More information : A Romano British settlement of some seventy to eighty acres at Oundle (1). Coins were found when the railway station was built (2); coins and pottery have been found in vast quantities in areas centred TL 048890, 048893, 046893. Rectangular enclosures are visible as crop marks on St Joseph air photographs at TL 046892 (9). Excavations in 1971 in area TL 048893 uncovered a pit dug for gravel containing much rubbish including building material, a hippo sandal and over two hundred fragments of Samian. Also a cobbled working floor with building material but no structure. There was evidence of iron smelting. Finds from the site as a whole date from the 1st to the 4th century and include a medallion possibly from a ceremonial head-dress (6). Iron Age and Medieval pottery came from TL 047894 (3). Many surface finds but no evidence on the ground of the enclosures (10). (1-10)
Excavations of the site between 1974 and 1977 have revealed that the site covers more than 30ha between the river Nene and the Chesterton - Irchester road (RR 570). In 1974 the junction between a Roman road leading to the river and a side street was discovered. In the angle between the roads a building 8.25m wide had been erected over an early 2nd century ditch. This building contained the remains of five furnaces and a stone-lined tank, together with considerable quantities of iron-working remains including a smith's hammer and anvil. In 1976 a well associated with this building was emptied and a cylindrical lead tank was found. It weighed over 3cwt (152kg) and bore a Chi-Rho monogram. Further excavation of the industrial building in 1977 revealed earlier timber buildings. A sandpit south of the main excavations produced many late 4th century coins. (11-13)
RCHME suggests three separate areas of settlement centred on TL 046892, TL 048892 and TL 048890. (14)
During the 1976 excavations a bronze coin of Tasciovanus, minted at Verulamium, of a type previously unrecorded was discovered. Further references to finds and excavation summaries. Air photographs (NCAU) show cropmarks extending NW of the site, including a ring ditch and enclosures (TL 043897). (15)
AP of large Roman settlement at (TL 048889). (16)
Excavations in 1978. Two small pottery kilns and further evidence of extensive Roman occupation were located. (17)
In June 1982, two large areas were opened up for archaeological examination. In one area, a metalled road, resurfaced several times, was exposed along with structures on either side of the street. At least one side street was identified in this area. One of the structures excavated was an iron workshop probably dating to the late Roman period. The second area exposed another road, ditches and gullies of the 1st century or later and part of what may be a late Roman boundary wall. There were the remains of a wooden building which gave way to a cemetery by the late Roman period. Later (Medieval) agricultural activity is indicated by the presence of ridge and furrow. (18)
Excavation in 1983 revealed Roman agricultural enclosures on the margins of the settlement. (19)
Excavation of the cemetery revealed in 1982 recovered pottery suggesting a Late Roman date for the graves. Variation in the grave types include stone grave lining and a wooden coffin. No grave goods were recovered. (20)
A hearth was discovered in 1979, heavily built with limestone blocks and including two vents. A horse burial was uncovered 20m to the south of the Roman road. (21)
NH 6 Listed as the site of a Roman small town or villa estate. (22) |