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Summary

Cropmarks of a Romano-British settlement site, on land to the east of Swinhope.

Full description

Cropmarks of a rectilinear complex located on a steeply sloping Wolds valley spur, first recorded as faint germination marks in bare soil in the winter of 1986. Photographs during the summer of 1991 in a ripening cereal crop of the main complex produced additional information which lends weight to the original suggestion that the site represents a Romano-British villa complex. Romano-British potsherds are recorded from the field. {1}{2}{3}

An oval shaped cropmark overlain by the settlement site has been interpreted as the probable remains of a Neolithic long barrow (see MLI52391). It was thought possible that, rather than representing the remains of a long barrow, this feature may instead be the remains of a hut circle, forming part of an earlier Iron Age farmstead on the site, which later evolved into a Romano-British settlement. {4}

The Swinhope site is an example of a settlement of nucleated form, with well-defined limits, that lacks the strict rectilinearity of villa sites but which may, nevertheless, be attributed villa status. It occupies a prominent position on the slopes of a spur on the east side of the valley of the Waithe Beck. Cropmarks of intersecting linear field boundaries are found to the east and several undated enclosure groups, thought to be Roman, have been recorded within a radius of 600m to the north and south. Romano-British potsherds have also been recovered in the area. {5}

The interpretation of this feature as a Romano-British settlement site was supported during further investigation in 2016. Although the site has largely been levelled flat by ploughing, it is clearly visible as cropmarks and soilmarks on aerial photographs. It comprises a large, incomplete, ditched, rectilinear enclosure measuring 180m north-north-east by 130m south-south-west, with a possible entrance in its south side. Subdividing the enclosure are a series of smaller, rectilinear enclosures, measuring 40m by 40m on average, ranged around a central area. Two smaller enclosures centred at TF 22222 95977 and TF 22242 96010, measuring 27m north-west to south-east by 14m north-east to south-west and 23m north-north-east by 12.5m south-south-west respectively, may represent a different phase of development than the larger enclosures. A further rectangular enclosure lies to the south of the main enclosure, some 35m to the west-south-west of the entrance, centred at TF 22177 95890. It measures 13m north-west to south-east by 10m north-east to south-west.
The settlement site overlies the remains of a Neolithic long barrow (see MLI52391), and overlies the remains of two probable Iron Age round houses, visible as ring ditches to the immediate west of the barrow site (see MLI125750). The round houses would suggest that a sequence of settlement and occupation of this area has occurred over a long time period. {6}{7}{8}

<1> Christopher Sturman (ed.), 1992, 'Archaeology in Lincolnshire, 1991' in Lincolnshire History and Archaeology, vol.27, p.42, fig.4 (Article in Serial). SLI676.

<2> Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1946-98, RCHME National Aerial Photograph Collection at Swindon, 12112/12 (1991) (Aerial Photograph). SLI145.

<3> Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1992-1996, Lincolnshire National Mapping Programme, TF 29 NW: LI.318.1.1-5 (Map). SLI3613.

<4> C. Went, 1997, Alternative Action Site Report, - (Unpublished Document). SLI4784.

<5> Dilwyn Jones, 1998, 'Romano-British settlements on the Lincolnshire Wolds', in Lincolnshire's Archaeology from the Air, pp.69-75, figs.4, 6 (Article in Monograph). SLI10965.

<6> Aerial Photograph, NMR 12286/20 (06/07/1992( (Aerial Photograph). SLI89.

<7> Aerial Photograph, NMR 28027/19, 25 (16/06/2010) (Aerial Photograph). SLI89.

<8> Historic England (formerly English Heritage), 2011->, The National Heritage List for England, 1462756 (Website). SLI13386.

Monument Types

• ENCLOSURE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• FARMSTEAD? (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• SETTLEMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• VILLA? (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument

Sources and further reading

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