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Archaeology is full of surprises!

By 01/03/2021April 8th, 2021News

A recent site in south Lincolnshire was known to be in an area of substantial Romano-British settlement; investigations nearby had identified Roman pottery kilns, iron furnaces and a small cemetery. So we were expecting to find Romano-British industrial and burial grounds peripheral to the main settlement areas.

But our investigations revealed much grander evidence of Roman occupation. Building remains, including the stone foundations of a large wall, stone-packed postholes and a foundation trench, perhaps for a timber wall, were exposed.

There was an abundance of domestic debris, with several whole or near-complete pottery vessels recovered.

Whole and near-complete pots found at the site. The 1st and 3rd from the left are probably locally-made wares, the other 2 are likely to have been manufactured in the Nene Valley near Peterborough.
Excavation across a ditch revealing a Roman mortarium in the section.
The excavated mortarium with maker’s stamp just to the right of the pouring spout.

Much of the pottery assemblage comprised of relatively local wares, including Nene Valley fabrics. Examples of Samian ware from Gaul (France) and Iberian amphora were also retrieved. Much of this settlement refuse was found in ditches and pits across the site. Some of these pits were considerable in size and probably originated as quarries, perhaps associated with the nearby pottery kilns. A furnace was also revealed, of uncertain function but possibly for iron working.

Roman furnace, perhaps for iron working.

This work was carried out on behalf of Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd.

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