Monument record 1921/1 - Late Romano-British Cemetery, Higham Road

A cemetery containing 29 inhumations (and one empty grave) was established to the north of the enclosure system, respecting existing boundaries. It was in use in the 3rd/4th centuries.

{1} Forty-five inhumations were found within the settlement, 30 of them in a cemetery in one of the northern enclosures. The graves were positioned adjacent to and parallel to the enclosure ditches suggesting that they were contemporary. The cemetery was in use during the late 3rd/4th centuries. In the majority of the graves the body had been laid out in a supine position. There were, however, single examples of crouched and prone burials. Two bodies had been decapitated with the head placed between the lower legs in one case and to the side of the lower leg in the other. Three examples of multiple burials within the same grave were identified. The overall spacing of the graves and the absence of intercutting suggest that there was no real pressure on space within the cemetery. Therefore, the occurrence of multiple burials like these on a rural settlement seems particularly unusual, especially as this practice is more common in urban cemeteries in Roman Britain. For obvious reasons the graves are referred to as “double-” and “triple-deckers”. In the case of the triple-decker three coins were found at the bottom of the grave, perhaps suggesting that the three people buried in it had died around the same time. Ten graves produced evidence for the presence of a coffin in the form of coffin nails and fittings, the position of the body within the grave, and the grave shape. A few of the graves produced evidence for the protection of the body by some other means, eg stone blocks placed around the head and feet which presumably supported a timber cover. Pottery vessels, coins and joints of meat were the commonest grave goods.

A sub-rectangular structure of compacted limestone probably functioned as a foundation for a structure or building, possibly with some sort of association with the cemetery. It may even be the base of a tomb or mausoleum.

{2} A cemetery containing 29 inhumations (and one empty grave) was established to the north of the enclosure system, respecting existing boundaries. (In addition a further 17 inhumations occurred across the settlement to the south of the cemetery.)

<1> Horne B. (Editor), 2012, South Midlands Archaeology (42), p.24 (checked) (Journal). SNN108346.

<2> Preece T; Luke M., 2012, Land Off Higham Road, Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire: Assessment of Potential and Updated Project Design, p.16-18 (part checked) (Report). SNN109937.

Record last edited

Feb 26 2025 8:03PM