Night Owl Truck Stop Watling Street, Lilbourne Northamptonshire

Night Owl Truck Stop Watling Street, Lilbourne

Northamptonshire

Archaeological Evaluation

for

RPS acting on behalf of

Eddie Stobart Logistics Ltd

CA Project: 660590 CA Report: 15798 Site Code: OWL15

November 2015

Night Owl Truck Stop Watling Street, Lilbourne Northamptonshire

Archaeological Evaluation

CA Project: 660590 CA Report: 15798 Site Code: OWL15

Document Control Grid Version Date Author Checked by Status Reasons for Approved revision by Draft 25/11/15 JSJ SCC Internal SCC review Final 27-11-15 SCC Final Client review SCC

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission.

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ...... 4

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 5

4. METHODOLOGY ...... 5

5. EVALUTION RESULTS ...... 6

6. THE FINDS ...... 9

7. THE BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE ...... 12

8. DISCUSSION ...... 14

9. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 16

10. REFERENCES ...... 16

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 19 APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ...... 23 APPENDIX C: THE PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE ...... 26

APPENDIX D: OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 28

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 Trench location plan showing archaeological features (1:750) Fig. 3 Trench 1: sections and photographs (1:20) Fig. 4 Trench 3: sections and photographs (1:20) Fig. 5 Trench 6: sections and photographs (1:20)

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

SUMMARY

Project Name: Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Lilbourne Location: Lilbourne, Northamptonshire NGR: SP 5513 7664 Type: Evaluation Date: 2-6 November 2015 Planning Reference: Daventry District Council DA/2010/1043 Location of Archive: To be deposited with NARC Site Code: OWL15

In November 2015, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation of land to the north of the Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street (A5), Northamptonshire. The evaluation, which was commissioned by RPS on behalf of Eddie Stobart Logistics Ltd, was undertaken to partially address a planning condition for the expansion of the truck-stop parking area.

The evaluation demonstrated the presence of Romano-British activity in the western half of the development area, immediately adjacent to Watling Street. This includes late 1st–2nd century boundary ditches relating to the organisation of the landscape following the construction of Watling Street, followed by a 2nd–4th century enclosure, with internal features, containing evidence for domestic activity.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In November 2015, Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation of land to the north of the Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street (A5), Northamptonshire (site centred on NGR: SP 5513 7664; Fig. 1). The evaluation, which was commissioned by RPS on behalf of Eddie Stobart Logistics Ltd, was undertaken to partially address a planning condition for the expansion of the truck- stop parking area (Daventry District Council (DDC) planning reference DA/2010/1043; Condition 1). Planning Condition 1 states:

‘No development shall take place until the applicant, or their agents or successors in title, has secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a written scheme of investigation which has been submitted by the applicant and approved by the Planning Authority.’

1.2 The scope of the archaeological works programme for the extension and refurbishment of the truck stop was determined following discussions between Rob Masefield of RPS and Liz Mordue, Northamptonshire County Council’s Assistant Archaeological Advisor (NCCAAA), archaeological advisor to Daventry District Council. The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a two-part brief issued by NCCAAA (2015a; 2015b) and a subsequent Written Scheme of Investigation prepared by CA (2015). It comprised the excavation of 350m of trial trench in a field which is to be incorporated into the northern end of the truck stop complex.

1.3 The project was carried out in accordance with the WSI ( ibid .) and abided by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists’ Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Evaluation (CIfA 2014) and the Historic England (formerly English Heritage) procedural documents Management of Archaeological Projects 2 (EH1991) and Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (HE 2015). The fieldwork was monitored by NCCAAA, with a site visit being made on 4th November 2015.

The site 1.4 The proposed development site, which covers an area of c. 1.6ha, is located beside the southbound carriageway of Watling Street (A5), approximately 1.5km to the south-west of Lilbourne and 5km east of Rugby town centre (Fig. 1). It comprises a

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

pasture field bounded by Rugby Road to the north-west, Watling Street to the south- west, farmland to the north-east and the Night Owl Truck Stop to the south-east. Topographically, the site is situated on a south-east facing slope overlooking the head of the valley of Clifton Brook, a tributary of the River Avon. The ground slopes gently from approximately 112m above Ordnance Datum (aOD) at the north-west corner of the site, near Rugby Road, to 105m aOD at the south-east corner of the site.

1.5 The geology comprises Jurassic mudstone of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation. Immediately to the south of the site are Quaternary deposits of First and Second Terrace sands and gravels, which may extend into the southern part of the field (BGS 2015).

