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Summary

Third to fourth century Romano-British occupation site, South Road, Bourne

Full description

PRN 36484
An archaeological excavation was carried out on a 24m by 21m area, located at the frontage of South Road, Bourne. The excavation identified settlement remains dating to between the third and fourth century. The second century Romano-British ditches (PRN 36484) were recut in the later second or third centuries, suggesting the boundary was regularly renewed, but the eastern ditch was reduced to half its original width. With the reduction in size of the boundary ditch came a subdivision of the land. East to west aligned gullies were dug at intervals of approximately 8m, at right angles to the eastern boundary ditch. Remains of a building, Structure 1, probably contemporary with the new land division, were recorded east of the perimeter ditches. A group of rubbish pits, ranging in date from the mid to late third century were excavated to the rear of this building. Two human burials were located to the north and west of the building. By the late third century the Romano-British land subdivisions were abandoned and the land reverted back to a single parcel of land. The land became waterlogged for a short period of time. Once the ground became firmer a wooden structure was constructed over the area previously used for rubbish dumping. Fence lines were also erected, and a yard surface at the southern end of the site served to consolidate the ground. After the fourth century the land appears to have been unused for a considerable length of time, with no evidence for use of the site until the thirteenth to fourteenth centuries (PRN 36485) {1} {2}
Roman activity on the eastern side of the site ranged in date from the second century to the third and fourth centuries and was seen during trial trenching at TF 09505 19662. It comprised a period of pit digging for clay extraction followed later by settlement, a broadly similar sequence of activity as has been found on adjacent sites. {3}{4}

<1> Lindsey Archaeological Services, April 1999, Land Off South Fields, South Road, Bourne; Archaeological Evaluation, Excavation and Watching Brief, BSS97 (Archive). SLI8982.

<2> Lindsey Archaeological Services, April 1999, Land off South Fields, South Road, Bourne; Archaeological Evaluation, Excavation and Watching Brief, LCNCC 60.97 (Report). SLI8981.

<3> Lindsey Archaeological Services, 2008, Wherry's Lane Factory Site, South Road, Bourne: Archaeological Evaluation, LCNCC 2008.30 (Archive). SLI11921.

<4> Lindsey Archaeological Services, 2008, Wherry's Lane Factory Site, South Road, Bourne: Archaeological Evaluation, WLFY08 (Report). SLI11920.

Monument Types

• BURIAL (Roman - 200 AD to 399 AD)
• DITCH (Roman - 200 AD to 399 AD)
• FENCE (Roman - 200 AD to 399 AD)
• FLOOR (Roman - 200 AD to 399 AD)
• GULLY (Roman - 200 AD to 399 AD)
• HEARTH (Roman - 200 AD to 399 AD)
• POST HOLE (Roman - 200 AD to 399 AD)
• RUBBISH PIT (Roman - 200 AD to 399 AD)
• WALL (Roman - 200 AD to 399 AD)

Associated Finds

• ANIMAL REMAINS (Roman - 200 AD to 399 AD)
• COIN (Roman - 200 AD to 399 AD)
• HUMAN REMAINS (Roman - 200 AD to 299 AD)
• NAIL (Roman - 200 AD to 299 AD)
• SHERD (Roman - 200 AD to 399 AD)
• SHERD (Roman - 200 AD to 399 AD)
• SLAG (Roman - 200 AD to 399 AD)
• SPOON (Roman - 200 AD to 399 AD)
• MOUNT (Roman - 300 AD to 399 AD)

Associated Events

• Land off South Fields, South Road, Bourne
• Archaeological evaluation at Wherry's Lane factory site, South Road, Bourne

Sources and further reading

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.