Monument record MLI35008 - BRONZE AGE/IRON AGE SETTLEMENT AT STOWE FARM

Summary

BRONZE AGE/IRON AGE SETTLEMENT AT STOWE FARM

Type and Period (11)

  • (Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2200 BC to 42 AD)
  • (Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2200 BC to 42 AD)
  • (Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2200 BC to 42 AD)
  • (Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2200 BC to 42 AD)
  • (Middle Neolithic to Late Iron Age - 3000 BC to 42 AD)
  • (Middle Neolithic to Late Iron Age - 3000 BC to 42 AD)
  • (Middle Neolithic to Late Iron Age - 3000 BC to 42 AD)
  • (Late Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 1000 BC to 42 AD)
  • (Late Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 1000 BC to 42 AD)
  • (Middle Neolithic to Late Iron Age - 3000 BC to 42 AD)
  • (Middle Bronze Age - 1400 BC to 1100 BC)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

PRN 35008 There are three Bronze Age phases on the site at Stowe Farm. The earliest phase approximates to the Beaker period. During this phase the first element of the large north-west by south-east running ditch may have been created in the north of the site. This appears to have been as a series of ditch slots with accompanying causeways running between each slot. There are likely to have been structures associated with these ditch slots but it is unclear which post hole clusters may be contemporary. There is a house which may be contemporary or later. There is a settlement further to the south which includes houses. At some time prior to or just within the next phase these were abandoned and infilled. In the middle Bronze Age phase the causewayed slots were filled in and recut to form a single large ditch. It may be at this time the other ditches are cut and the first field groups are created. In the later Bronze Age it seems likely that the fields continued in use and any settlement associated lies near the development site. {1} There are possible hut circles and ditches visible on aerial photographs. {2} During the Iron Age, settlement and activity areas occur across the Stowe site. These are largely in the form of large pits, possibly water-pits which are in several instances linked to structures, some of which are undoubtedly houses. Also a number of structures are built at the butt ends of ditches. Again some of these may be houses but most appear to be storage areas or animal pens. This represents another reorganisation of the landscape and possibly the break-up of earlier landscape organisation so that much smaller areas are utilised by individual household groups. This may be to some extent a regressive step and perhaps indicates an area/regional collapse. {1} There are possible hut circles and ditches visible on aerial photographs. {2} Excavations carried out in 1997 revealed pits, circular structures, semi-circular interlinked structures, and dispersed postholes and pits with no obvious interpretation, occupied during the Bronze Age and apparently abandoned during the late Bronze Age. During the Bronze Age, boundaries were demarcated by widely-spaced posts, with three east/west ditches found to lie along the line of former post-demarcated boundaries, suggesting a change in the late Bronze Age in how the boundaries were represented. The sparse nature of the pottery and lithic finds does not suggest settlement. The pits, postholes and ditches are thought to represent a series of small agricultural structures within field systems bounded by posts and, later, ditches. Ditched boundaries appear to have survived through into the Iron Age and Roman periods, although some Iron Age post alignments were noted.{8} Excavations in 1998 revealed pits, posthole structures, further ditches relating to the north/south boundary, and the continuation of an enclosure found during earlier work. Two parallel lines of postholes, some substantially larger than others, are thought to represent at least two structures. Associated pits contained what was initially thought to be early Iron Age pottery; however, radiocarbon dating on a piece of carbonised wood from the basal fill of one of the pits was dated to 1660-1405 BC, making the pottery dating uncertain. The north/south boundary previously represented by two parallel ditches was found to continue into this area of excavation as four parallel ditches continuing the primary alignment. A further section of the previously identified enclosure ditch was recorded, thought to relate to Bronze Age sheep management. The enclosure was cut by a ditch containing early Iron Age pottery.{9} Again excavations at TF 0999 1096 revealed the continuation of the Neolithic and Bronze Age activity that has been so widespread on this site. Small buildings and post built enclosures of Bronze and Iron Age date were identified together with a small amount of pottery from the same periods. Environmental data and the scarcity of finds indicated that occupation of this site is unlikely.{10}

Sources/Archives (10)

  •  Report: Tempus Reparatum. 1996. Excavation Report: Stowe Farm Extension (W3/PL/5) (Phases 1A & 1B & Soil Dumping Area). -.
  •  Map: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1992-1996. National Mapping Programme. TF0911:LI.788.54,58.1-2,1993, .
  •  Aerial Photograph: 1965. 93 65 028.
  •  Aerial Photograph: 1945-84. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. JG49-50,1952, .
  •  Aerial Photograph: FOARD, G.. 1984-90. NORTHANTS CC. 3051/20,1986, .
  •  Report: Tempus Reparatum. 1994. Report on Archaeological Evaluation: Stowe Farm Extension (W3/PL/5). -.
  •  Report: Tempus Reparatum. 1996. Interim Excavation Report: Stowe Farm extension (W3/PL/5) Phase 2 (First Part). -.
  •  Report: Cambridgeshire Archaeological Field Unit. 1997. Prehistoric landscapes at Stowe Farm, Barholm and Stowe.
  •  Report: Cambridgeshire Archaeological Field Unit. 1999. Prehistoric landscapes at Stowe farm - Phase 3a.
  •  Report: Cambridgeshire Archaeological Field Unit. 2000. Prehistoric landscapes at Stowe Farm, Phase 3b.

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Location

Grid reference Centred TF 1009 1106 (502m by 463m) Centre
Civil Parish BARHOLM AND STOWE, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (7)

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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