Monument record 0996900000 - Denham Park Farm, Denham

Evaluation trial trenching carried out by Archaeological Solutions in August and September 2006 identified isolated Roman features across the evaluation site, including postholes, pits, linear features and ditches. 122 sherds of Roman pottery were recovered. They are limited to abraded pottery from the mid 1st to mid 2nd centuries AD and comprise a small range of relatively local coarse wares and very low quantities of imported samian ware. See report for detail (B1).
NGR to centre of evaluation area.
Several linear features representing enclosures or field systems, extending beyond the limits of the excavations were identified during subsequent excavations. In addition were several discreet pits, mainly in close proximity to the boundary ditches. The pottery appears consistent with low status domestic activity. The furnace F6019 is also most likely to be Romano-British as well as the penannular ditch F6036. Both contained late Bronze Age pottery, but also contained iron smelting slag and therefore associated with industrial practices which are not of Bronze Age date. The overall evidence suggests that structure 6019 represents an iron smelting furnace. The clay lined bowls are characteristic of the lower portions of shaft furnaces. The clay and gravel lining of the base of the furnace is only 0.02-0.10m thick, which may indicate that the furnace had unusually thin walls, or that the lining has suffered degredation and damage during clearing out of the furnace. Charcoal remains from the furnace indicate that oak was the primary fuel (B2).
All of the slag recovered appears to derive from iron working. The quantity of tap slag indicate that the furnaces were tapping-furnaces. No indication of smithing was present (B3-4).
See publication report for detail (B5).