Monument record 4946/5 - Probable Late Roman ladder enclosure and cemetery, Duston Roman Town

Archaeological watching brief undertaken in 1976 identified a ladder enclosure. At least 12 inhumations were recorded immediately to the south of the ladder. At least two, but possibly three, of the burials had been decapitated. One of the burials had a 3-4th century coin in its mouth.

{1} Series of ditches associated with at least 12 burials centred on SP73256028. At least two burials were decapitated. Later says that at least 16 skeletons and a cremation were revealed, and that four burials had been decapitated [this is probably a summary and includes those recorded as monument 4946/0/5]. Also describes the latter as probably late Roman in date (p.256).

{2} Burials were probably late Roman date.

{3} The excavations and watching briefs of the 1970s further indicate that this was not the only focus for burial at Duston. A watching brief on a series of rectilinear compounds and enclosures thought to lie at the southern periphery of the site recorded a group of at least 12 inhumations aligned west-south-west to east-north-east alongside a major ditched boundary. Although poorly dated (one had a C3rd-C4th coin in its mouth) these late Roman burials may well have been part of a larger but now mostly truncated or destroyed cemetery on the southern edge of the town. Several were decapitated, a tradition seen at other towns within the region and particularly associated with so-called boundary burials found both around and within settlements.

{4} Archaeological watching brief undertaken in 1976 identified a ladder enclosure formed of two large parallel ditches with ditched 'rung's forming plots. No dating evidence appears to have been recovered although several sections were cut across the ditches. To the south of the enclosure were at least 12 burials of which at least were decapitated. A child burial may have also been decapitated. One burial had a 3-4th century coin in its mouth. A cremation, slightly further to the west, had been placed in a 1st century butt beaker and analysis indicated that it was of a child with some pig remains. To the north of the ladder enclosure further individual burials included a single, supine burial possibly in a wooden coffin, a double inhumation burial, both supine. The orientation of the double burial might suggest a boundary burial.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.254+256 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<2> Harman et al., 1981, Burials, Bodies and Beheadings in Romano-British and Anglo-Saxon Cemeteries, p.166 (unchecked) (Article). SNN46307.

<3> Taylor J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Duston (Roman), p.10-11 (checked) (Report). SNN103115.

<4> Taylor J., 2002, Duston Notes from John Williams archive on the Duston Excavation, (checked) (Notes). SNN103376.

Record last edited

Feb 26 2026 3:15PM