Death and Taxes The archaeology of a Middle Saxon estate centre at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire Oxford Monograph 4

Between 1993 and 2003, Oxford Archaeology
(formerly Oxford Archaeological Unit) undertook a
major programme of survey and excavation on the
northern outskirts of the town of Higham Ferrers,
Northamptonshire, uncovering extensive remains
dating from the Middle Bronze Age to the late
medieval period. This volume deals with the Anglo-
Saxon and medieval remains.
Post-Roman occupation began as early as the mid
to late 5th century, with scatter of Sunken Featured
Buildings and a few associated pits. No obvious
evidence was found to indicate any continuity
between the late Roman and early Saxon occupation.
A possible brief interval in the 7th century was
followed by the establishment of a large 8th-century
complex of enclosures and buildings, along with
other structures including a large malting oven. It is
argued that this represents the infrastructure of a
purpose-built tribute centre for a royal estate, a type
of site not hitherto recognised in England. While the
quantity of material evidence of this period is
modest, the character of it indicates that a wide
variety of produce came into complex and was then
redistributed rather than consumed on site.
Evidence of other functions of the complex were
revealed in the form of human remains – interpreted
as execution victims, found in parts of the
enclosure ditches.
At around the end of the 8th century the evidence
suggests that the complex was abruptly and
completely destroyed and the landscape cleared.
The chronology as determined by the material
evidence was augmented by a programme of radiocarbon
and archaeomagnetic dating.
Starting in the 9th century, occupation resumed
in the area, in the form of a scatter of farmsteads.
Evidence was also found of a substantial pottery
industry producing Late medieval Reduced Ware.