Monument record MLI127667 - Saxo-Norman activity to the south of Church Road, Old Leake

Summary

Saxo-Norman features and artefacts on land to the south of Church Road and north of School Lane, Old Leake.

Type and Period (5)

  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 800 AD to 1200 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 800 AD to 1200 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 800 AD to 1200 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 800 AD to 1200 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 800 AD to 1200 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

During a programme of archaeological evaluation between December 2003 and January 2004, archaeological deposits of 9th to 12th century date were identified on a parcel of land between Church Road to the east, School Lane to the south and Hawthorn Road to the west. These Saxo-Norman remains tended to occur to the east of the site on higher ground, where the natural deposits occurred at 2m OD or higher. A probable boundary ditch was identified to the north of the site, while plough marks were encountered further south, indicating arable cultivation. These plough marks contained isolated sherds of Saxo-Norman pottery. Further southeast were several Saxo-Norman pits, ditches and gullies. One of the pits contained mixed occupation debris and was probably a refuse pit. Settlement waste was also recorded in some of the gullies, though in sparse quantities. In addition to this waste material, other occupation debris, including mussel shell, cereal grains, fish bones and mineralised insect remains, suggests that some of the gullies functioned as drains associated with nearby habitation. Three refuse pits to the east of the site contained more abundant waste material, including pottery, metal items, quern stone fragments, fired clay and marine mollusc shell. Generally, the evidence suggests this site to be on the fringe of settlement during the period. {1}{2} A second phase of trial trenching conducted to the south of the earlier evaluation in May 2006 revealed a series of Late Saxon and Saxo-Norman deposits including ditches and pits of likely agricultural origin. {3}{4} Subsequent open area excavation took place on the same site between October 2007 and May 2008, revealing a relatively dense distribution of ditches, pits and gullies. Ditches with a sequence of recuts were encountered in the centre of the exposed area, representing probable established boundaries on northeast to southwest and northwest to southeast alignments. The final phase of activity during this period is represented by a curvilinear ditch, which may have formed part of an enclosure extending to the north and east of the excavated areas. Fragmentary remains of stratigraphically earlier (but undated) ditches and gullies were recorded, including a substantial boundary ditch at the southern end of the site. Eleven pits of Late Saxon or Saxo-Norman date were also identified, along with four post holes (undated, though interpreted as also of this period). A large assemblage of pottery was recovered, predominantly of late Saxon date (123 sherds dated mid 9th to 11th century, representing 58% of the total assemblage, much of it deriving from industries in Lincoln, but also Torksey and Stamford, as well as a probable local source), with a smaller percentage originating in the Saxo-Norman period (34 sherds, 22% of the total assemblage, dated as 11th to early 13th century, including examples from Stamford, Thetford and St Neots industries). Fuel ash adhering to a fragment of fired clay found in the backfill of a possible enclosure ditch suggests the possible presence of a metalworking site in the immediate vicinity. The small assemblage of animal bone from features identified as Late Saxon or Saxo-Norman included a relatively high proportion of cattle bone, with sheep/goat and pig also represented. Environmental samples revealed a low to moderate density of possible cereal processing waste and domestic detritus in 9th to 12th century deposits, with no convincing evidence to suggest primary deposition. {5}{6}

Sources/Archives (6)

  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2004. Archaeological Evaluation on Land off School Lane/Church Road, Old Leake. APS Site Code: SLO03.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2004. Archaeological Evaluation on Land off School Lane/Church Lane, Old Leake. LCNCC: 2003.381.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2006. Archaeological Evaluation on Land off School Lane/Church Road, Old Leake. APS Site Code: OLSL06.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2006. Archaeological Evaluation on Land off School Lane/Church Road, Old Leake. LCNCC: 2003.381.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2009. Archaeological Excavation on Land Opposite School Lane, Old Leake, Lincolnshire. APS Site Code: OLSL07.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2009. Archaeological Excavation on Land Opposite School Lane, Old Leake, Lincolnshire. LCNCC: 2007.186.

Map

Find a placename, postcode or grid reference

Map layers

Base layers

Info

Record list

Tools

Location

Grid reference Centred TF 4055 5046 (121m by 121m) Estimated from sources
Civil Parish OLD LEAKE, BOSTON, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (3)

Please contact the HER for details.

External Links (0)

Record last edited

May 2 2025 10:03AM

Feedback?

Your feedback is welcome. If you can provide any new information about this record, please contact us.