Monument record 1721/1 - Probable Romano-British cemetery

There have been local reports of human bone and possible 'gravestones' being ploughed up in the earlier 20th century. During a limited excavation in 1990, five burials were found.

{1} Local reports (including from the landowner), of human bones/skulls being ploughed up. Also reports of 'Roman tombstones' found in the 1930's; these were apparently dumped in the adjacent pond. Reported to D.Windell in 1986. Found in the field centered approximately SP98007310; no accurate location given.

{2} Five burials of late Roman date were found during excavation, located to the south-east of the buildings. Skeletons were laid in a supine postion with their head to either the north-east or north-west.

{3} Of five graves recorded, only four contained intact burials, the fifth having been largely ploughed away. Separate skull fragments were also present in plough deposits some 30m to the west. Among the intact inhumations, one had been cut deeply into a backfilled ironstone quarry and lay in a prone position. A hob-nailed shoe lay beneath the neck. The remaining burials occupied shallow graves in the natural ironstone. The individual bodies were aligned north-east to south-west and had been laid in supine positions. One preserved evidence of a wooden coffin and was accompanied by a small colour-coated jar. Another had been decapitated, with the head placed beside the ankles. All of the burials were late Roman, and appeared to have been located outside the building enclosure.

{4} Trial excavation September 1990; at SP 9810 7317 Iron Age ditches and pits investigated on the southern edge of a Romano-British site at Mallows Cotton, two additional burials and further quarry pit were identified.

{6} The remains of two Roman burials and a further quarry pit were also found within the same trench.

<1> 1986, ORAL REPORT TO SMR, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN50446.

<2> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, p.123 (checked) (Article). SNN104441.

<3> Dix B. (editor), 1986-7, The Raunds Area Project: Second Interim Report, p.17 (checked) (Article). SNN76070.

<4> 1990, SMR REPORT FORM, (unchecked) (Note). SNN49103.

<5> Parry S., 1993, Raunds Area Survey Report, p.109 (unchecked) (Draft). SNN1175.

<6> Parry S.; Webster M., 1991, Scalley Farm, Raunds (Centre SP 9820 7320), p.69 (checked) (Article). SNN108337.

Record last edited

Feb 26 2025 7:49PM