Monument record MLI51390 - Roman Pottery Production, Green Lane, Lea
Summary
Evidence of Roman pottery production off Green Lane, Lea.
Type and Period (2)
- POTTERY KILN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
- PIT (Roman - 200 AD to 400 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Full Description
A Romano-British pottery kiln was excavated in 1983 at Green Lane, Lea. The kiln was found after part of an old orchard was ploughed up, and was well-preserved in the wind-blown sands. It was approximately 1.50m in diameter, 0.60m high and had a short flue leading to a large stokehole which was only partially excavated. The oven was lined with clay and still contained a quantity of greyware pottery, some of which was under-fired and quite soft. A number of oblong, clay firebars were found but they were not in situ. The pottery was thought to date to the second half of the 2nd century. Field walking in the field where the kiln had been discovered suggested that there were other kilns nearby, but a resistivity survey was inconclusive due to the disturbance caused by the uprooting of the trees from the orchard. The excavated kiln was remarkably well-preserved and magnetic dating samples were taken but these proved inconclusive. {1}{2}
Further excavations in March 1985 failed to locate other kilns though stoke-hole residue was located in several areas. Several pits and gullies were found, most of which contained large quantities of Roman pottery. One pit contained a large dump of blue clay mixed with sand, which had been used in most of the vessels as a temper. A substantial ditch or gully with a width of 1.3m to 3.0m and an average depth of 1m, appeared to form some kind of broadly circular enclosure around the area of activity. Shortly after the excavation had been completed, a number of large stone slabs (many of which were burnt) associated with large quantities of Roman tile and mortar fragments, were found whilst digging the foundations for a bungalow. Two large dumps of burnt clay, possibly kiln residue, and two small metal blades which may have been used to decorate pottery prior to firing were found. It is suggested that the structural remains may have been part of a building associated with the pottery production site, the bulk of which may lie further to the south. {3}{4}
Twelve test pits were excavated to evaluate a development area at 35 Gainsborough Road, immediately south of the area excavated in 1985. Two pits at the eastern end of the site contained clay-lined structures, which were probably related to Roman pottery production. Late 3rd and 4th century pottery was also recovered. {5}{6}
Sources/Archives (6)
- <1> SLI707 Article in Serial: A.B. Page (ed.). 1984. 'Archaeology in Lincolnshire and South Humberside, 1983' in Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. vol.19, pp.100-2.
- <2> SLI3757 Photograph: 1983. PARISH FILE. LEA. P12-13/83.
- <3> SLI794 Article in Serial: BROWN, C.. 1985. TRUST FOR LINCOLNSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGY FIRST ANNUAL REPORT. pp.58-9.
- <4> SLI703 Article in Serial: FIELD, F.N. AND PALMER-BROWN, C.P.H.. 1991. LINCOLNSHIRE HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY. VOL 26 PP40-56.
- <5> SLI5771 Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. Jan 1999. 35 Gainsborough Road, Lea. LGR99.
- <6> SLI5772 Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1999. 35 Gainsborough Road, Lea. LCNCC 202.99.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SK 8264 8701 (157m by 81m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | LEA, WEST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (2)
Related Events/Activities (4)
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Mar 21 2021 8:35PM
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