Monument record 0954700000 - Roman settlement at Lawn Farm, Grendon Underwood

An archaeological evaluation (trial trenching) along the proposed route of a pipeline from Hardwick to Marsh Gibbon recorded archaeological remains in Grendon Underwood that attest to Roman settlement in the vicinity. There were a series of postpads/postholes in Trench 30 that either lay above or below a Late Roman demolition layer filled with tile, brick, pottery and animal bone. The postholes were probably of an internal wall. There was also some metalling to the east of this that may have been an external yard. The animal bone was predominantly of cattle, though pig, sheep/ goat and horse were also represented. Most of it is secondary butchery waste, suggesting domestic use of the site. The demolition layer was also seen in Trench 57, to the west of Trench 30. There were also 3 ditches and a rubbish pit filled with animal bones and capped with stone to keep away scavengers. Banked ditches, possible boundary ditches, and a large pit were found in Trenches 29 and 56, to the east of Trench 30. Environmental samples did not recover any cereal grains, only wood charcoal, suggesting a more industrial nature to the settlement (B1).
Higher magnetic readings were generated on the magnetic susceptibility survey in this area (B2).
Following the evaluation, two areas were selected for full excavation, revealing human activity spanning the Bronze Age to Late Roman periods, although the focus of activity appeared to date from the Iron Age to Late Roman Period. The main focus of Late Iron Age activity was located in Area 2 and differed quite markedly in both character and apparent function from the later occupation recorded in Area 1. Large quantities of smelting slag were recovered from this part of the site although no evidence for in situ metalworking was recovered. The Roman settlement dated from the Early Roman period and the general alignment of the enclosures established during this time were adhered to throughout the Roman occupation. A series of boundary and enclosure ditches were recorded that showed a general expansion of the settlement towards the east over time, with a shifting pattern of internalboundaries and enclosures. The most intensive phase of activity on site appeared to be the Late Roman period and it was during this time that the building recorded at the centre of Area 1 was constructed. A number of in situ elements were preserved including a section of wall constructed and faced wth limestone rubble and blocks. The remainder of its footprint was marked by 6 post pads, which suggested a roughly square layout (B3).
Significant archaeological remains identified during survey (B4).