| Summary : Roman cemetery, possibly continuing into the early medieval period - several skeletons were found in 1887, lying in a N-S position together with fibulae, an armlet, sword blades, urn fragments, Castor ware and five Roman coins. |
More information : Several skeletons were found lying in a N and S position
together with fibulae, an armlet, sword blades, urn fragments, Castor
ware, five Ro coins (one of Domitian and another pierced), whilst
excavating for a new street opposite the site of Westcotes on the 14thNov 1887. Other objects found were dispersed.
Found near the Fosse Way, on the west side of the river about 600
yds S of where the road crossed the river. The finds in Leic Museum
consisted of a cruciform and two "small long" brooches, part of an
iron sword and a pot fragment.
The finds may indicated a Roman cemetery continuing into the A/Saxon
period, but this is not definite.
A fragment of a probably Ro tomb stone was found near the Old House,
Westcotes; now in Leic Museum.
From the illustration of Authy 1 a note: "Roman and Saxon Pottery
and Fibula found in a field adjoining the Ancient Foss Way at
Westcotes" (a).Westcotes was one of two manors of the parish of St
Mary de Castro, and can be sited approx from the map to SK 576039.
Authy 1 states site to be opposite Westcotes. Street names in the area(SK 57750380) are Celt, Roman, Briton, etc, and were possibly induced
by the finds from this area. The above information falls in with
a note (anon) on Leics Mus 6", "W Bank of Soar 3/4 mile SW of clock
tower at centre," also with description of Authy 2,600 yds. S of
where the road (Foss Way?) crossed the river. Site is built over, somefinds in Leic Mus.
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