SNN117161 - Soil report on Towcester, Northamptonshire (sewer trench across north defences)

In 1982 a sample of 'Dark Earth' from a 1978 excavation of Roman Towcester, Northamptonshire (excavator Charmian Woodfield) was received. The sample originated from a 'sterile layer' (layer 12) overlying a late Antonine rampart and a pit dated to about 185 AD on Samian pottery evidence (Charmian Woodfield, pers comm). As there was a general lack of 3rd century pottery in the town, the excavator asked the question of what may have been going on at this time, to produce this 'sterile layer' or 'dark earth' deposit.