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Summary

Roman cropmark complex of settlements and field systems over a wide area. Evaluation work has identified the site of a probable villa or farmstead within a large enclosure, alongside other enclosures, pits and structural features.

Full description

Cropmarks visible over a wide area, falling in the parishes of Greatford, Barholm and Stowe, Baston and Langtoft. Ditched enclosures, trackways and field boundaries of settlements and field systems interpreted by Riley as Romano-British. {1}{2}{3}{4}

During a site visit in 1996, centred on TF1011 1227 in Greatford, distinct differences in crop height were observed following the pattern of cropmarks noted on the site from aerial photographs. Additional linear cropmarks to those shown on the photographs were also noted. Significant quantities of Roman pottery, animal bone, oyster shell, limestone fragments and roof tile were observed, suggesting the presence of a Roman building. {5}

Geophysical survey, selective hand augering, test pitting and fieldwalking were carried out in 1997, centred on TF1011 1227. Geophysical survey identified a polygonal enclosure within which were the probable robbing trenches of a substantial rectilinear building or complex of buildings with at least one courtyard structure. Fieldwalking evidence suggests a date range of the mid third to fourth century and indicates a principal building of stone with a tiled roof, wall plaster, concrete floors (some of which were tessellated) and a hypocaust system. The enclosure may be contemporary or may represent a modification of an earlier ditch system. Further activity associated with the buildings was identified in the eastern half of the enclosure, including pits of various sizes, further structural elements and a possible road or thoroughfare. Extra-mural features include a ditched trackway, enclosures, pits, possible structures and possible burnt features which may indicate some form of industrial activity. A row of large pits within the southern part of the enclosure and extending eastwards beyond it may represent a different phase of activity, as it bears no obvious relationship to the main enclosure. A series of rectilinear cropmarks in the eastern field may also reflect earlier landscape organisation. The fieldwalking recovered a large assemblage of tile and pottery of Roman date, with the pottery suggesting a date of the mid third to the fourth century for the main focus of activity. Finds recovered included roof tile, combed flue tile, two fragments of pila, over fifty limestone tesserae and a fragment of painted wall plaster. {7}{8}

Cropmarks have been identified at TF 1059 1173 from on the aerial photographs which date from 2003. {9}{10}

<1> OS CARD INDEX, TF 11 SW:7,1965, BAIRD J (Index). SLI2530.

<2> SMR FILE, TF 11 SW:Q FENNELL K R (Index). SLI3120.

<3> SMR FILE, TF 11 SW:AM,1983, DES (Index). SLI3055.

<4> RILEY, D.N., 1945, ANTIQUITY, VOL 19 p.151; Fig.4 (Article in Serial). SLI265.

<5> Archaeological Project Services, 1996, Proposed gravel extraction at Glen Farm, Greatford, GGF96 (Report). SLI8340.

<6> Oxford Archaeological Associates, Aug 1997, Land at Glen Farm, Greatford (Report). SLI8341.

<7> Oxford Archaeotechnics, Nov 1997, Land at King Street, The Deepings, MDBP96 (Report). SLI8338.

<8> Oxford Archaeotechnics, Nov 1997, Land at King Street, The Deepings, LCNCC 206.97 (Archive). SLI8339.

<9> Waite, K., 2009, Identification of cropmarks (Verbal Communication). SLI12569.

<10> Thornton, A., 2009, Confirmation of cropmarks (Verbal Communication). SLI12570.

Monument Types

• DITCH (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
• ENCLOSURE (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
• FIELD SYSTEM (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
• INDUSTRIAL SITE (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
• PIT (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
• ROAD (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
• TRACKWAY (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
• WALL PAINTING (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
• FARMSTEAD (Roman - 230 AD? to 399 AD?)
• VILLA (Roman - 230 AD? to 399 AD?)

Associated Finds

• TESSERA (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• SHERD (Roman - 130 AD to 399 AD)

Associated Events

• Magnetic susceptibility survey west of King Street
• Magnetometry scanning survey west of King Street
• Magnetometry survey west of King Street
• Augering survey west of King Street
• Test pit west of King Street
• Fieldwalking west of King Street
• Site visit for proposed gravel extraction at Glen Farm, Greatford

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument
• SHINE
• SHINE

Sources and further reading

Related records

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