SNN112029 - Archaeological excavation, recording and analysis at Bell Plantation, Towcester, Northamptonshire, April 2019

MOLA Northampton was commissioned by Bell Plantation to carry out archaeological mitigation on land at Bell Plantation, Towcester, Northamptonshire, prior to the erection of a new veterinary building. The preceding evaluation revealed the presence of a post Iron Age human inhumation and Roman features. The present stage of work revealed the expansion of a suburb at Lactodorum located along Watling Street. The first evidence of activity is a late Iron Age or early Roman boundary, redefined in the early Roman period by a ditch with quarrying activity in parts of the site. A re-orientation of boundaries around the mid Roman period, comprising a set of parallel ditches presumably joined Watling Street at right angles, which seems to have defined a routeway. A cluster of postholes lay directly to the north of the routeway and may suggest structure(s) had once fronted this route. A watering hole/well, which contained a notable quantity of domestic waste and a little industrial material, lay directly to the south of the routeway. This deposit may have been a primary assemblage and was dated to the later 2nd century AD. By the middle–late Roman period this occupation and routeway was replaced by a possible enclosure, which was defined by three ditches, and may be parallel to Watling Street. A small quantity of 3rd century pottery was found and it is likely that occupation on the site had ceased by the 4th century.