Excavation of an Iron Age Settlement at Kirkleatham, Redcar & Cleveland, NZ 596222

Abstract

This article presents the evidence for an open Iron Age settlement on the outskirts of Redcar. Excavation found evidence of four circular structures and associated finds. This form of open settlement is recognised in the Late Iron Age in the Tees Valley, and examples of other settlements of similar size, shape and date are discussed.

Keywords:

• Kirkleatham
• Iron Age
• open settlement
• roundhouses
• pottery

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to Malcolm Armstrong at Redcar & Cleveland Council for arranging access to the site for excavation. Alistair Galt and James Lawton (AOC Archaeology Group) undertook the geophysical survey and Jackaline Robertson (AOC Archaeology Group) examined the faunal assemblage. Furthermore, I would like to thank Blaise Vyner for commenting on the pottery, Denis Goldring for geological identification, Louise Hutchinson for the pottery drawings and Lester Jones for preparing the final figures. I was assisted on site by Clare and Phil Abramson, Linda Davies, Andy Hoaen, Jenny Parker, Mel Partlett and Bruce Webb-Ireland. I also thank the anonymous journal referee for helpful comments which have improved the paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Stephen J. Sherlock

Stephen Sherlock is an archaeologist working in Yorkshire and across north-east England for the last forty years. Whilst having a wide-ranging interest in history and archaeology, he has focused his research on the landscapes of north-east Yorkshire and written extensively on the Iron Age and Anglo-Saxon periods.