Site record MDR11480 - Settlement, Roundhouses, Enclosures and Field System, Near Former Highfields Farm, Bakeacre Lane, Findern
Type and Period (8)
- FARMSTEAD ? (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC? to 409 AD?)
- ENCLOSED HUT CIRCLE SETTLEMENT ? (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC? to 409 AD?)
- FIELD SYSTEM (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC? to 409 AD?)
- RECTILINEAR ENCLOSURE (Early Iron Age to Roman - 800 BC? to 409 AD?)
- WELL (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
- MIDDEN (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
- BEAM SLOT (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
- ROUND HOUSE (DOMESTIC) (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC? to 409 AD?) + Sci.Date
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Full Description
Settlement, roundhouses, enclosures and field system, near former Highfields Farm, Bakeacre Lane, Findern, of late Iron Age to 4th century date.
An extensive program of work carried out revealed a highly significant late Iron Age and Roman site. Briefly, the final piece of archaeological work was a strip, map and sample excavation in 2017, preceded by a desk-based assessment (2006), a fieldwalking survey (2006), a geophysical survey (2007), and a trial trench evaluation (2014).
The site has been interpreted as a 'small farmstead' and a series of enclosures, and extensive evidence of subsistence economic activity was recovered. '…The excavation occupied 3.25ha and uncovered significant remains dating to the Romano-British period, including an extensive system of rectilinear ditched enclosures containing roundhouse eaves drip gullies, a well, a waterhole, midden-like spreads and traces of a potential rectilinear structure defined by beam slots. Finds recovered from the site included a sizable pottery assemblage, dating predominantly to the Roman period, and two pewter bowls, one of which was decorated with a six-pointed star, possibly [a Christian symbol].' (1)
A single earlier feature (a Bronze Age pit) was recorded, but the more conspicuous settlement evidence began in the late Iron Age with two near complete roundhouse eaves drip gullies and a network of enclosure ditches. However, the majority of the remains are of Roman date, including an extensive system of rectilinear ditched enclosures containing further roundhouse eaves drip gullies, a well, a waterhole, midden-like spreads, and a potential rectilinear structure defined by beam slots. The ceramic evidence suggests that the main activity on the site appears to have been well established by the 2nd century, with activity continuing until the middle of the 4th century. There is no evidence that activity continued after the end of the 4th century AD. (2-3)
Perhaps most interesting among the finds was a pair of pewter bowls were recovered, one of which may bear a Chi-Rho symbol. (2-3)
The pottery assemblage(s) is reported in detail (1-2): 'Although pottery form the 1st century is present in smaller quantities, the find spots suggest that some of the possible structures recognized on the site may date to this period. A range of pottery from the 2nd to 3rd centuries is present including oxidized and reduced Little Chester wares and proto-Derbyshire coarse wares, probably mostly of 2nd century date, along with a small quantity of samian. The 3rd and 4th century assemblage includes an abundance of Derbyshire ware along with smaller quantities of grey ware and Mancetter-Hartshill type mortaria. A small quantity of South Midlands type shell-gritted wares, a late example of a painted wall-sided Mancetter-Hartshill mortarium, and Neve Valley colour coated bowls and dishes are present which suggests activity on the site until the middle of the 4th century.' (1) One samian potters stamp was recorded.
An analysis of residues on some of the pottery (lipid analysis) was carried out, and the results suggest that dairying was a prevalent activity at the site. (1)
The animal bone assemblage was large, and predominantly comprised of cattle remains, and a large number of horse remains. A relatively large assemblage of plant remains was also recovered, including charred, and is indicative of on site cereal and pulse processing. Wood charcoal was also recovered and analysed. (1)
Two beehive querns were recovered, both placed in a ring gully in an inverted position, clearly placed deposition. (1)
Three Roman coins and a silver medieval penny were recovered. The former consist of a 1st century silver denarius of Vespasian (69-71 CE), a copy of a 2nd century silver denarius of Geta (198-200 CE), and a worn and corroded 1st - 3rd century copper alloy dupondius of an uncertain figure. (1)
Prior to the 2017 excavation, an evaluation comprised of the excavation of 19 trial trenches, in two areas, was carried out in 2014. This work revealed a multi-phase Roman, potentially Iron Age, settlement across the whole of the study area, and at the time a pottery assemblage predominantly dating to the 2nd and 3rd centuries. The gullies, ditches and pits identified in this evaluation were further investigated by the more recent excavation. (4)
An earlier evaluation was carried out in 2004, where a number of features were recorded in the eastern part of the study area, including numerous gullies, a possible pit and a wide ditch which at the time was thought to have been a possible truncated settlement enclosure ditch. The pottery recovered from this particular evaluation suggested a mid to late 2nd - 3rd century date. 'The dominance of local coarse wares, particularly Derbyshire Ware, a scarcity of regional imports such as Black Burnished ware and mortaria, and the absence of fine wares and continental imports suggests occupation within a rural farmstead type site.' (5)
The area was subject to a geophysical survey in 2007, where several anomalies corresponding to these archaeological deposits were recorded. (6)
The area was also subject to a fieldwalking survey carried out in 2006, when Roman pottery was recovered. (7)
Sources/Archives (7)
- <1> SDR24868 Unpublished document: Valdez-Tullett, A and P Whittaker (Wessex Archaeology). 2021?. Romano-British Settlement at Highfields Farm, Findern, Derby.
- <2> SDR24482 Unpublished document: Whittaker, P (Wessex Archaeology). 2019. Highfields Farm: Strip, Map and Sample Excavation, Post-excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design.
- <3> SDR24771 Article in serial: Valdez-Tullet, A & Whittaker, P. 2021. Romano-British Settlement at Highfields Farm, Findern, Derby.. Vol 141.
- <4> SDR22366 Unpublished document: Higgins, T and M Beamish (ULAS). 2014. An Archaeological Evaluation at Highfields Farm, Findern, South Derbyshire.
- <5> SDR20280 Unpublished document: Hurford, M (ULAS). 2007. An Archaeological Evaluation at Highfields Farm, Findern, South Derbyshire.
- <6> SDR20279 Unpublished document: Heard, H (Stratascan). 2007. Geophysical Survey Report: Highfield Farm, Findern, Derby.
- <7> SDR20278 Unpublished document: Hurford, M (ULAS). 2006. An Archaeological Fieldwalking Survey on Land at Highfield Farm, Findern, South Derbyshire (SK 318 325).
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SK 3195 3230 (360m by 389m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | FINDERN, SOUTH DERBYSHIRE, DERBYSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (2)
Related Events/Activities (7)
- EDR2131
- EDR5306
- EDR2468
- EDR2469
- EDR4943
- EDR2470
- EDR3344
Please contact the HER for details.
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Nov 8 2024 9:26AM