Monument record 6254/1 - Early Romano-British field system

Archaeological investigation identified a trackway and ditches dating from the late 1st century to early 2nd century AD, which were contemporary with enclosures recorded to the south. They went out of use in the early 2nd century. Further excavation in 2013 to the north identified further field boundaries, some possibly as early as the late Iron Age.

{1} Archaeological evaluation recorded a small number of archaeological features, comprising ditches, pits, furrows and a spread of stones. There was a possible ring gully and a nearby ditch and both contained Roman pottery. Roman pottery was also recovered from a further ditch. Further undated features were also recorded and a wide shallow feature contained a sherd of possible Anglo-Saxon pottery. Two undated parallel ditches with possible wheel ruts and stone surface between them could represent a previously postulated Roman Road.

{3} Archaeological excavation identified a trackway and ditches forming a probable field system that had fallen out of use in the early 2nd century. Two small gullies formed an L-shape possibly defining a small sub-rectangular enclosure. Pottery from the gullies dated to the late 1st to early 2nd centuries. The metalled trackway was aligned NW-SE, 3.5m wide and composed of compacted stone including limestone fragments, rounded stones and gravel. The deposits contained Roman pottery of late 1st to early 2nd century date, fired clay and animal bone, including the remains of an exceptionally large animal, probably a plough ox. The width of the trackway suggests it would have been used by both pedestrian and cart traffic. The exact course of the trackway beyond the limits of excavation is not known but it may have linked the enclosures to the south to an as yet unidentified settlement to the north. The presence of Anglo-Saxon features (previously identified during the evaluation) was not supported by the excavation.

The scarcity and poor preservation of environmental evidence appears to indicate that, during the early Roman period, the sampled features were entirely peripheral to any foci of either domestic or agricultural activity, with the ditches probably facilitating land drainage or acting as field boundaries.

{5} In late April and early May 2013 an archaeological strip, map and sample investigation was
undertaken on land at South Barn, Stratford Road in advance of the construction of a new dwelling on the site. The investigation revealed four phases of field boundaries. The earliest two phases, from
one of which a small assemblage of abraded, possibly Iron Age pottery, was recovered, may be Iron Age or Roman in date

<1> Wright, J., 2010, Land off Stratford Road, Deanshanger, Northamptonshire: Archaeological evaluation, p.7-9 (checked) (Report). SNN108067.

<2> Horne B. (Editor), 2011, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter, 41/27 (checked) (Journal). SNN108274.

<3> Clarke, J., 2012, Archaeological Excavation of Land North of Stratford Road, Deanshanger, Northamptonshire November- December 2011 (Report). SNN108741.

<4> Chapman P. (Ed.), 2012, Archaeology in Northamptonshire, 2010, 37/200, 205 (checked) (Article). SNN108374.

<5> James, P., 2013, Land at South Barn, Stratford Road, Deanshanger, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Strip, Map and Sample Investigation, p.6 (checked) (Report). SNN109104.

Record last edited

Jun 21 2021 10:04AM