Planning Case Study 114

Given the history of land use as an allotment, the inconclusive results from the desk-based assessment, and the relatively small size of the site, the archaeological advisor to the LPA did not request pre-determination geophysical survey and/or evaluation by trial trenching. This latter was secured by a standard pre-commencement condition.

The evaluation was carried out in August 2011. It revealed significant Roman remains of a probable villa situated in the south-eastern corner of the site. The evaluation lasted only two days and was abandoned, as the significance of the site was apparent. In consultation with the developer and Historic England, an area 0.5ha in size was stripped for total excavation. The rationale was that the last Roman villa in the Peterborough area had been excavated by E T Artis in the 1820s. Therefore, excavation with modern techniques would have furthered the current understanding of Roman occupation in the area. In addition, half of the villa is preserved under the current Fane Road allotments which are not planned to be developed.

The excavation was carried out between August 2011 and February 2012 in advance of a residential development. The following is a summary of the results:

The earliest cut feature was an early Iron Age crouched burial of a young woman. Overlying this were the remains of a substantial Iron Age settlement, which consisted of a rectilinear ditch and banked enclosure N-S aligned, with an entrance on the east side, and measuring c. 60m x 55m. Within the north-east part of the enclosure three roundhouses and associated domestic pits were recorded, with a fourth building being located at the Fane Road site. The Iron Age enclosure was re-cut and maintained with the addition of a cobbled entrance way.

Structures on site during the early Roman phase included a high status timber building and barn. Evidence suggests this building may have been destroyed by fire and replaced by a new masonry building (the villa) that was reworked and extended over time and which comprised three ranges. A further wing of the villa lies protected under the allotments to the south. Identified rooms within the excavated part of the villa included a kitchen, and a bathhouse with hypocaust. A small area of tessellated pavement remained in its original position in one of the corridors.

A large dump of small, fine tesserae in a range of colours (totalling 27 buckets’ worth) was uncovered from a 1st to 2nd century layer. A square stone-lined well was also uncovered containing demolition rubble, a child’s skeleton, and an antler artefact. A tile kiln - with two phases of use - was found within the top of the Iron Age enclosure ditch.

In addition, a number of skeletons were found (41 individuals – 16 adult and 22 neonates). The majority of adults were buried following the abandonment and robbing of the villa and were laid to rest in haphazard orientation, some reduced to a disarticulated mass of bones. Preliminary analysis shows that they suffered from an unusual condition which caused their skulls to deteriorate as the bones grew porous and thin, probably due to a deficiency in their diet. As these burials had no grave goods, C14 dating was carried out. However, so far only one burial on site provided evidence for date of interment – a Saxon female.