Monument record 7052/1/1 - Probable Roman Fort/Marching Camp, Barn Farm

Remains of a Roman military marching camp, probably only occupied for a short period of time. Trial trenching in 2011 confirmed the existence of a large ditch with a characteristic V-shaped profile. Archaeological watching brief in 2012 revealed internal structures including a pit which was filled with burnt daub, probably from an oven, as well as a group of Iron Age coins and an antler fragment.

{1} Rectilinear cropmark interpreted as a possible Roman fort. The feature extends into three fields occupying a commanding hill-top position with c.270 degree views to the east, north and west. Two of the fields have been subject to cursory fieldwalking examination in failing afternoon light. Principally a scatter of modern brick and slate with 23 sherds of medieval/post medieval pottery also recovered. Only one sherd of possible grey fabric pottery was recovered and this is of uncertain date. Two low scarps were noted in the fields, probably former plough headlands, but the one to the south is unusually prominent.

{4} The geophysical survey has found no evidence for a Roman fort within the survey area and a very limited amount of possible archaeological features. Three possible archaeological pits have been identified in the NE of the site; however, these features may have a different origin. The survey has also identified agricultural marks, magnetic debris and magnetic spikes as well as some high resistance anomalies of probably natural origin.

{5} Air photos taken in 1996 appeared to show two sides of a rectilinear cropmark with a quarter-circle corner and possible entrance on the south-east side. The cropmark spreads over three fields and has been interpreted as a possible Roman fort. Fieldwalking in late 1996 revealed nothing to support this theory. A 1997 report by Meek included a plan suggesting a further rectilinear cropmark inside the entrance of the main cropmark, although no reference to the source of this cropmark information was included. Further evaluative work was undertaken during the construction of a grain store located opposite the possible entranceway, c.40m outside the cropmark to the south-east. The work comprised the excavation of three trenches as well as a comprehensive metal detecting survey of the removed soil. However no deposits relating to Roman activity were observed and only modern debris recorded.
The current evaluation has served to confirm the presence of a large ditched feature as suggested by cropmark evidence, as well as supporting the findings of geophysics which suggested that there was limited evidence of archaeological deposits within the area of the cropmark itself.
A single, large cut feature was recorded towards the south-west end of Trench 3, which corresponded with the projected line of the cropmark on a north-east to south-west orientation. The feature presumably represents part of a square-ended ditch terminal that measured more than 3.2m in length x more than 3.3m wide x more than 0.75m deep. The feature was only partly excavated because of disturbance by a modern water-filled field drain. The south-eastern side of the ditch was relatively steep and straight with an incline of c.45 degrees. Only a small portion of the terminal end was excavated that appeared to be steeper in form. The base of the feature was not reached. No finds were recovered.
A large linear ditch was recorded c.6m from the north-east end of Trench 4 that corresponded precisely with the projected line of the cropmark on a north-east to south-west orientation. The feature was 2.2m wide x 1.73m deep and spanned the width of the trench. Its sides were very steep and ‘V’ shaped with an incline of 45-70 degrees, and breaking almost vertically towards the base, which was very narrow and flat. As with the terminal in Trench 3, the feature contained two separately identifiable fills. A small quantity of animal bone was recovered.
The profile of the excavated ditch conforms to the classic ‘V’ shaped ‘fossa fastigata’ described by the Roman writer Hyginus. The profile also exhibited the ‘ankle breaker’ or ‘cleaning slot’, a characteristic often ascribed to military ditches but rarely found.
The form of the two-sides of the cropmark combined with the excavated evidence supports the interpretation of a Roman military marching camp. The excavated ditch terminal also corresponds with the cropmark evidence. The cropmark does not show the complete plan of the monument, but comparison with other examples suggests that it would be considerably larger than currently recorded, although possibly limited by topography. Further discussion and comparison with other recorded examples of marching camps p.14-18.

{7} An archaeological watching brief was undertaken in 2012 during the groundworks for a circular barn which was located on the presumed interior of the Roman marching camp and revealed pits, gullies, post holes and rows of stake-holes, dating predominantly to the late Iron Age/Roman transitional period. Although there are hints of more than one phase of activity at the site, many of the features are likely to be associated with the marching camp. One of the pits was thought to represent an oven, which probably originally had a wattle and daub structure. A group of late Iron Age coins and an antler fragment were deposited at the base of the feature. The coins appear to be of the Corieltavi who occupied the East Midlands in the Iron Age, and are the Volisios type. Inscribed Corieltavi coins are dated to the first half of the C1st AD, possibly AD 30s-50s. The coins appear to have been heated and may therefore provide a terminus post quem for the construction of the feature.
It is highly likely that the camp was in use for only a short period of time and therefore would not be expected to generate large amounts of cultural material in the same way as a long standing settlement. The central area would probably have been occupied by the administrative function with headquarters, stores etc and around this would have been lines of tents occupying the forward and rearward portions of the defences. It is therefore possible that the stakeholes found at the site, which are clearly aligned in rows, may represent the locations of some of these structures. Further discussion of the marching camp is presented, along with specialist finds reporting.

{9} Possible Post Medieval Field Boundary (Morphed Aerial Archaeology Interpretation). Crop/soilmark: Unconfirmed overlay.

{10} Geophysical survey undertaken in 2020 identified several potential archaeological anomalies, including a possible oven, stakehole alignment and linear features, that may be associated with the Roman camp.

{11} Strip, map and sample excavation involved stripping an area prior to the construction of a new barn. The area was disturbed by furrows and plough scars but a small number of features were identified in the north-eastern corner and western edge of the stripped area. Most of the features were likely to be post-medieval or modern in origin, but two shallow postholes on the western edge of the stripped area had a spacing that matched the standard 8-man tent (contubernium) used by the Roman military and were orientated with the outer camp ditch. A single sherd of Roman pottery was found in one of the postholes.

<1> CADMAN G.E., 1996, SMR Report Form, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49704.

<2> MEEK J., 1997, An Archaeological Evaluation of A Proposed Grainstore at Weston By Welland, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN62106.

<3> Welfare H.; Swan V., 1995, Roman Camps in England: The Field Archaeology, (unchecked) (Book). SNN109945.

<4> Haddrell S., 2011, Geophysical Survey Report: Weston by Welland, Northamptonshire, (checked) (Report). SNN107887.

<5> Harvey J., 2011, An Archaeological Evaluation at Barn Farm, Weston by Welland, Northamptonshire, 2011, p.2 (checked) (Report). SNN108338.

<6> Wilson R., 1995, Roman Forts: An Illustrated Introduction to The Garrison Posts of Roman Britain, (unchecked) (Book). SNN109946.

<7> Browning J., 2012, An Archaeological Strip, Map and Sample Excavation at Barn Farm, Weston by Welland, Northamptonshire, 2012, p.16-19 (checked) (Report). SNN109716.

<8> Johnson A., 1983, Roman Forts of the 1st and 2nd Centuries AD in Britain and the German Provinces, (unchecked) (Book). SNN109944.

<9> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, Used with NMR & CUCAP collections (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN104822.

<10> Falcus, B J, 2020, Geophysical Survey Report of Barn Farm, Weston by Welland, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN112298.

<11> Huxley, R, 2020, An Archaeological Strip, Map and Sample Excavation at Barn Farm, Weston by Welland, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN112561.

<12> Crank, N. (Editor), 2021, South Midlands Archaeology (51), p. 70 (Journal). SNN113326.

<13> Chapman, E M, Hunter, F, Wilson, P, and Booth, P, 2013, Roman Britain in 2012: Sites Explored, p. 312 (Article). SNN113612.

Record last edited

May 2 2024 11:09AM