Preliminary Report on the Archaeological Investigations at Northampton Road, Brackley, Northamptonshire
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Albion Archaeology Preliminary report on the archaeological investigations at Northampton Road, Brackley, Northamptonshire Photo1: Aerial view of the Northampton Road development area from south Introduction Between June and October 2014 Albion Archaeology undertook open-area excavation in advance of mixed-use development by Albion Land plc on land off Northampton Road, Brackley. An area of c. 3ha was excavated divided into two main parts of unequal size, exposing an unenclosed middle Iron Age settlement. The main part of the settlement extended over c. 1.6ha and was in the northern excavation area, possibly continuing beyond the limit of the development area (see figure at the back of this report). It was characterised by roundhouses, ditched enclosures, post-built structures and an abundance of storage pits. Similar features were found to the south and in the southern excavation area, although these were smaller in number and occurred in a much lower density than in the main settlement area. Roundhouses Evidence for c. 20 roundhouses was identified. They were defined by pennanular gullies with E-facing entrances. The area defined by the gullies ranged from 8–15m in diameter, whilst the gullies themselves were generally shallow and only a few had been redug. The majority of the gullies are assumed to have served a drainage function with no structural slots associated with the outer walls being identified. Preliminary report on the archaeological investigations at Northampton Road, Brackley, Northants 1 (Mike Luke, Jo Barker and Iain Leslie. Albion report 2016-66) Albion Archaeology Many contained postholes which may have provided roof support or internal divisions. At least two examples of internal ‘porch’ structures were identified. Ditched enclosures Five ditched enclosures were identified, generally defined by ditches up to 1.6m wide and 1.4m deep. Along with having more substantial ditches they also differed from the roundhouses in that the areas they defined were larger and less regular in plan (although still broadly sub-oval or sub-circular). Similar to the roundhouses, they often had E or SE facing entrances and the interiors contained pits and postholes. The ditch defining one of the enclosures, at c. 3.5 wide and 1.2m deep, was exceptionally large in contrast to all others within the settlement. This enclosure was located away from the main cluster of roundhouses and contained numerous post-holes suggesting some form of internal structure or roundhouse. This included a possible porch or gate structure. The excessive dimensions of the ditch are difficult to explain in practical terms so it may have been dug to emphasise the importance of the enclosed space or structure, the actions undertaken within or that of its occupants. Post-built structures At least 40 possible post-built structures were identified within the excavation areas. They were characterised by four or more postholes in square or rectangular arrangements. The majority were clustered in the vicinity of the roundhouses and away from the storage pits. Such features are often interpreted as above-ground grain stores. Approximately 150 additional post-holes were investigated but do not appear to be part of a recognisable structure. Pits Approximately 250 of the pits investigated were of the classic storage type, i.e. circular, steep-sided and flat-bottomed. Their depths varied from 0.1–1.1m but this is considered to be an effect of variable plough truncation. The majority of the storage pits were located, in broad clusters, away from the roundhouses, although they also occurred in smaller clusters on the periphery of the occupied zone. A smaller number of approximately 80 pits did not conform to the classic storage pit profile. They were generally less circular in plan, shallower and/or with less steep sides than those interpreted as storage pits. Some of these may still have served for storage or may have been for other purposes such as localised quarrying. Stone-lined pit One pit, adjacent to the enclosure defined by a large ditch, was exceptional in that it was lined with neatly constructed dry-stone walling (Photo 2). It was circular, c. 2.5m in diameter and 0.6m deep with a flat base. Comparable pits with stone lining do not appear to be common in lowland England and numbers have not increased, at least in the Nene and Ouse Valleys, since Knight over 25 years ago identified four possible examples including one in the hillfort at Hunsbury, Northampton (Knight 1984, 109). However, six were investigated within the nearby contemporary settlement at Radstone Fields, Brackley (Albion 2015). Their similarity in profile and location to other storage pits suggests they may also have served a similar function, although the obvious differences in construction suggest a different product — perhaps meat or dairy products. Preliminary report on the archaeological investigations at Northampton Road, Brackley, Northants 2 (Mike Luke, Jo Barker and Iain Leslie. Albion report 2016-66) Albion Archaeology Photo 2: The stone-lined pit Burials Only one formal burial was found within the investigations — a crouched inhumation, placed within a grave on the east side of the northern settlement. A small number of features contained disarticulated human bone but the precise number is unknown at this stage. Finds The majority of the pottery assemblage (54kg) is dated to the middle Iron Age, although some early and late Iron Age types were present. Although not all of the other artefacts can be closely dated, it is likely that they are contemporary, given the absence of earlier and later settlement. Artefacts found include ceramic loomweights, a weaving comb, a bone bobbin and a tanged knife. The range of crafts carried out at the settlement included textile production, antler and bone working, possibly leather working (awls), iron smelting and possibly non-ferrous metal working. Agriculture is attested by the presence of a pruning hook and grain-processing by saddle querns. The best dated artefacts in their own right were a copper alloy La Tene II involute brooch, and a possible iron involute dress pin, which attest to settlement in the middle Iron Age. As yet unparalleled, is a possible iron socketed ‘standard’ tip (Photo 3), found within a fill of a pit which also contained middle Iron Age pottery. Preliminary report on the archaeological investigations at Northampton Road, Brackley, Northants 3 (Mike Luke, Jo Barker and Iain Leslie. Albion report 2016-66) Albion Archaeology Photo 3: Possible iron socketed ‘standard’ tip Summary The largely undiagnostic but consistently middle Iron Age pottery assemblage along with modest stratigraphic evidence means it is uncertain if the evidence represents a single large settlement or several smaller settlement shifting location every couple of generations within the same broad area. A similar and contemporary settlement has been recently investigated in Brackley c. 1km to the NW, at Radstone Fields (Albion 2015). The evidence from both settlements indicates that they were occupied by mixed farming communities who undertook some craft production. The results are currently being analysed and it is hoped that they will be published as an Albion Archaeology Monograph. References Albion 2015 Preliminary report on the archaeological investigations at Northampton Road, Brackley, Northants (report 2015-199) Knight, D., 1984 Late Bronze Age and Iron Age Settlement in the Nene and Great Ouse Basins , Brit. Archaeol. Rep. Brit. Ser. 130 (Oxford) Preliminary report on the archaeological investigations at Northampton Road, Brackley, Northants 4 (Mike Luke, Jo Barker and Iain Leslie. Albion report 2016-66) Albion Archaeology 238400 Inhumation Stone-lined pit 0 10 m Roundhouse Large ditched enclosure Ditched enclosure Storage pit Other pits/postholes Post -built structure 238200 459200 459300 Plan of the Iron Age settlement in the northern area Preliminary report on the archaeological investigations at Northampton Road, Brackley, Northants 5 (Mike Luke, Jo Barker and Iain Leslie. Albion report 2016-66) Albion Archaeology 238150 238100 0 20 m Roundhouse Storag e pit Other pits/postholes Post -built structure 238050 459150 459200 Plan of the Iron Age settlement in the southern area Preliminary report on the archaeological investigations at Northampton Road, Brackley, Northants 6 (Mike Luke, Jo Barker and Iain Leslie. Albion report 2016-66) .