Monument record MDR5571 - Cropmarks, Foxcovert Farm, Aston upon Trent
Type and Period (3)
- RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
- ENCLOSURE (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
- RING DITCH (Early Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 1501 BC)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Full Description
SK 417 305. Cropmarks of part of a small rectangular enclosure with features within and another ? subrectangular enclosure also containing features, have been recorded at Aston upon Trent. (No OS AP coverage available). (1-3)
Cropmarks plotted on map overlay at 1:10,000. (4)
The site occupies a low ridge which overlooks the confluence of the Rivers Trent and Derwent. The cropmarks are on the lower gravel part of the ridge. They comprise conjoining single-ditched polygonal and quarilateral enclosures. The polygonal enclosure surrounds a single-ditched, elongated quadrilateral enclosure, and a large ring-ditch. Also associated are at least two other partial quadrilateral cropmark enclosures and several small sub-square cropmark features. In the Trent Valley these features are generally of Iron Age or Romano-British date. (5)
Geophysical survey, to the east of the area, shows a distinct pattern of east-west linear anomalies indicating the presence of ploughed-out medieval ridge and furrow [see SMR 16612]. (6)
Excavations just to the north of the enclosures in 1994 revealed a series of narrow, shallow linear features. These produced a number of fragments of Iron Age pottery, baked clay fragments, flint, a quernstone fragment and a sherd of Cheshire briquetage. These features were sealed by a deposit interpreted as hillwash. Once again, this contained sherds of Iron Age pottery and Cheshire briquetage. The excavations were believed to be in an area away from the main focus of activity - thought to lie upslope to the south-east. The pottery indicates occupation between the late-4th century BC to the 1st century AD. The flintwork points to possible earlier activity, that might relate to the circular cropmark (16m in diameter) thought to be too large for a hut circle. Instead it may be the ditch of a ploughed-down barrow. (7)
A geophysical (magnetometer) survey was carried out on areas to the south and east of Fox Covert Farm. One of the detailed samples covered some of the cropmarks to the east of the farm, and magnetic anomalies consistent with buried ditches were identified in this area. (8)
Sources/Archives (8)
- <1> SDR15752 Bibliographic reference: Trent Valley Arch Res Comm Gaz c 1980 12. TVARC No 2124.
- <2> SDR1444 Aerial Photograph: APs (NMR SK4130/1-3).
- <3> SDR13077 Aerial Photograph: Pickering, J. 1970. 1970 4130/1-3 1970/3 4A/236 34,35/259.
- <4> SDR1127 Archive: Whiteley, S. 1989. Aerial Photographic Transcripton Project.
- <5> SDR19041 Unpublished document: Trent & Peak Archaeological Trust (TPAT). 1992. Archaeology of the Derby Southern Bypass, Implication of the Construction of the Bypass Between Hilton and the M1..
- <6> SDR19038 Unpublished document: Walker, J. 1993. Derby Southern Bypass Archaeological Evaluations. Report on Site Investigations.. pp. 31-32, figs. 29-30.
- <7> SDR18678 Article in serial: Hughes, G (BUFAU). 1999. 'Excavation of an Iron Age cropmarked site at Foxcovert Farm, Aston on Trent, 1994', Derbyshire Archaeological Journal.
- <8> SDR21767 Unpublished document: Robertson, F (GSB). 2004. Fox Covert Farm, Aston on Trent - geophysical survey report. HER Doc. No. 1551.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | SK 41723 30505 (point) (Approximate) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | ASTON UPON TRENT, SOUTH DERBYSHIRE, DERBYSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (4)
- EDR1723
- EDR1714
- EDR1609
- EDR3058
Please contact the HER for details.
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Jan 31 2018 3:17PM