Monument record MLI33484 - Cropmarks of Prehistoric Enclosures, Trackways and Pit Alignment, Tallington

Summary

Cropmarks of prehistoric rectangular enclosures, trackways and a pit alignment, Tallington.

Type and Period (3)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

PRN 33484 At TF 104 095 and TF 103 094 are two fairly rectangular enclosures which are approached by tracks branching from King Street. That at TF 105 094 was trial excavated and the entrance to the south-east had large deep pits at the end of the ditch which were seen to contain native type Iron Age pottery and bones. The south ditch had pit-alignment features. {1}{2}{4}{5}{7} The enclosure is formed by a ditch on the north-east and south sides, with a round angle at the north-east corner. The entrance to the south-east has large deep pits at the end of the ditch forming a horned enclosure. the south ditch has pit-alignment features. Native type undecorated Iron Age pottery and animal bones were found. {3}{6} At TF 105 091 25 pits of a double pit alignment were excavated by the Ministry of Works in May and June 1961. Apparently this is the northern continuation of PRN34095. Their apparent lack of function, and naturally silted fill virtually without occupation materials bears out a thesis of land boundaries. Although the different character of the east and west lines of pits was marked, sherds of hand-made pottery in their fills were too small for dating. {5} At TF 105 093 excavations for the Welland Valley Research Committee in advance of gravel quarrying by Dowmac (products) Ltd indicated the following sequence. A pit alignment of Iron Age 'A' date was intersected by a Roman road with ditches at a time when the pits had been filled. Pits had been dug into the gravel in the early Roman period to provide metalling for the road. A rectangular enclosure was also of early Roman date, but slightly later than the road. See PRN33480 for the Roman material. {12} Two sections of the pit alignment were excavated in 1961 and 1963-64. The 1961 excavations concentrated on the southern, double section of the alignment. The pits were excavated and recorded in advance of gravel extraction. It is not certain whether the double alignment represents a genuine double feature, perhaps flanking a droveway, or two phases of single features although the parallel course of the alignments suggests they are contemporary. The 1963-64 excavations focussed on another section of the pit alignment, now only a single alignment, to the north and also investigated other features of similar date including enclosures, 'working hollows', possible hut circles and a road. The purpose of the pit alignments still remains uncertain, although it seems likely they may have represented boundaries. Late Bronze Age to early Iron Age handmade pottery was recovered from the pit alignments during both excavations. The other features seem to represent a small settlement or farm, and the environmental evidence suggests a mixed pastoral and arable economy. There were two human infant bones from 'working hollow' 2. The pottery recovered from these features suggests a late Bronze Age to early Iron Age date although their relationship with the pit alignments is unclear. {14}

Sources/Archives (14)

  •  Index: OS CARD INDEX. TALLINGTON. TF 10 NW:25,1964, DA.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1960. A Matter of Time. pp14,36,58;Fig7 Nos.35-7.
  •  Index: FENNELL, K.R.. 1960. EAST MIDLANDS ARCHAEOLOGICAL BULLETIN. No.3 p5.
  •  Index: SIMPSON, W.G.. 1962. EAST MIDLANDS ARCHAEOLOGICAL BULLETIN. No.5 p13.
  •  Index: JONES M U. 1962. EAST MIDLANDS ARCHAEOLOGICAL BULLETIN. No.5 p19.
  •  Index: SMR FILE. TALLINGTON. TF 10 NW:AG -.
  •  Index: SMR FILE. TALLINGTON. TF 10 NW:K -.
  •  Aerial Photograph: ST JOSEPH, J.K.S.. 1945-79. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. DA 054-055,1949, .
  •  Aerial Photograph: ST JOSEPH, J.K.S.. 1945-79. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. ZG 38,1959, .
  •  Aerial Photograph: 1945-84. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. AGB 73, 1962.
  •  Aerial Photograph: J.K.S. St Joseph. 1945-79. Cambridge University Collection. J 92,1945, .
  •  Index: SIMPSON, W.G.. 1963. EAST MIDLANDS ARCHAEOLOGICAL BULLETIN. No.6 p10.
  •  Aerial Photograph: ST JOSEPH, J.K.S.. 1945-79. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. EA 002?,1949, .
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Simpson, W.G., Gurney, D.A., Neve, J. and Pryor, F.M.M.. 1993. Excavations in Peterborough and the Lower Welland Valley. pp.29-64.

Map

Find a placename, postcode or grid reference

Map layers

Base layers

Info

Record list

Tools

Location

Grid reference Centred TF 1046 0930 (402m by 505m) Centre
Civil Parish TALLINGTON, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (10)

Related Events/Activities (2)

Please contact the HER for details.

External Links (0)

Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

Feedback?

Your feedback is welcome. If you can provide any new information about this record, please contact us.