Monument record BAC 050 - Romano-British enclosed farmstead on Land south of Pretyman Avenue

Geophysical survey identified a single WNW-ESE positive linear anomaly of provbably archaeological origin. Other linear anomalies recorded by the survey represent historic field boundaries and modern activity. A well defined sub-circular area of elevated magnetic values might also be of archaeological origin, along with a much smaller and weaker circular response (S1).

Excavation confirmed the presence of an enclosed farmstead dating from the Early Romano-British period. Only the W part was revealed, with a settlement boundary ditch continuing beyond the E edge of excavation. Dating evidence suggests a peak in activity during the mid-1st century AD with the farmstead probably abandoned in the early 2nd century. Remains included four subcircular roundhouse dwellings with the vestiges of post-settings and hearths, along with some pits. A pit within one of the roundhouses contained a complete Neolithic handaxe in good condition, an item which may have been deliberately curated. Truncation of at least one of the roundhouses by a later ditch and the presence of other intercutting linear and discrete features suggests that not all these dwellings were contemporary, with the domestic focus of the settlement likely shifting episodically. Evidence for possible ritual activity associated with such shifts was discovered; one of the roundhouse gullies was truncated by a pit that produced a group of pottery indicative of special deposition, including a complete vessel containing a copper-alloy brooch (S2).

An archaeological evaluation revealed Roman features in the eastern section of the site, which was the highest and slightly sandier part of the site; this area could not be surveyed during the geophysical survey. The dated features were in close proximity in three trenches, these were ditches containing low quantities of pottery sherds associated with animal bone and fired clay. The alignment of undated ditches in the centre of the southern edge of the site oblique to the post-medieval and modern boundaries, suggests they are possibly medieval or Roman. The post-medieval/modern field boundary ditches depicted on the 1st edition ordnance survey map were detected during the geophysical survey and trial trench evaluation (S3).