Iron Age and Roman Settlement on the Northamptonshire Uplands : Archaeological Work on the A43 Towcestar to M40 Road Improvement Scheme in Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire

by Mudd, Andrew; Carruthers, W. J. (CON); Deighton, K. (CON); Hylton, T. (CON); Meadows, I. (CON)

• ISBN13: 9780955506208
• ISBN10: 0955506204
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-06-01
• Publisher: David Brown Book Co

Summary

"The construction of the new A43 dual carriageway between Towcester and the M40 motorway provided a transect across a block of midland upland landscape that had previously seen little archaeological fieldwork. The results show that in the Iron Age and Roman periods the clay uplands were as intensively settled as the better known Nene Valley and ironstone areas, although on the dry limestone uplands of north Oxfordshire settlement was sparser." "Three pit alignments were investigated and it is suggested that these boundaries were the immediate precursors to Iron Age settlement. Several settlements from the Middle Iron Age to the early Roman periods were examined. Of particular interest were three Middle Iron Age settlements near Silverstone, within 500 m of each other and of differing forms, which may have performed distinct roles within the agricultural economy. A group of five infant burials was discovered at one of these sites." "Iron smelting furnaces were discovered at another Iron Age settlement and evidence of iron smelting in the early Roman period was found nearby. Towards Brackley another early Roman settlement contained pottery kilns." "The opportunity is also taken to present the results of a magnetometer survey at Tusmore Deserted Medieval Village (Oxfordshire) which indicated that it overlay a Roman settlement."--BOOK JACKET.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations

List of plates

List of tables

Summary/Resume/Zusammenfassung

Introduction

Iron Age and Roman periods

Medieval and later periods

The Finds

Human Skeletal Material

Economic and Environmental Evidence

General Discussion

Bibliography

Appendices

Scientific dating

Infant burials from Silverstone Fields Farm

Bone quantification and measurements

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