1112325. Cite this using datacite

Title:

Highfields Farm: Strip, Map and Sample excavation. Post-excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design

Series:

Wessex Archaeology unpublished report series

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Biblio Note

This report was uploaded to the OASIS system by the named Publisher. The report has not been reviewed by the relevant HER. The report has been transferred into the ADS Library for public access and to facilitate future research.

Licence Type:

ADS Terms of Use and Access

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5284/1112325

Publication Type:

Report (in Series)

Abstract:

Wessex Archaeology carried out a 3.25 ha archaeological excavation as a condition of planning permission, in advance of a housing development at Highfields Farm, Findern, Derby. An isolated pit containing Bronze Age pottery and a handful of residual flint are the only evidence of the earlier prehistoric periods. Occupation during the Late Iron Age becomes more conspicuous, with two near complete roundhouse gullies and a network of enclosure ditches thought to belong to this period. However, the majority of the remains date to the Romano-British period and comprise an extensive system of rectilinear ditched enclosures containing further roundhouse gullies, a well, waterhole, midden-like spreads, and slight traces of a potential rectilinear beamslot structure. Pot dates indicate the main boundary framework was established by the 2nd century AD, with activity continuing until the mid-4th century AD, but with no indication that the settlement continued survived until the end of the 4th century AD. Post-Roman remains comprised furrows, a small assemblage of medieval and post-medieval finds, and relatively modern field boundaries. A range of finds was recovered from the Site, including a relatively large pottery assemblage with a modest range of regional and Continental imports, which is unusual for a rural Romano-British site in Derbyshire, and presumably reflects the proximity of the military and civilian centres at Derby and the road by which they were supplied. Of most interest amongst the finds was a pair of metal bowls, with one decorated with a six-pointed star, possibly intended as a Chi-Rho (Christian) symbol. Archaeological remains exposed during the excavation comprised a small rural settlement of late Iron Age date, extensive evidence of Romano-British occupation, post-Roman remains largely consisting of field boundaries and the remains of ridge and furrow cultivation, and one Bronze Age pit, which was the earliest feature identified. The majority of features can be attributed to the Romano-British period with pottery evidence indicating continuous activity from the invasion in the 1st century AD to the middle of the 4th century.

Author:

P. Whittaker

Publisher:

Wessex Archaeology

Year of Publication:

2018

Locations:

Parish:	Findern
District:	South Derbyshire
Country:	England
County:	Derbyshire

Grid Reference: 431999, 332299 (Easting, Northing)

Subjects / Periods:

DITCH (Monument Type England)

PIT (Monument Type England)

BRONZE AGE PIT (Tag)

LATE IRON AGE SETTLEMENT (Tag)

EXCAVATION (Event)

WATCHING BRIEF (Event)

ROMAN ROUND HOUSE (DOMESTIC) (Tag)

ROMAN WELL (Tag)

RIDGE AND FURROW (Monument Type England)

ROMAN DITCH (Tag)

WELL (Monument Type England)

ROMAN BOWL (Tag)

LATE IRON AGE ROUND HOUSE (DOMESTIC) (Tag)

MEDIEVAL RIDGE AND FURROW (Tag)

ROUND HOUSE (DOMESTIC) (Monument Type England)

BOWL (Object England)

ROMAN SETTLEMENT (Tag)

LATE IRON AGE DITCH (Tag)

SETTLEMENT (Monument Type England)

BRONZE AGE (Historic England Periods)

LATE IRON AGE (Historic England Periods)

ROMAN (Historic England Periods)

MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods)

Identifiers:

OASIS Id:	wessexar1-277521
OBIB:	115470

Source:

OASIS (OASIS)

Relations:

Created Date:

15 Aug 2023