Monument record 6661/0/2 - Possible Romano-British/ Saxon river ford

{1} A localised deposit of cobbles lay at the base of the alluvial clays. It comprised a patchy layer, surviving only one stone thick, of scattered large cobbles and limestone blocks, measuring up to 0.3m in diameter. In plan, the area of stone was seen to extend for at least 20m in all directions, but to the east it terminated and did not continue into the area of deeper river margin silts, although it may have been truncated by later water action on this side. The stone surface is undated. The presence of limestone indicates that this was a laid surface and not a natural accumulation, and it seems likely to have formed part of a surfaced river ford. It is tempting to associate it with the occupation of the Roman settlement and villa complex, which lay on the opposite bank of the river. However, a limestone trackway further to the north was radiocarbon dated to the mid- to late Saxon period. This ford could therefore date to anywhere between the Roman period and the commencement of the major episode of alluviation in the 12th century.

<1> Chapman, A., 2004, Prehistoric palaeochannels and a ring ditch at Stanwick Quarry, Northamptonshire (watching brief 2002-2004) (Article). SNN112189.

<1> Chapman, A., 2004, Prehistoric palaeochannels and a ring ditch at Stanwick Quarry, Northamptonshire (watching brief 2002-2004), p.15 (checked) (Full Report). SNN105065.

<2> CBA South Midlands Group, 2003, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (33), 33/55 (checked) (Journal). SNN103380.

Record last edited

Jan 23 2024 9:34AM