Monument record MLI89706 - Iron Age settlement site, Bone's Farm, Kirkby la Thorpe
Summary
A group of four incomplete Iron Age round-house gullies were revealed during topsoil stripping. There was a series of linear enclosure ditches or gullies to the north of these, and a number of pits and postiholes distributed throughout the site.
Type and Period (9)
- ROUND HOUSE (DOMESTIC) (Middle Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 400 BC to 42 AD)
- ENCLOSURE (Middle Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 400 BC to 42 AD)
- GULLY (Middle Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 400 BC to 42 AD)
- DITCH (Middle Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 400 BC to 42 AD)
- PIT (Middle Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 400 BC to 42 AD)
- WELL (Middle Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 400 BC to 42 AD)
- POST HOLE (Middle Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 400 BC to 42 AD)
- HEARTH ? (Middle Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 400 BC to 42 AD)
- FIELD SYSTEM (Middle Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 400 BC to 42 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Full Description
PRN 64425
A group of four incomplete Iron Age round-house gullies, enclosure ditches and gullies, and a series of pits and post holes were revealed during topsoil stripping. Although incomplete, the ring gullies all seem to have been of similar size, within internal diameters of 10m or slightly more. The gullies appear to be the remains of Iron Age round-houses. Apart from burning within a pit, there was little evidence of domestic activity within the areas that would have formed the interior spaces of the houses. All of the ring gullies were located between two ditches, suggesting these formed the boundary of the area of the settlement. The enclosure containing the ring gullies was part of a larger system extending approximately 75m along the pipeline easement. The northern boundary to this field system appeared to be formed by an east to west aligned ditch. The division of land into small rectangular plots is characteristic of Iron Age agriculture. The function of the various its is not clear. Only three contained significant amounts of finds, suggesting that they may have been used for refuse disposal. One of the pits provided evidence that iron-smithing was taking place nearby, and fragments of fired clay found within a gully may have been from an associated hearth structure. A large pit displaying signs of water erosion may have functioned as a watering hole for livestock. The settlement appears to date to the middle to late Iron Age. A small but almost totally homogenous assemblage of mid to late Iron Age pottery was recovered, based on the presence of scored decoration typical of this period. The simplicity of the rims suggest a tendency towards the mid Iron Age. This date is further affirmed by the presence of one vessel with notching on the top of the rim, a style more typical of mid Iron Age groups. Most of the sherds are from cooking vessels. The picture emerges of a small farmstead; a cluster of round-houses surrounded by small stock enclosures. The settlement was probably quite short-lived, but was in existence long enough for the round-houses to have needed rebuilding.{1}{2}
Enclosures and field boundaries were visible on the Google Maps photographic layer when viewed on 07/10/2011, extending throughout the field north of Bones Farm.
Sources/Archives (3)
- <1> SLI11206 Report: Network Archaeology Ltd. Apr 2003. Archaeological Evaluation, Excavation and Watching Brief on the Hatton to Silk Willoughby Gas Pipeline 2001. HAT00.
- <2> SLI11207 Archive: Network Archaeology Ltd. Apr 2003. Archaeological Evaluation, Excavation and Watching Brief on the Hatton to Silk Willoughby Gas Pipeline 2001. LCNCC 2000.102.
- <3> SLI11533 Website: Google. 2006->. Google Maps and Street View. www.google.co.uk/maps.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred TF 09030 45020 (188m by 264m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | KIRKBY LA THORPE, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (2)
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Mar 21 2021 8:35PM
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