Monument record 0716800000 - East of Dropshot Farm

Geophysical survey and subsequent evaluation trial trenching carried out in September 2011 by Northamptonshire Archaeology in advance of proposed industrial development for a mega-dairy identified a small rural settlement of late Iron Age to Romano-British date. Occupation spanned the period from the late 1st century BC to the 4th century AD, with a peak of activity in the 2nd century AD. Pottery evidence suggests that the site was fairly low status, whilst animal bone and burnt plant remains suggest crop-processing and animal husbandry were taking place. There appears to have been a shift of emphasis from cattle rearing in the earlier phase with sheep/goats and pigs becoming more important later. See report for detail (B2-3).
From the 2nd to 4th centuries there was a period of modification, expansion, and intensification of the pasture land north of Aston Clinton. The small paddocks were replaced by a sequence of more formal, organised enclosure mainly for cattle breeding and management. The area of the dry ridge formed an access point linking the enclosure to higher ground to the south-east and pasture fields to the north-west. A ditched trackway was defined during this time along the ridge linking Akeman Street and the local network of tracks. Evidence from the enclosure ditch shows that it was constantly maintained and recut during the time that they were in use. Fragmentary remains of at least three buildings indicate that there may have been a small farmstead. The buildings were not substantial and probably comprised an open-sided byre or agricultural structure and a circular corral or roundhouse. A possible domestic area, located in the southern part of the enclosure was identified with associated pits. Pottery included storage vessels as well as local and imported table wares indicates that people were living in the enclosure. The buildings were either post-built or has sill beam foundations. A quantity of tile, including floor, roof, and box flue tile, indicates that at least one the buildings had tiled roofs. (B4)
AREA A (north)
Late Iron Age to Early Roman enclosures and cultivation trenches.
Two conjoined oval enclosures. The larger 33m x 28m, with a smaller enclosure (12m x 7m) on its southern edge. It is likely that both enclosures had their entrances to the north-east (B4).
AREA B
A small pond was excavated at the southern end of the excavation area during the Roman period representing small scale water management.
Late 1st century enclosure 100m long by 75m wide. The inner enclosure 61m by 61m. The southern part of the enclosure was further sub-divided into atleast four small rectangular portions. Additional enclosures added during the 2nd century. From the 2nd to 4th centuries the enclosure wre redefined using the pond as a focus. The site later reverting back to back to pastoral fields and paddocks similar to Iron Age / early Roman period.
BUILDING 1: rectangular structure 10m long (N-S) and 5m wide (E-W). Comprised of 3 gullies, a posthole towards the northern end, 3 further postholes within the building. A possible smaller lay 2m to the south-east. The fills of the structure generally contained greywares and imported wares including samian ware.
BUILDING 2: A group of 8 postholes forming a square in plan (3m wide). Two waste pits to the north.
BUILDING 3: Part of a ring gully to the east of the excavation area. One clear entrance to the north-west. Projected internal diameter of c13m (B4).
A total of 10 inhumations and 3 cremations were identified clustered in two distinct groups: northern burial group, and eastern burial group. The earliest burials date the 2nd-3rd centuries AD (B4).
For detail see published excavation report (B5).