Monument record 4529/1 - Probable Roman settlement, west of Overstone Grange

Roman pottery associated with large areas of stone and pebbles noted at three separate, but closely situated, sites during fieldwalking survey. Subsequent geophysical survey suggested that they are possibly part of an extensive linear, ladder settlement extending over an area of c9ha. Trial trench evaluation undertaken at the western limit of these remains was inconclusive; some of the only pottery found dated to the 12th to the 14th centuries.

{1} Three Romano-British occupation sites were found at SP 793677, SP 795678 and SP 797679. The first and third had large areas of pebbles and stones associated;

{2} Roman pottery associated with large areas of stone and pebbles has been noted at three separate sites.

{3} An extensive geophysical survey was undertaken over an area of c162ha of land. One of the most extensive archaeological sites detected covered an area of c9ha, comprising anomalies that appear to represent a rectilinear field system, laid out either side of a central routeway with an east-west alignment, possibly representing a Romano-British laffer settlement.

{4} Trial trench excavation undertaken in 2014 only investigated the extreme western edge of the settlement identified by the preceding geophysical survey. Two trenches identified a series of ditches. Pottery dating to the 12th to 14th centuries was found in one.

{7} Listed in a gazetteer of Roman villas.

<1> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1975, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1974, 10/158 (checked) (Report). SNN41605.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.122 Site 3-5 (Series). SNN77380.

<3> Railton, M., 2013, Moulton Heights, Moulton, Northampton: Geophysical Survey Report (Report). SNN109451.

<4> Moore, B., 2014, Moulton Heights, Moulton, Northampton: Archaeological evaluation report, 2014 (Report). SNN111026.

<5> Orzechowski, K & Muldowney, L., 2018, Archaeological trial trench evaluation at Moulton Heights, Moulton, Northampton (Phase 2), February-March 2018 (Report). SNN111590.

<6> Crank, N. (Editor), 2019, South Midlands Archaeology (49), p. 79 (Journal). SNN111755.

<7> Scott, E., 1993, A gazetteer of Roman villas in Britain, p. 146/Site NH93 (Monograph). SNN110345.

Record last edited

Jan 10 2024 11:10AM