Monument record 726/36 - Roman cemetery

Cemetery occupying a roughly rectangular area. The major period of activity appears to have been in the 2nd century. Graves initially appear to have been laid out in rows, subsequently becoming more haphazard

{1} Finds recovered during the construction of a car park in 1968 included two skeletons; info: T Shirley;

{2} Three 3rd-4th century inhumations and the western boundary ditch were discovered during excavations at Radstone Technology Site. The burials form a characteristic late Roman extra-mural cemetery group. As a result of this a subsequent excavation was undertaken that revealed a further 25 burials, a possible southern boundary to the cemetery and evidence of 1st-2nd century activity.

{4} A total of 28 individuals from 2nd to 4th century inhumation burials were excavated at the former Radstone technology site. The cemetery occupies a roughly rectangular area defined by ditches. The ditches did not appear to form an enclosure deliberately laid out for the cemetery, but represented earlier land boundaries.

The lack of dating in the graves meant the development of the cemetery could not traced in detail, although initially the graves seem to have been laid out in rows (and contained 2nd century pottery), subsequently becoming more haphazard in layout. Of the 28 burials up to eight may have been buried in coffins. 17 inhumations were extended and supine, six were extended and prone and two may have been buried on their sides. The majority were buried along a broad north-south orientation. Two skeletons may have been decapitated. An adult female had her head placed over her feet, another invididual had the head placed face downwards to the right of the right knee. There was no osteological evidence for decapitation in either skeleton. Grave goods were recovered from five burials.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.156/Site 3 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> Sims M.; Bashford R., 2004, Radstone Technology Site, Towcester, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN104970.

<3> Mortimer, S., 2004, Burials at Radstone Technology site, Towcester, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN107402.

<4> Poole, C. & Loe, L., 2015, Radstone Technology Park, Towcester, Northamptonshire: Archaeological excavation report (Report). SNN110079.

Record last edited

Feb 26 2025 7:57PM