Monument record MLI30340 - Iron Age settlement at Castle Quarry, Ancaster

Summary

Iron Age settlement at Castle Quarry, Ancaster

Type and Period (5)

  • (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

Archaeological excavations in advance of new quarrying on the site of Castle Lime Company were conducted in June 1962, by an extra-mural class under J. May. The excavations revealed remains of an Iron Age settlement, with perhaps 100 pits noted. Only a small part of the site could be excavated, including one circular hut, 7 pits and other structural remains. Pottery, querns, daubs and other material were found. A magnetometer survey revealed more features. {1}{2}{3}{4}{5} During trial trenching prior to a possible extension of the quarry, definite and possible Iron Age features were encountered. Dated features include a well preserved middle Iron Age storage pit and nearby ditch. Further ditches and gullies including a possible enclosure ditch may also be of Iron Age date despite lacking dating evidence. A large ditch may represent a prehistoric boundary, however it remains undated. {6}{7} An archaeological strip, map and record was undertaken by Pre-Construct Archaeological Services in 2009 during the ongoing management plan for the extension of Castle Quarry. Evidence of the Iron Age farming settlement was found including pits, ditches and a posthole. Finds included Iron Age pottery, animal bone, hazelnut fragments and charred grain. {8}{9}

Sources/Archives (9)

  •  Correspondence: 1962. PARISH FILE. ANCASTER. -.
  •  Index: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Card Index. SK 94 SE: 21.
  •  Index: MAY, J. (ED.). 1961. EAST MIDLANDS ARCHAEOLOGICAL BULLETIN. p.6.
  •  Index: South Kesteven records. Ancaster. SK 02.65, 02.69.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Jeffrey May. 1976. Prehistoric Lincolnshire. pp.133-40.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology (Lincoln). 2008. Land adjacent to Castle Quarry, Ancaster: Archaeological Evaluation. CQEA08.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology (Lincoln). 2008. Land adjacent to Castle Quarry, Ancaster: Archaeological Evaluation. LCNCC 2009.46.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeological Services Ltd. 2010. Archaeological strip, map and record on land adjacent to Castle Quarry, Ancaster. CQAN09.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeological Services Ltd. 2010. Archaeological strip, map and record on land adjacent to Castle Quarry, Ancaster. LCNCC 2009.113.

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Location

Grid reference Centred SK 9870 4330 (200m by 200m)
Civil Parish ANCASTER, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

Related Events/Activities (2)

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Record last edited

Jul 23 2026 9:06AM

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