Monument record 9496 - Probable Romano-British settlement, Sywell Aerodrome

A small group of features was identified during topsoil removal at Sywell Aerodrome

{1} The features were clustered towards the centre of the field and it is likely that further settlement remains are preserved below the topsoil. If so, the settlement may be part of a farmstead.

The remains of an oven were aligned north east to south west. The oven consisted of rough ironstone fieldstones laid as two parallel walls, creating a chamber 0.6m wide. At the south west end a short end wall closed the chamber. At the north east end of the oven was the stokehole, which measured 1.1m wide and 0.7m long but was not fully exposed.

Some 3m to the north of the oven was a pitched stone surface which consisted of rough fieldstones of ironstone approx 0.3m x 0.3m in size. These were laid at a 45 degree angle over an area 2.3m wide and more than 5m long. A rough crescent-shape of undressed ironstone fragments to the east, measuring 1.5m in diameter by 0.25-0.3m high, probably represents the truncated remains of a small circular stone structure. The stone surface may have provided a dry working surface adjacent the oven or perhaps was the base of a small shed.
A ditch lay 5m to the south of the oven on an east – west alignment. It was U shaped in profile, 0.87m wide by 0.3m deep.
A small isolated pit lay 90m to the south east. It was circular in plan with steep sides and a flat base and measured 0.75m in diameter by 0.2m deep.

<1> Foard-Colby A., 2007, Archaeological Watching Brief at Sywell Runway, Sywell, Northamptonshire, September-October 2007, (checked) (Report). SNN106026.

<1> Foard-Colby A., 2007, Archaeological Watching Brief at Sywell Runway, Sywell, Northamptonshire, September-October 2007, (checked) (Report). SNN106026.

<2> Foard-Colby A., 2010, An Archaeological Watching Brief at Sywell Aerodrome Runway, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Article). SNN107493.

<3> Chapman P. (Editor), 2008, Archaeology in Northamptonshire in 2007, p.296 (unchecked) (Article). SNN106430.

<4> Horne B. (Editor), 2008, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (38), 38/44 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN106282.

Record last edited

May 1 2018 9:47AM