Little Shelford Roman town (EHER 11220)

A Roman town with probable flood defences; 2nd and 3rd century pottery was found in association with the site. The town may have encompassed around 30 acres. The evidence suggests that the town was abandoned and then resettled in the 3rd century.

Roman occupation rubbish - midden. Oyster shells, grey ware, orange ware, Colchester colour coated ware, Caistor ware, samian, red colour coated ware, amphorae, bone, metalwork possibly of recent date and roof tile. The site lies to the west of the tumulus (EHER 11222) and may be associated with the cremation group found in 1973 (now in Prittlewell Priory Mus). Excavator driver also reported amount of fine red earth (red hill) adjacent to the tumulus. <1> Fieldwalking and excavation has shown Roman occupation covering at least 30 acres. A defensive ditch located in 1976 was traced for 50m; it was filled in the 2nd and 3rd century AD. Evidence of flooding in the later 3rd century was followed by some further occupation. <2> Excavation in 1978 on eight undisturbed acres of Roman settlement (TQ 983 906) produced pottery from the mid 2nd century-mid 3rd century AD. Roman activity lay directly on sterile sands and terminates with a layer of burnt debris, before being partially sealed by flood clay. <3> Continued excavtion in 1979 to define a possibly 3rd century structure produced no evidence for the expected structure but located an earlier stakehole structure with a trampled clay floor. <4> Nature of the settlement is uncertain, probably civilian, and the main area of settlement probably lies to the south and west. <5> <6> See also <7> <8> . Environmental analysis showed high proportions of inedible molluscs in site Q assemblages. <9> NRHE data import: TQ 983 906. A small Roman town which existed from the late 2nd century to the late 3rd century AD, at least 30 acres in extent, has been proved by excavations since 1972 by A.W.R.E. (Foulness) Archaeological Society following field walking in the immediate vicinity of Little Shelford (now demolished). An earlier defensive ditch was excavated in 1976 which had been filled up in the 2nd to 3rd centuries with domestic rubbish. There is evidence of a re-occupation of the area after flooding in the later 3rd century with the implication that defences against inundation have existed from Roman times to the present. <2> TQ 983 906. Excavation has concentrated on eight undisturbed acres of Roman settlement producing a pottery sequence from the mid-2nd century to the mid-3rd century AD. Roman activity rests directly on sterile sand and terminates with a layer of burnt debris, before being partially sealed by flood clay. <3> Additional reference: <10>.