Bourton Way, Wellingborough and Station Road, Higham Ferrers: Two Middle Iron Age Settlements Overlooking the River Nene in Northamptonshire

This report presents the results of archaeological open-area excavations undertaken in 2014 by Albion Archaeology at Bourton Way, Wellingborough and Station Road, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire.

The investigations took place ahead of residential developments by David Wilson Homes, who had engaged CgMs Consulting Ltd to commission and oversee the archaeological works. The two middle Iron Age settlements are c. 9km apart and it was felt appropriate to publish them together because of their similar topographical locations overlooking the River Nene. In both cases the Albion excavations were situated within settlements that had previously been partially investigated. Joint publication, therefore, also provides an opportunity to take a comparative overview of the whole of each settlement.

The Bourton Way excavation area covered c. 0.75ha of a postulated 4ha settlement. The settlement appears to have comprised a central domestic focus – containing roundhouses, post-built structures (square and rectangular) and storage pits – surrounded by fields. In addition, a D-shaped enclosure, defined by large ditches, was partly investigated c. 75m to the south-west of the Bourton Way excavation area.

The Station Road excavation area covered c. 0.7ha of a postulated 3.5ha settlement. In contrast to Bourton Way/Wilby Way, it appeared to comprise a loose arrangement of domestic and non-domestic enclosures, fields and linear boundaries.

Situated on higher ground close to the River Nene, both settlements were in prime topographic locations for a mixed farming economy. This was dominated by the husbandry of sheep/goat and cattle,and the growing of spelt wheat and hulled barley. As is often the case on sites of this period, meagre evidence for non-agricultural activities, such as textile-, bone-and antler-working was recovered; there was also some evidence of small-scale metal smelting and working at Bourton Way. Only two possible personal items were recovered: a possible iron armlet and an antler cheekpiece, both from Bourton Way.

Burial evidence comprised one inhumation and five animal burials. Disarticulated human bone and partial animal skeletons were also recovered; along with a small number of ‘unusual’ deposits they may be evidence for rituals undertaken by the inhabitants of the settlements.

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