Monument record 726/0/160 - Possible Late C1st Romano-British Roundhouse
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Summary
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Type and Period (5)
Full Description
{2} Cutting the subsoil which overlay a yellow brown gritty clay natural, was a curving gully along with two postholes and two small pits. A sub-circular pit c.1m in diameter x 0.3m deep appears to have been the first feature on site. A single pottery sherd from its fill is late C1st to early C2nd.
This pit was cut by a narrow gully which ran in an east direction from the west baulk and curved to the north-east before going into the east baulk. It had a U-shaped profile with a width if 0.5m and a depth of 0.15-0.2m and a flattish base. The 25 sherds of pottery recovered from the fill are dated later first/earlier second century, and the Samian suggests a date of 80-100AD.
Two aceramic postholes lay to the north, side by side in a larger hollow filled with compacted fine gravels, pebbles and larger cobbles up to 150mm. The post holes only survived to a depth of 80mm maximum and do not appear to have post pipes. A small aceramic shallow oval pit was also just to the north of the gully. It measured 1.06m x 0.5-0.65m with a depth of 0.12m.
In the north of the trench there may have been a primary surface contemporary with these features. It filled a shallow but distinct hollow in the subsoil. The pottery recovered is dated to the second half of the C1st into the earlier C2nd, with Samian running from c.75-90 AD through to the Hadrianic period.
No definite overall pattern can be ascertained form these features. The curving gully does not appear to have been a building slot. The pottery only gives a post quem date and therefore its lateness first/early second makes it unlikely though not impossible to have been a drainage ring gully of an Iron Age type house. The gully has a diameter of 13-15m, which is large. There is no record of any walling, though postholes and the possible floor surface are within the gully and may therefore have been part of a house.
{3} Excavations in 1997 discovered part of a probable timber round house dating to the later first century that appears to have been demolished by the early/middle second century.
<1> Atkins R.; Chapman A., 2002, Excavation of a Roman Settlement at Sponne School, Towcester, 1997, (unchecked) (Article). SNN103874.
<2> Woodfield C.; Atkins R., 2000, Archaeological Excavation At Sponne School, Towcester, Northamptonshire June-July 1997, p.9-10 (checked) (Report). SNN100281.
<3> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Laughton J.; Steadman S.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Towcester, Section 3.3.2 (checked) (Report). SNN103132.
Sources/Archives (3)
- <1> SNN103874 Article: Atkins R.; Chapman A.. 2002. Excavation of a Roman Settlement at Sponne School, Towcester, 1997. Northamptonshire Archaeology. 30. N.A.S.. (unchecked).
- <2> SNN100281 Report: Woodfield C.; Atkins R.. 2000. Archaeological Excavation At Sponne School, Towcester, Northamptonshire June-July 1997. Northamptonshire Archaeology Fieldwork Reports. N.C.C.. p.9-10 (checked).
- <3> SNN103132 Report: Taylor J.; Foard G.; Laughton J.; Steadman S.; Ballinger J.. 2002. Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Towcester. NCC. Section 3.3.2 (checked).
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Location
Grid reference | SP 69114 48794 (point) Approximate |
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Civil Parish | TOWCESTER, West Northamptonshire (formerly South Northants District) |
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Other Statuses/References
- None recorded
Record last edited
Feb 24 2015 7:11PM