Monument record 631/1 - Roman Barrow Cemetery, Borough Hill

The presence of a group of 18 round barrows on Borough Hill was first recorded in the 18th century by Morton. Bridges also described a group of 18, but by 1823 when they were opened up by Baker, only 14 remained. Of these, seven yielded cremation burials, some with urns and some in cists. The barrows are considered to be Roman in date.

{1} Roman barrows lay on the summit at 195m above OD. In the early 18th century, Morton wrote that there were 18 ‘tumuli’ in a north - south row, with small depressions in their summits. Baker noted that some were dug into, without any recorded results, around 1800. By 1823 only 14 remained and all had been ploughed over. In that year Baker trenched all the main barrows. His map shows all the 14, 11 of which were in a roughly N.–S. line, with three more to the E. It is not possible to identify these exactly with his descriptions of the excavation though he appears to have numbered them from north to south. No trace of them remains on the ground today.

Barrow (SP 58916276), Baker's (1), at the N end of group, described as very slight. Nothing was found in it and Baker doubted if it was a barrow.

Barrow (SP 58916275), Baker's (2), described as very slight. Nothing was found in it and again Baker doubted if it was a barrow.

Barrow (SP 58916273), Baker's (3). Baker discovered charcoal and bones and a cist with a covering stone.

Barrow (SP 58916271), Baker's (4). Baker found nothing.

Barrow (SP 58916269), Baker's (5), and in 1823 the 'most prominent' of the group with a diameter of 9.8m (32 ft) and nearly 1.5m (5 ft) high. It covered an area of black earth and was probably constructed of stone but it had been dug into earlier.

Barrow (SP 58916268), Baker's (6). It was constructed of earth and covered four separate burials, all cremations contained in urns and three with other vessels near them. Baker described this as a 'family barrow'. All the pottery survives.

Barrow (SP 58916266), Baker's (7). Baker described it as 'doubtful or had been previously examined'.

Barrow (?)(SP 58916265), Baker's (8), and one of the most 'conspicuous'. It consisted of a cairn of stones 0.6m (2 ft) thick, below which was a layer of dark earth almost 0.3m (1 ft) thick. This covered a circular area 1.2 m (4 ft) in diam, paved with small stones on which were spread burnt ashes and bones mixed with red
earth and charcoal. At its E end was a 'rude buckle of brass' as well as a considerable quantity of the same metal, much corroded.

Barrow (?)(SP 58916263), Baker's (9), at least 1m (3 ft 6in) high, covering a floor of burnt earth, charcoal, and bones, presenting 'the appearance rather of the spot where the body was burnt than of the actual place of enterment.

Barrows (?)(SP 58926264), Baker's (10),(11) and (12). All 'furnished traces of the rites of cremation, but nothing of particular detail'.

Barrow (?)(SP 58916261), Baker's (13), at least 0.6m (2 ft) high. It contained a small urn covered with five 'rude stones of the neighbourhood'. On the E side of the urn was a considerable amount of burnt earth and charcoal which Baker suggested was the 'place of cremation' The urn survives.

Barrow (?)(SP 58916260), Baker's (14), only 0.3m (1 ft) high. Below the mound and dug about 1m (3 ft 6 in) into the original ground surface was a circular stoned-lined cist, 1m (3 ft 6 in) in diam. In it was a small urn, containing a cremation burial, associated with a small handled vessle and a samian dish. These three items survive. Near by were corroded nails and fragments of iron.

All the surviving pottery, eleven complete pots, can be assigned to individual barrows. It all appears to be Roman, 2nd-century in date. In addition there is a small Roman bronze cooking pot of the 'Eastland' type {12} which was not mentioned in Baker's account of the barrows but was included by Edgar {10} in the pottery from the excavation.

{4}Near the centre of large hillfort & over 400m to south of villa are remains of RB barrow cemetery; in early C18th were 18 mounds mostly aligned in north-south running row along natural contour of hill; in C19th levelled by ploughing; trial excn in 1991 demonstrated survival below ground; some of the barrows were partially excn in 1823 with discovery of human cremations & pottery vessels dating from C2nd AD;

{8} In 1991 the line of the barrows could only be seen as a barely discernible low ridge. Four of the barrow ditches were located in the evaluation trenches - the barrow ditches were relatively shallow, up to 70cm deep below the modern surface. [SMR note: unable to pinpoint which barrows were sampled due to lack of accurate plan in report]

{9} The 'Invertible cup' illustrated by William Edgar in Borough Hill and its History 1923 is held by Northampton Museum. An examination of the item in c1980 showed that the vessel had been restored with plaster and painted to resemble pottery. When this layer was removed a fragmentary pewter chalice was revealed, with a cross incised within the cup. Edgar states that the cup came from Baker's exploration of the Tumuli on Borough Hill. George Baker does not mention the item. The British Museum has been unable to date the item.

{11} Tumuli - 18 mentioned by Morton {2}. By 1823, 4 of these had disappeared. The remaining 14 were opened by Baker in October 1823 {3}. (see his plan - AO:60:382:3 on SP 56 SE 6 - hence the group is centred at SP 5891 6268). Four proved unproductive and three of these were considered doubtful. The rest yielded cremations, some with urns and some in cists.
The pottery, illustrated by Baker and also by Edgar {10}, (see AO:60:381:6) is now in the Northampton Museum. Both these authorities considered that the finds included Roman and pre-Roman wares. Although it seems likely that the Roman cremations were generally intrusive, at least in the case of Baker's No. 14 the original cremation in a circular cist containing a patera of Samian ware was clearly Roman. The group has entirely disappeared.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.66 site 4-17 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<2> Morton J., 1712, The Natural History of Northamptonshire, p.520 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10113.

<3> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.346-7 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<4> English Heritage, 1994, English Heritage Scheduling Notification, SAM 17145 (part checked) (Report). SNN1342.

<5> BROWN A.E., 1977, The Roman Barrow Cemetery on Borough Hill, Daventry, 12/188 (checked) (Article). SNN15315.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP56SE17 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<7> The Archaeological Journal, 35/267 (checked) (Journal). SNN15197.

<8> Jackson D, 1996-7, Further Evaluation at Borough Hill, Daventry, Northants, p.6 (checked) (Article). SNN104072.

<9> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1981, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1980, p207 Daventry (unchecked) (Article). SNN100418.

<10> Edgar W., 1923, Borough Hill & Its History, (unchecked) (Book). SNN47010.

<11> Chapman, DJ, 1960, Field Investigators Comments (Note). SNN112959.

<12> 1966, Jarbruch des Romish-Germanischen Zentralmuseum, Mainz, p. 67-164 (Journal). SNN115399.

Record last edited

Aug 30 2023 1:21PM