andy Chapman’s short history of Northamptonshire Archaeology published in NA38 and John Williams’ look at Northampton Development Corporation’s archaeological team in NA41. Here the focus is the curatorial side of Northamptonshire County Council’s (NCC) public sector archaeological services from their start as part of Northamptonshire Archaeology Unit in the early 1970s, through to their near complete dismantlement by 2014, although, fortunately, a few important elements do continue. For much of this time span they were known variously as the curatorial team part of Northamptonshire Archaeology Unit, as Northamptonshire Heritage and then as NCC’s Historic Environment Team, part of the council’s Built and Natural Environment service. The paper looks at NCC’s curatorial team’s organisation, personnel and responsibilities along with achievements. Curatorial services were responsible for managing the county’s historic environment resources. This involved maintaining and developing the SMR/HER, undertaking aerial photography and other data collection and most importantly, providing advice on archaeology, historic buildings and landscapes to the development control process and policy formulation of NCC and other local authorities as well as advice to a wide range of other public and private organisations and the public. Valuable additional specialist input was provided for a decade or so by a dedicated Historic Buildings Group. They were also involved in thematic recording, contributing to wide ranging HER enhancement programmes. Conservation of rural monuments was pursued utilising agri-environment schemes and by direct management of select sites and monuments. In the late 1990s the team was one of six in England and Wales to trial operation of a PAS Finds Liaison Officer post. The curatorial service also supported and ran widely admired heritage education and interpretation services, vital parts along with the HER and PAS, of the service’s public benefit offer. The paper follows the rise and fall of this public service in Northamptonshire over more than four decades, and ends by reflecting on potential issues for the future.
[305-325]

The Historic Environment Record (HER): ‘A future for our past’
Charlotte Walker
This short note provides a summary of the continuing work of the Northamptonshire Historic Environment Record (HER) from 2015 up to 2023. It continues the story of the HER from an article by Graham Cadman that provides a history of all the heritage services within Northamptonshire County Council from 1973 to 2014. It ends with the announcement that, after so many years of waiting, HERs are finally to become a statutory requirement for local authorities, so now any ‘relevant authority must maintain an historic environment record for its area’.
[327-328]

NOTES:
A late Roman hoard of copper-alloy vessels found at Stanwick in 1992
James Gerrard
A discovery made in 1992 near the Stanwick Roman villa in Northamptonshire (NGR SE 972 717) was recently brought to my attention as part of a project to better understand late Roman copper-alloy vessel hoards. The circumstances of the discovery and the contents of this hoard have not, so far as can be determined, been published and the purpose of this note is to provide a record of the hoard. [329-330]

Old Towcester: The Roman building below Towcester parish church
Brian Giggins
What is not readily apparent is that over a metre below the Victorian encaustic tiles and heating ducts of Towcester parish church there lie remnants of a large building erected about 1900 years ago, during the Roman occupation. Although building works and burials inside the church must have encountered the remains of the structure on numerous occasions, it was not until 1883 that it was first recorded, and works in 1905, 1938, 1983 and 1985 have provided us with tantalising glimpses of what must have been a significant building in the Roman town. [331-332]

Burcote Wood Farm villa: from a field in Towcester to the Northamptonshire ARC, Chester House Estate
Rod Conlon and Georgina Boreham
Between 1972 and 1982 Roy Turland undertook excavations at Burcote Wood Farm (NGR: SP 685469; HER REF: 5507 ENN) to the south of Towcester. The written and meticulously drawn records complied by Roy were accompanied by much pottery and other finds. Over ten years Rod Conlon and Gina Boreham with input from Roy have checked, recorded, summarised and listed all the Iron Age and Roman pottery along with Roy’s drawings, plans, sections and many small finds, coinage and items of glass, bronze, lead, bone, iron, flints, building materials, millstones, kiln furniture, and coloured wall plaster. Much has been photographically and digitally recorded with the material being safely packed for archive storage. On 22 April 2022, the whole Burcote Wood Farm archive was transferred to the Northamptonshire Archaeological Resource Centre (ARC) near Wellingborough, to ensure that another irreplaceable Northamptonshire archaeological archive is safeguarded for public benefit for the future. [333-334]

Shoe and other graffiti on Trafford Bridge, Edgcote
Graham Cadman
Trafford bridge at Edgcote (NGR SP 5182 4789) is a Listed Building (1190263) recorded as dating to the 18th century. An examination of the surviving portions of the parapet coping stones demonstrates the survival of a range of graffiti carved onto the upper surfaces. These include outlines of shoes, names and initials and an example of a combined heart/cross. [335-338]

Portable Antiquities Scheme in Northamptonshire 2020
Portable Antiquities Scheme in Northamptonshire 2021
Eleanore Cox
[339-344]

Obituary: David Hall
Dr David Neville Hall, a truly outstanding Northamptonshire archaeologist, died on 1st August 2021. His archaeological work produced a vast legacy of publications, which is of national significance. The most important is his work on the history of late Saxon to post-medieval field-systems. This he recorded from both fieldwalking vast areas and examining the local history using documentary, map and other evidence. At the same time he excavated many archaeological sites, was a medieval pottery specialist and wrote histories of parishes. In all between 1966 and 2014 he wrote or co-wrote 17 books, 17 articles/chapters in books and over 70 articles in journals as well as grey literature and archive reports. [345-353]

Recent Publications
Andy Chapman
[354-353]

Archaeology in Northamptonshire 2021
[361-367]

Archaeology in Northamptonshire 2022
[369-374]