Monument record 8601/1 - Roman settlement, south of Gayton Road

Trial trench excavation undertaken in 2017 identified Roman settlement remains, represented by ditches, gullies and pits, that had not been observed on an earlier geophysical survey due to changes in local geology. Pottery dated to between 70 AD and 270AD.

{1} Archaeological evaluation undertaken in 2017 has found Roman settlement remains on the west side of
Milton Malsor, to the south of Gayton Road in Field 49. Overall the site measures 220m by 145m and is represented by ditches, gullies and pits which produced pottery dating from between 70 AD and 270AD. An unstratified Roman coin was also found in the field during the work.

This site was not identified in a geophysical survey due to changes in local geology. Most of the remains are oriented north-east to south-west and north-west to south-west which is similar to the current alignment of Gayton Road. The densest concentration of ditches and gullies are located in the northern part of the area and this may have been a focus of the settlement. The ditches may form rectangular land divisions and these could have provided drainage around housing plots. A curved narrow curved gully may be evidence of a ring ditch for a house or an animal enclosure, but this remains undated. A thick soil deposit to the south-east of this area which covering a pit may either be a deposit representing a well-cultivated plot in the settement or the fill of a very large sand extraction pit. Either way the deposit appears to be Roman.

<1> Barton, T., 2018, Rail central, Milton Malsor, Northamptonshire: Archaeological evaluation, Summary report, p. 17-18 & 52-3/ Site 2 (Report). SNN111747.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 7:43PM