Monument record 726/0/79 - Late Romano-British Ditch

{1} A linear ditch extended c.25m down the length of Trench 1, on a north-east to south-west alignment. It had a broad, shallow U-shaped profile, with a flat base, and varied in width between 0.6m and 1.0m, and in depth between 0.18m and 0.24m. Its fill contained sherds of Roman pottery and fragments of animal bone, the former appear to date the ditch to the late Roman period. (This ditch cut three earlier ditches.)
The evaluation has revealed evidence for marginal domestic 'backyard' activity, dating broadly to the Roman period, probably associated with dwellings fronting onto Watling Street. This activity appears to be limited to the northern half of the site, and includes a possible late Roman boundary ditch, perhaps demarkating plots of land.
The Roman deposits are sealed by a buried soil horizon which extends over the whole site. This deposit appears to be similar to the 'dark earth' deposits found on many Roman urban/suburban sites, including other sites in Towcester. This layer appears to be late Roman in date or later, and its formation is probably associated with a change from suburban to agricultural or marginal land use at this time.

<1> Carlyle S.; McAree D.; Leigh D., 2003, Archaeological Evaluation & Watching Brief on Land Off Islington Road, Towcester, Northamptonshire, p.5+9-10 (checked) (Report). SNN102437.

<2> CBA South Midlands Group, 2003, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter, p.56 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN103380.

Record last edited

Feb 23 2015 6:49PM