Monument record MLI125374 - Mid-Iron Age to Early Roman Settlement, Denton, Grantham

Summary

A large, interconnected series of enclosures and ditches forming a probable, predominantly agricultural settlement dating from the Mid-Iron Age to Early Roman period.

Type and Period (6)

  • (Middle Iron Age to Roman - 400 BC to 409 AD)
  • (Middle Iron Age to Roman - 400 BC to 409 AD)
  • (Middle Iron Age to Roman - 400 BC to 409 AD)
  • (Middle Iron Age to Roman - 400 BC to 409 AD)
  • (Middle Iron Age to Roman - 400 BC to 409 AD)
  • (Middle Iron Age to Roman - 400 BC to 409 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

A large, interconnected series of agricultural enclosures and ditches including a large trackway with possible wheel ruts, ring ditches, pitting, and evidence for habitation and resource extraction with processing. The site was first identified in aerial photographs taken in 1967 and 1971, 1981, and 1984 although the full extent was uncertain. {1}. Investigations between 2011 and 2018 including geophysical magnetometry surveys {2}{3}{4} and a scheme of evaluation trenches {5}{6} as part of the planning process for mineral extraction have revealed a much larger and more archaeologically dense extent than was originally recorded. The excavated areas suggest a multi-phase field system comprising, and associated with, a series of irregular enclosures with features of uncertain purpose within them. Evidence is also present for the digging of storage pits, and pits for resource extraction. A probable Roman lime kiln was also excavated, dated via abraded Roman pottery identified in the topsoil around the trench. A small quantity of slag was considered suggestive of localised iron production on the site, as opposed to the production of iron for export or sale. While activity identified in the geophysical survey appears most concentrated to the northeast and north of the site, the number of finds recovered across the site shows a bias to the southwest area. The geophysical survey results describe a broadly northeast to southwest oriented network of enclosures and ditches, with internal features suggestive of a settlement linked via a trackway to the southern and western portions of the site where the enclosures are dotted with resource extraction pits. While a small quantity of earlier material was recovered the pottery assemblage recovered appears to represent a continuous occupation of the site over a long period of time with both Mid to Late Iron Age wares including shell-gritted pottery, and a relatively small number sherds of early Roman date including an oolitic bowl and jar, along with fragments of similarly dated loom weight being recorded. The most common dating evidence throughout the site dates to the Middle and Late Iron Age. A quantity of mixed animal remains was also identified representing cattle, sheep/goat, pig, dog,and unidentified mammal species. In addition, two human bones were found, a tibia and femur from the opposite sides of a neonate recovered from a ditch fill also containing animal bones. While activity to the northeast of this area does appear both contemporary and physically contiguous (being linked by a trackway), the nature of the archaeology encountered is markedly, different with a focus on resource extraction and processing compared to the more agricultural nature of the land to the immediate northeast. The density of finds appears to be greater than the area to the northeast suggesting the landscape may have been largely contiguous despite the differing character of the archaeology. Although earlier evidence is limited to a small number of Bronze Age sherds and undiagnostic finds of probable prehistoric nature (Mesolithic and Neolithic worked flint, possible grinding stones) it is possible the Iron Age and Roman elements overlay earlier features.

Sources/Archives (6)

  •  Aerial Photograph: Aerial Photograph. SK8631/1.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Geophysics. 2011. Geophysical survey, Minerals Permission Review: Welby Estates, Land at Extraction Area 1, West End, Denton, Grantham. -.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Geophysics. 2014. Archaeological Geophysical Survey (Phase 2), Minerals Permission Review, Welby Estates, Land at Extraction Area 1, Denton, Grantham. -.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Geophysics. 2018. Archaeological Geophysical Survey, Minerals Permission Review, Welby Estate, Land at Extraction Area 4 (North), Denton, Grantham. -.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeological Services Ltd. 2014. Archaeological Evaluation Report, Gorse Lane Quarry, South Kesteven. GLQE14.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeological Services Ltd. 2014. Archive for Archaeological Evaluation Report, Gorse Lane Quarry, South Kesteven. LCNCC 2014.132.

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Location

Grid reference Centred SK 8636 3077 (1520m by 1926m) Estimated from sources
Civil Parish DENTON, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Related Events/Activities (4)

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Record last edited

Jan 9 2025 9:18AM

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