Monument record 7072/1 - Romano-British settlement and possible shrines, Glapthorn Road

Multiple phases of archaeological evaluation and subsequent excavation undertaken in advance of housing development have identified an Iron Age and Roman settlement and possible religious focus. A few dispersed pits are dated to the late Bronze Age/early Iron Age and at least five roundhouse ring ditches mark the origin of a late Iron Age/early Roman settlement of the mid-first century AD. A possible shrine and a number of cremation burials also date to this period. By the early second century, the settlement underwent significant reorganisation and a system of ditched enclosures had been created. To the west, a series of post-built structures, possibly barns, were established. In the later 2nd/early 3rd century AD, two stone-founded buildings were constructed in the western part of the settlement; one may have been a further shrine. The settlement expanded in the early third century with the creation of a trackway, with modification of the system continuing through the fourth century. In the late-third century a rectilinear enclosure was created, at least partially delineated by a wall and lined internally with substantial postholes. Little evidence of contemporary activity was found and it is possible the area was devoted to religious activity. This enclosure opened to the east into two ditched enclosures, which in the fourth century contained a T-shaped corn drier and other ovens/hearths.

{2} During the first stage of evaluation, fieldwalking results showed a concentration of Romano-British pottery, together with building material including a piece of tegula. In the western part of the evaluation area. A metal-detecting reconnaissance survey of the fieldwalked area produced metal finds which included a Roman brooch.

{4} The geophysical survey covered an area of 1.8ha encompassing the principal artefact concentration recorded during 1996, and revealed traces of a complex enclosure system arranged either side of an east-west aligned trackway. Trial excavations appear to confirm that the main focus of settlement is associated with the rectangular enclosure and to the west of the area.
Elsewhere only isolated features were identified, perhaps related to field activities. Features identified included a possible aisled building.

{8} Excavation of the eastern area of the settlement was undertaken in 1999. The first phase on the site comprised two postholes and a single large oval shaped pit, containing 25 sherds of Iron Age pottery. These were uncovered in the south-east corner of the site as isolated features. A roundhouse ring ditch marks the origin of a late Iron Age/early Roman settlement of the mid-first century AD. Traces of other curvilinear ring ditches survive to the north and east. By the early second century a system of ditched enclosures had been created replacing the sparse, earlier 1st century features. The enclosures showed evidence of having been re-cut on several occasions.

Some time in the mid 2nd century or later larger systems of field boundaries and enclosures replaced these earlier enclosures. The new enclosures were placed either side of a droveway.
Two foci of activity have been identified. The first of these comprises a system of ditches, which re-cut and substantially enlarged the previous landscape pattern to the south. Several of the ditches had evidence of re-cutting. This system of ditches clearly represents more than one phase, but there is insufficient dating or stratigraphy to provide any coherent form.
The second focus of activity is located to the north of the droveway. The ditches formed the southern side of a large enclosure, which was subsequently recut to encroach upon the droveway. It contained a large broad opening, which was later blocked. The enclosure had been divided by the insertion of a north-south ditch, which effectivley subdivided the enclosure into two unequal land parcels, possibly suggesting different functional zones. Structural activity was recovered in the north-east corner of this enclosure comprising the remnants of a stone spread, postholes and a stone lined hearth. This activity was situated near a small entrance, which had been consolidated with a metalled surface.
Some of the gullies dated to the 2nd century were structural in appearance, however, due to later truncation no building plans could be identified. An L-shaped slot filled with limestone fragments may have been part of the foundations of a structure, or the stones may also have acted as a drain. A well/ large pit was situated within the droveway during the late 2nd century. Two of the vessels from the well comprised a colour-coated jar and a single handled flagon decorated with white barbotine trailed decoration.

