Monument record MLI127489 - Excavated Romano-British Settlement and Agricultural Site at Greatford Quarry, Greatford
Summary
Subsequent schemes of geophysical survey and trial trenching at Greatford Quarry recorded a field system with a Roman settlement site in the southeast.
Type and Period (4)
- FIELD SYSTEM (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
- SQUARE ENCLOSURE ? (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
- DITCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
- PIT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Full Description
Subsequent schemes of geophysical survey {1} and trial trenching {2}{3} at Greatford Quarry recorded a field system with a Roman settlement site in the southeast. It should be noted that the site is immediately adjacent to the route of King Street, a major Roman road (MLI34687) running south from Ancaster through Bourne, down to Durobrivae near Peterborough on the River Nene.
Finds recorded were limited both in quantity and location, with 52 sherds of 1st to 4th century pottery recorded in the southeast portion of the site, and two sherds in the northeast, in addition to unstratified Roman pottery and ceramic building material identified during a site visit on the surface of the field {4}. The features recorded were broadly of consistent type, ditches and pits, with the overall character interpreted through the geophysics and aerial photographs identified during a desk based assessment as much as the trial trenching results. It appears the southeast portion of the site may have been given over to direct settlement, whereas the character of the site towards the northwest is more agricultural with enclosures and ditched field systems. Of particular note are probable square enclosures in trenches 4, 10, 11, and 17.
Geophysical survey and aerial photographs were broadly reliable across the site, with the notable exception of the northernmost field investigated which returned features and a small quantity of finds despite seeming sterile in geophysical survey results and showing no cropmarks.
In addition to the settlements geographic association with the Roman road, given the extent of cropmarks in the wider area it is likely the site is also associated with other areas of activity.
Sources/Archives (4)
- <1> SLI18780 Report: Pre-Construct Geophysics. 2019. Appendix 1, Geophysical Survey, Greatford Quarry, Greatford. -.
- <2> SLI18782 Report: Thames Valley Archaeological Services. 2019. Land at Greatford Quarry, King Street/Baston Road, Greatford, Lincolnshire, An Archaeological Evaluation. TVAS Site Code GQL 19/186.
- <3> SLI18783 Archive: Thames Valley Archaeological Services. 2019. Land at Greatford Quarry, King Street/Baston Road, Greatford, Lincolnshire, An Archaeological Evaluation. LCNCC 2019.255.
- <4> SLI18781 Report: PCAS Archaeology Ltd. 2019. Archaeological Desk Based Assessment: Proposed gravel extraction, Greatford Quarry, King Street/Baston Road, Greatford, Lincolnshire. -.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred TF 1024 1262 (1005m by 601m) Estimated from Sources |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | GREATFORD, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (2)
Related Events/Activities (3)
- Event - Survey: Geophysical Survey, Greatford Quarry, Greatford (ELI14513)
- Event - Survey: Site Visit as part of a Desk Based Assessment, Greatford Quarry, King Street/Baston Road, Greatford (ELI14514)
- Event - Intervention: Trial Trenching Evaluation, Land at Greatford Quarry, King Street/Baston Road, Greatford (ELI14515)
Please contact the HER for details.
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Feb 27 2025 9:20AM
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