| Summary : A Roman farmstead, possibly a villa, seen as cropmarks. These comprise a polygonal ditched enclosure within which are two possible buildings, each defined by rows of pits or postholes, and a circular ditched feature which may represent a hut circle. A group of rectilinear enclosures lie outside the enclosure, flanking a trackway associated with the settlement site TF 01 SE 99. Numerous pits, possibly contemporary with the site, are randomly scattered throughout the area. Pottery collected from the surface is mostly of 4th century AD date. |
More information : [Area TF0911]. An extensive, probably RB, occupation site connected with a large area of open fields TF 11 SW , and scheduled under Camps and Settlements.
At 'A' TF095114 is an irregular enclosure some 200 by 260ft with sub-divisions,pits,? postholes, other associated enclosures, and a multiple ditch.
There are 14 irregular rounded enclosures, one linked by a track to
a rectangular one. At TF 097119 is a trackway with double right-angle bends and rectangular enclosure attached [see Illustrations Cards].
TF 090112 Enclosures and tracks.
TF 097110 Enclosure and ditches. (1-4)
Almost the entire area is under standing corn, very little
perambulation was possible, and nothing was seen. Mr Simpson says the marks at TF09451140 (A), from which he has picked up a surface scatter of 4th century pottery, closely resemble the site of a basilican type of building which he excavated at Barnack,
Northants. (5)
Postholes of a basilican building at Barholm have been revealed by aerial photography. It is situated in an angle of a pentagonal
enclosure which is about 200 feet across and approached by a droveway. Pottery collected from the surface is mostly early 4th
century, but there are also earlier Roman sherds. Unlike Barnack
(TF 00 NE 21) this basilican building seems to have been the principal building of the farm, presumably used as a dwelling. (6)
Lines of post-holes similar to those at Barnack have been recorded NE of Barholm TF 095114. A ditch running close to the southern line of pits appears to allow just sufficient room for a narrow aisle of the proportions indicated at Barnack, and Simpson concluded that this was the principal building of a small farmstead. (7)
Additional reference. (8)
The Roman enclosure and associated features cited by authorities 1-4
and 6-7 at TF 095114, is more accurately located at TF 0946 1139 and
is described below. Other enclosures described by authorities 1-4 are
part of other settlement sites, within this extensive area of
cropmarks, and are recorded more fully in other records.
The following features were mapped from good quality air photographs,
and interpreted as a Roman farmstead or villa.
An incomplete, polygonal ditched enclosure, with 5 sides, has a
number of internal divisions. Within the enclosure are two possible
buildings, at TF 0943 1138 and TF 0945 1141, defined by rows of pits.
These are the same features described by authority 6 as the pits of a basilican building. Also at TF 0947 1141 is a circular ditched
enclosure, 5m in diameter, interpreted as a possible hut circle.
South of the enclosure is a double ditched trackway, trending
SW-NE, which joins to a large settlement site to the west, and is
described as part of that record (TF 01 SE 99). Flanking the trackway
is a group of rectilinear enclosures, centred at TF 0954 1140 and
TF 0949 1145.
Randomly scattered throughout the site are numerous pits, which may
be archaeological in origin, and may be contemporary with the site.
(Morph No. LI.788.59.1-12)
This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database.
(9) |