In the 4th century the northern enclosures were abandoned and the southern enclosures were again re-organised. Initially, some of the ditches from the previous phase may have been retained, but were substantially added to and enlarged to create three rectangular enclosures. As the enclosures share an open corner it seems likely that they were contemporary with one another.
The main enclosure was only partly exposed within the the south-west corner of the excavation. The enclosure was defined by a combination of stone walls and wooden fences. Within this enclosure, in the last phase, structural activity comprised two individual lines of equally spaced postholes of unknown function as well as other postholes and hearths.
It was initially suggested that these postholes and related stone walls would have formed an aisled building. However, subsequent analysis of the data would indicate that these in fact do not exist. The other enclosures were defined by ditches. The two ditched enclosures contained a T-shaped corn drier and other ovens/hearths in the 4th century AD. The largest enclosure measured up to 50m by 32m externally and enclosed an internal area of some 0.31ha. The smaller walled enclosure formed an annexe to the south and measured 32m by 16m.

{11} Geophysical survey of land to the west of the site excavated in 1999 identified several strong anomalies to the east of the site that seem to form an enclosure extending eastward out of the survey area and containing a small circular enclosure possibly associated with a dwelling. A further enclosure may also have been present to the south, although there was a high level of magnetic disturbance created by the housing development to the east.

{12} Trial trench excavation of land west of the site excavated in 1999 identified Roman features within the north-eastern and eastern sectors of the site (adjacent to the known Roman farmstead). The features were primarily ditches, some probably forming the enclosure identified by the earlier geophysical survey, but pits, gullies and a ring ditch were also recorded. The pottery spanned the period from the late 1st century through to the 4th centuries AD with a notable focus in the 2nd century AD.

{13} Excavation of the western side of the settlement was undertaken in 2012. The earliest phase, dating to the 1st century, comprised four ring gullies representing roundhouses, a postulated shrine, ditched features and five cremation burials. The settlement was reorganised in the 2nd and early 3rd centuries with rectangular post-built buildings possibly representing barns and the construction of a second shrine which appears to have replaced the earlier one. The settlement was enclosed with boundary ditches at this time. Modifications to the line of the settlement boundary was undertaken through the 3rd and 4th centuries but the focus of domestic and religious activity may have shifted elsewhere at this time. The finds assemblage from the site included Late Iron Age and Romano-British pottery, animal bone, metalwork and worked bone. A number of Roman coins and fragments of vessel glass were also found.

<1> WEBSTER M., 1996, Oundle, Glapthorn Road: Fieldwalking & Metal detecting, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49268.

<2> Northamptonshire Archaeology, 1996, Archaeological fieldwalking survey and metal detecting survey, Glapthorn Road, Oundle- Stage 1, November 1996 (Report). SNN111822.

<3> Chapman A., 1996-97, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1996-7, p.216 Oundle (checked) (Notes). SNN104580.

<4> MASTERS P., 1998, Archaeological Evaluation at The Rear of The George Inn, Glapthorn Road, Oundle - Stage 2, s.6.5-7 (checked) (Report). SNN74255.

<5> Webster M., 1999, Glapthorn Road, Oundle, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Watching Brief, p.1-2 (checked) (Report). SNN43508.

<6> ESMONDE CLEARY S., 2000, Roman Britain in 1999 (Northamptonshire entries), 31/408 (checked) (Article). SNN108313.

<7> 2000-01, Oundle, Glapthorn Road, (checked) (Note). SNN103986.

<8> Maull A.; Masters P., 2002, Roman Settlement on Land West of Glapthorn Road, Oundle, Northamptonshire, 1999-2001, p.3-4 (checked) (Report). SNN104547.

<9> Maull A.; Masters P., 2004, Excavation of a Roman Farmstead on land west of Glapthorn Road, Oundle, Northamptonshire 1999-2001, (unchecked) (Report). SNN104941.

<10> Maull, A & Masters, P, 2005, A Roman farmstead and Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Glapthorn Road, Oundle, (unchecked) (Article). SNN112192.

<11> Stowe, S. & Graham, C., 2009, Creed Road, Oundle: Geophysical Survey Report, p.7 (checked) (Report). SNN107457.

<12> Schofield, T. & Davies, C., 2009, Site at Creed Road, Oundle, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation, (checked) (Report). SNN107458.

<13> Trimble, G, 2015, Excavation of a Romano-British Settlement on land off Creed Road, Oundle, Northamptonshire (OUCR12), Assessment Report and Updated Project Design (Report). SNN112396.

Record last edited

Sep 24 2024 2:48PM