Monument record 5107 - Romano-British Settlement, Thorplands

Excavation in 1970 and 1974 revealed a Roman settlement indicated by a 3rd to 4th century building with occupation spanning the period 2nd to 4th century. A large quantity of prehistoric lithics were also found

{1} Fragments of worked flint were recovered by R. Hollowell in the 1960s. Further fieldwalking by D. Mynard in May 1970 revealed a dense scatter of prehistoric flints and a scatter of 2nd - 4th century Roman pottery sherds extending over 0.25ha. Building material including stone and tile were concentrated at two points.

Excavation in 1970 and 1974 revealed a Roman settlement.The earliest features were ditches which all contained Roman pottery of chiefly late 1st and 2nd century date but the small quantities involved preclude any more definite dating. The function of these ditches is unclear although they may represent boundary features. One or possibly two circular timber buildings on the same site form the major features of Phase 2. However, no stratigraphic relationship was established between the two. Post holes 40 and 61 suggest an entrance on the south east side. A pit of the mid to late 3rd century was probably c. 10m in diameter and 0.7m deep. It is particularly large to be a rubbish pit but could have been for the excavation or ironstone, for use in construction or for ironworking. A date of mid to late 3rd century is suggested by the find of a single coin of Elagabalus (AD 218-222). Pottery finds from at least 1000 pots is not extravagent. Two burnt clay, bowl shaped features sited outside the buildings. These may possibly be hearths related to the ironworking evidence that was found in the area. The area of burning inside the building may also be a hearth. The hearths and areas of burning found may relate to iron working. The large pit excavated may have been a quarry for ironstone for use in iron working. However there is no scientific proof regarding the feasibility of smelting ironstone on the site.

In the late 3rd century a circular building, 6.5m in diameter with stone foundations and associated with a paved yard, was erected. It remained in use until the late 4th or early 5th century. Finds included evidence for possible iron working, brooches, a bronze ring and other bronze objects, nine bone gaming pieces and a weaving comb. (It should be noted that it is most likely that this building that gave the name to the presumably erroneously named 'Stone Circle Road'). At some point, probably in the late 3rd century, an area of yard was laid down. Possibly the yard only extended over a roughly rectangular area to the south east of the building but it is equally likely that further areas of paving have been lost through plough damage.

{2} Fieldwalking in the 1960s by Hollowell found a dense scatter of worked flints with a wide variety of forms and ranging in date from mesolithic to Bonze Age and 2nd-4th century Romano-British pot sherds extending over 0.25ha. Grid ref: SP78936506

{3} SP 789 650 Excavation in 1970 by D C Mynard revealed a late 3rd century to late 4th century circular limestone building 6m in diameter with a central hearth, a flagstone floor and on the south side a doorway 1.5m wide flanked by a single door post. Outside the door was a compacted yard 6m by 2m which covered an early
2nd century quarry pit backfilled with early 2nd century rubbish. To the east a possible square building and a 2nd to 3rd century yard surface had been destroyed by deep ploughing. The finds, all of a domestic nature, included 2nd to 4th century Roman pottery, iron nails a bronze stud, brooch and ring, a few scraps of glass, a fragment of whetstone and four 3rd century coins. Several hundred Bronze Age flints were also found.

{5} A Roman settlement at Thorplands Farm was excavated in the 1970s. Structures dating from the C2nd to C3rd were found.

<1> HUNTER R.; MYNARD D., 1977, Excavations at Thorplands Near Northampton, 1970 & 1974, p. 97-154 (Article). SNN72347.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, 314-315 (Series). SNN77383.

<3> HOLLOWELL R., 1971, Aerial Photography and Fieldwork in the Upper Nene Valley, 6/16 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN106546.

<4> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1975, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1974, 10/157 (unchecked) (Report). SNN41605.

<5> Muldowney L., 2013, Archaeological Excavation at Booth Rise, Northampton: Assessment Report and Updated Project Design, p.3 (checked) (Report). SNN109176.

<6> UNCERTAIN, 1965, DOE Excavations (Various Years), DOE Archaeological Excavations 1970 69 (D C Mynard) (Series). SNN29211.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 8:05PM