Roman settlement including possible shops (Site B), south of the Great Chesterford Temple precinct (EHER 13962)

An excavation in 1988 recorded a 4th century AD structure represented by post settings and patchy remnants of a crushed chalk floor. It also recovered 2nd century AD pottery sherds in an area of burning and recorded two ditches and a single large pit. Together the material was taken as evidence of a settlement in the hinterland of the temple precinct (EHER 4978). Aerial photography taken in 2018 shows an extensive cropmark feature comprising a series of enclosures and which has been interpreted as the settlement associated with the temple, to which the building belongs.

1988. Archaeological excavation. Roman structure of 4th century AD date of which only a number of post settings and patchy remnants of a crushed chalk floor remained. Also some evidence of occupation during the 2nd century AD; this comprised a thin stratum with 2nd century pot sherds and burnt areas and two ditches, also a single large pit. The area of excavation lies approximately 50m SE of the temple precinct (EHER 4978) and was identified by fieldwalking. <1> Excavation of an area 60m to the south-east of the temple revealed a floor surface, flint wall foundations, post-holes and gullies. <2> Site Assessment: The area has in recent years been severely disturbed by deep ploughing to a depth of 0.5m; consequently a clear interpretation of the site is difficult. <1> Aerial photographs taken in 2018 show extensive linear cropmark features that form a series of enclosures that probably represent the settlement site associated with the adjacent temple. The enclosures are not complete, but there are several associated pits within the ditches. <3> The features are mapped on the NMP cropmark plot. <4> Note: The east-west linear feature may be the Roman road described by EHER 4982. Outside the temple to the south-east, in 'Site B', a number of structures, which could either have served the temple as shops or workshops, or have been dwellings for people connected to the temple, were built during 'Phase 3' (mid-late 2nd century AD). Activity continued into 'Phase 4' (early-mid 3rd century AD) and 'Phase 5' (late 3rd-early 4th century AD). In 'Phase 6' (4th century), a quantity of pottery deposited within a spread of dark soil represents some limited activity, and a new gully was dug. <5>