More information : TF 1285 0770. Ditches, gullies and eight circular buildings of Iron Age and Roman date were recorded at this location. (1)
(TF 128077 derived from OS 1:10000) The multi-period site at
Maxey was discovered by Dr. J.K.St. Joseph from aerial
photography (see TF 10 NW 1 for an outline of the main features).
Cropmarks at Maxey were plotted in the 1956 RCHME survey of
archaeological sites on river gravels. (2)
In 1979-81 The Welland Valley project excavated at Maxey under
the direction of Frances Pryor. The aim of the excavations was
to investigate linear and other features identified from aerial
photographs in Bardyke Field, West Field and East Field.
The Romano-British settlements at Maxey may be characterised as
native farmsteads. The buildings tend to shift from one phase
to another while the ditched fields or yards remained
substantially unaltered. The predominance of sheep represented
in the animal bone excavated suggests that Maxey was a 'native'
rather than a 'Romanised' settlement. The site was located on
the edge of a gravel island with much of the pasture liable to
winter flooding. The animal bone indicated a sharp cull of lambs
and an emphasis on meat production. There were three principal
phases of settlement:
Phase 7 (mid-1st century AD) Some features of the settlement
continued from the late Iron Age. There were two settlement
areas. The first to the south west consisting of at least 3
round buildings grouped around a three-sided yard. The features
produced fragments of vitrified clay and may be associated with
metal-working. The second settlement area was very fragmentary
and perhaps included 'hornworks'. Pottery was calcite gritted
but lacks Iron Age decorative features.
Phase 8 (late 1st to late 2nd century AD) There was an expansion
of the settlement with the linear ditch system continuing on
basically the Iron Age lines. Gurney suggests that there were
at least four house and numerous sheds and outbuildings. Pottery
is now fully Romanised and Nene Valley wares were in use. The
farmstead includes at least one small ring ditched stack-stand.
A possible Romano-Celtic temple structure was located outside the
main settlement area. A small cemetery of six inhumations was
associated with the settlement. The settlement may have been
abandoned due to flooding early in the 3rd century.
Phase 9 (late 3rd to early 4th century AD) A large quantity of
pottery dating to this period was found but no proven buildings.
There was a small extension of the linear ditched enclosure
system to the west of the Phase 8 settlement area. (3)
In 1962-63 WG Simpson excavated in Bardyke Field in advance of
gravel extraction. At the extreme north of the site a double
ditch was found aligned EW. This marks the south side of a
droveway showing as a cropmark on air photographs. (RCHME site
66) To the south of the ditch was an enclosure measuring 24.4m
and immediately to the south of that another enclosure 32.6m
across. The enclosure ditches were 60-75cm wide x 25cm deep.
Three small pits were found within or close to these enclosures
which contained sherds of large storage jars, animal bones,
charcoal and a early Roman fibula. The enclosures were
interpreted as small fields. (4)
Farmsteads, enclosures and pits dated as Iron Age or Romano-
British form the bulk of the cropmarks. Droveways linking the
separate farms are probably not later than early 2nd c AD (5,6).
Additional Reference. (7) |