Monument record 8718 - Romano-British Settlement, Possible Farmstead

Trial trench excavation undertaken in 2012 identified a Roman settlement, possibly a small farmstead. The remains consisted of enclosures, pits, an oven, an occupation layer and a hearth. The pottery mainly dated to the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Further investigation in 2022 revealed further features including a possible buidling.

{1} Trial trench excavation was undertaken on land at 9 High Street. A Roman settlement, probably a small farmstead, was encountered in the central and southern part of the site. It appears to have prospered in the C2nd and C3rd AD, and probably abandoned in the C4th. Three, possibly four, relatively large ditches were identified, likely to form enclosures surrounding habitation and agricultural activity. Although no remains of buildings or other structures were found the quantity and good condition of pottery recovered suggests that dwellings were located nearby. The oven indicates domestic occupation, probably used for cooking food as indicated by the charred barley remains. This is likely to have been placed away from buildings because of the fire risk so the area exposed, with the Roman pits, may have represented a ‘back yard’. Further evidence of habitation is provided by the occupation layer at the south end of the site.

{3} Archaeological excavation of two house plots was undertaken in 2022. In the southern plot a number of Romano-British features were identified including three linear features, an occupation layer and a probable fire-pit/hearth. One of the linear features had steep sides and a flat base and is considered to be a beam slot. Pottery from the feature dated to the 2nd to 3rd centuries as well as fragments of oven bars/fire-bricks. Two parallel gullies were also identified; both contained Roman pottery. In the northern plot, there was a deep layer of post-medieval overburden/quarry disturbance. A small island of Romano-British archaeology had survived comprising a cobbled surface.

<1> Carlyle S., 2012, Land at 9 High Street, Earls Barton, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation, p.9-15, Fig.3 (checked) (Report). SNN109416.

<2> Horne B. (Editor), 2014, South Midlands Archaeology (44), p. 34 (Journal). SNN109842.

<3> Wilson, M, 2022, Romano-British Rural Occupation in Earls Barton village, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Investigation 2022, https://doi.org/10.5284/1113089 (Report). SNN114557.

<4> Crank, N. (Editor), 2023, South Midlands Archaeology (53), P. 76 (Journal). SNN116414.

Record last edited

Jul 23 2024 3:01PM