Monument record MLI83500 - Late Bronze Age Co-Axial Field System

Summary

Late Bronze Age Co-Axial Field System at Rectory Farm, West Deeping

Type and Period (9)

  • (Late Bronze Age to Middle Iron Age - 1000 BC to 101 BC)
  • (Late Bronze Age to Middle Iron Age - 1000 BC to 101 BC)
  • (Late Bronze Age to Middle Iron Age - 1000 BC to 101 BC)
  • (Late Bronze Age to Middle Iron Age - 1000 BC to 101 BC)
  • (Later Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
  • (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 801 BC)
  • (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 801 BC)
  • (Early Bronze Age to Early Iron Age - 1530 BC to 800 BC)
  • (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 801 BC)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

PRN 35803 The most extensive feature of this landscape is the co-axial field system, which was originally identified as crop marks on aerial photographs. The field system consists of a series of major parallel ditch alignments, forming trackways and long linear fields. Aerial photographs suggest that the field system covers an area of at least 300ha. Eight enclosures have been interpreted as being associated with the field system, although their exact function is not clear. The ditches that were excavated showed signs that they were recut showing the field system was in use for some time. The field system has been dated to the Late Bronze age but there is a possibility that it could be earlier. Its life span is thought to have been as long as four to five centuries, so it continued in use until the early to mid Iron Age. The cropmarks may continue to the south of Stamford Road (the cropmarks there have also been included in 33467). [This is a temporary record and needs further revision] {1}{2}{3}{4}{5} During trial trenching in 2002 centred on TF1121 1003 a north-east/south-west aligned ditch of later Prehistoric date was recorded in Trench 4. Although tighter dating was not possible, the ditch appears to correspond to the location of a ditch thought to belong to the coaxial field system which was noted in geophysical survey. Several features of Bronze Age date were also recorded. A pit was found to contain fragments of timber; the largest of these was a section of trunk from which the bark had been partially removed with a bronze tool. A number of postholes were thought to be associated with this pit, one to either side of it and a group to the west. {10} During a 2002 watching brief at 35803b, Late Bronze Age parallel ditches, a series of large pits, wells and several fragments of loom weights were revealed and recovered. {13}{14} A watching brief at 35803a was undertaken by Pre-Construct Archaeology between September and December 2002 on Phase 1A of works at Rectory Farm, West Deeping. Two partial vessels of middle Bronze Age date, and three undecorated vessels, comprised of 130 sherds, of late Bronze Age (1200 - 800 BC) pottery were found. {11}{12} A watching brief at 35803b was undertaken by Pre-Construct Archaeology in 2005. Area C revealed a pit which contained a sherd of early Bronze Age pottery. Three ditches were also revealed which were associated with a late Bronze Age coaxial field system. One of the ditches contained two sherds of prehistoric pottery [PRN 39033] and a probably Neolithic flint flake [PRN 39032]. Several waterholes (pits of a diameter of over two metres) were also found. One of these waterholes revealed two fragmentary late Bronze Age pottery vessels, while another contained pottery from eight late Bronze Age vessels. Smaller pits and postholes were also revealed; two pits contained sherds of late Bronze Age pottery and one posthole contained a sherd of late Bronze Age pottery. {15}{16} A watching brief in 2007 was undertaken by Pre-Construct on Area 3C (35803c) and 4B (35803d). Ditches, pits and post holes ascribed to the coaxial late Bronze Age field system were revealed. A pit and a post hole from Area 4B contained Late Bronze age pottery. In Area 4B, pits also revealed early Bronze Age pottery. {15}{16}

Sources/Archives (16)

  •  Report: Tempus Reparatum. 1990. Rectory Farm, West Deeping.
  •  Report: Geophysical Surveys of Bradford. 1991. Rectory Farm, West Deeping.
  •  Report: Tempus Reparatum. 1991. Rectory Farm, West Deeping.
  •  Report: Tempus Reparatum. 1994. Rectory Farm, West Deeping.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Pryor, Francis. 1999. Farmers in Prehistoric Britain. Pages 109-123.
  •  Aerial Photograph: 1946-98. RCHME. TF1210/1,5; TF1110/7,9,11-13,17; 4978/0; TF1209/3,4.
  •  Aerial Photograph: FOARD, G.. 1984-90. NORTHANTS CC. TF1109/4,5.
  •  Aerial Photograph: 1945-84. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. HD25-26, 22/5/51, J93 1945.
  •  Aerial Photograph: HARTLEY, R.F.R.. 1980-92. LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL. FXH 14151-2.
  •  Report: Cambridge Archaeological Unit. May 2002. Land at West Deeping (King Street). WDP02.
  •  Report: Allen Archaeological Associates. 2006. Archaeological Assessment Report on a Watching Brief on Phase 1A Works at Rectory Farm, West Deeping. RFWD 02.
  •  Archive: Allen Archaeological Associates. 2006. Archaeological Assessment Report on a Watching Brief on Phase 1A Works at Rectory Farm, West Deeping. -.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2004. Archaeological watching brief at Rectory Farm, West Deeping: Interim Report. RFWD 02/03.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2004. Archaeological watching brief at Rectory Farm, West Deeping: Interim Report. -.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2008. Rectory Farm, West Deeping: Map 2 Assessment of Watching Brief Phases RFWD 05 and RFWD 07. RFWD 05.
  •  Unpublished Document: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2008. Rectory Farm, West Deeping: Map 2 Assessment of Watching Brief Phases RFWD 05 and RFWD 07. -.

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Grid reference Centred TF 1192 1015 (1340m by 1647m)
Civil Parish MARKET DEEPING, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish WEST DEEPING, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Related Events/Activities (8)

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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