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

2.1 The archaeological and historical background of the site has been presented in detail in the archaeological desk-based assessment prepared by Midland Archaeological Services (2010). This concluded that there are no designated or non-designated heritage assets within the site, although its proximity to Watling Street raised the possibility, borne out by the current evaluation, that features associated with the Roman road may be encountered within the site. Since the DBA was prepared, a number of Roman finds, predominately coins have been recovered from fields to the north of the site (NCCAAA 2015a).

2.2 There was considered to be a low potential for remains of other periods to be discovered, with the exception of modern features associated with the site’s use as a military training area, airfield and radio station in the first half of the 20th century; the latter was protected by a battery of Bofors anti-aircraft guns during WWII.

2.3 Land at the southern end of the truck stop was the subject of an archaeological investigation by Oxford Archaeology in 2012. No archaeological remains were encountered, other than the truncated remains of medieval or early post-medieval furrows (OA 2012).

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

3.1 The objectives of the evaluation, as stated in the WSI (CA 2015), were to:

• Establish the location, extent, nature, and date of any archaeological features or deposits that may be present; • Determine the integrity and state of preservation of any archaeological features or deposits that may be present.

3.2 In accordance with the Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluation (CIfA 2014), the evaluation was designed to be minimally intrusive and minimally destructive to archaeological remains. The information gathered will enable Daventry District Council to identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset, consider the impact of the proposed development upon it, and to avoid or minimise conflict between the heritage asset’s conservation and any aspect of the development proposal, in line with the National Planning Policy Framework (DCLG 2012).

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of seven trenches (1.8m x 50m) in the locations shown in Figure 2. Trenches were set out on OS National Grid (NGR) co- ordinates using Leica GPS and surveyed in accordance with CA’s Technical Manual 4: Survey Manual (CA 2009).

4.2 The trenches were excavated using a 360 o-degree tracked mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless ditching bucket. All machine excavation was undertaken under constant archaeological supervision to the top of the first significant archaeological horizon or the geological substrate, whichever was encountered first. Where archaeological deposits were encountered they were excavated by hand in accordance with Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (CA 2007).

4.3 Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential in accordance with Technical Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other Samples from Archaeological Sites (CA 2003); three samples were taken from Romano-British deposits, two of which have been processed. All artefacts recovered

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

were processed in accordance with Technical Manual 3: Treatment of Finds Immediately after Excavation (CA 2005).

4.4 The archive and artefacts from the evaluation are currently held by CA at their offices in Milton Keynes. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the artefacts will be deposited with the Northamptonshire Archaeological Resource Centre (NARC), along with the site archive. A summary of information from this project, as set out within Appendix D, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

5. EVALUTION RESULTS

5.1 This section provides an overview of the evaluation results; detailed summaries of the recorded contexts, finds and environmental samples (palaeoenvironmental evidence) are to be found in Appendices A, B and C respectively.

General stratigraphy 5.2 The geological substrate was consistent across the site, comprising mid-red-brown clay with frequent inclusions of small rounded stones and patches of light green-blue soft clay interspersed with lenses of mid orange-yellow sands and gravels. Subsoil was present across the site, but was of variable thickness (0.06m to 0.40m thick) and appeared to have been truncated at the south eastern corner of the site, in Trenches 4, 5 and 7. Low bunds of subsoil aligned north-south were present across the site. These were associated with a previous phase of activity during the late 20th century, when the site was used as a go-karting track, further evidence for which was recorded in the southern extension of the Night Owl site (OA 2012). Topsoil comprised mid-grey-brown friable clay, approximately 0.30m thick.

Romano-British (AD43-AD410) Trench 1 (Figs. 2 & 3) 5.3 Natural substrate was reached at an average 0.55m below present ground level (bpgl). At the western end of the trench, a NE-SW aligned linear ditch, 104, was cut to a depth of 0.45m through the substrate, with moderately steep sides and a concave base (Fig. 3, Section AA). A primary fill, 105 was made up of clay, with small sub-rounded stones and angular flint similar to the natural substrate, suggesting that it had accumulated as the sides of the feature had weathered.

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

Some artefactual material was also included within the primary fill matrix, with spot dates ranging between the late 1st to mid-2nd centuries AD. The secondary fill 106 was darker, with a higher proportion of silt and contained a large amount of bone and pottery sherds, dating between the mid-3rd to 4th centuries AD.

5.4 Near the centre of the trench, a north-south aligned linear ditch 107 was cut through the substrate to a depth of at least 0.59m (Fig. 3, Section BB). The primary fill was mid-red-brown clayey silt 108, which contained ceramics dating to the mid-2nd to 4th centuries AD. This was sealed by dark brown-black clayey silt 109 containing small flecks of charcoal within its matrix, along with an assemblage of pottery sherds (dating to the 4th century AD), bone fragments, iron objects and a mid-4th century coin.

5.5 Ditch 110 was excavated to a depth of at least 0.37m, with two fills recorded in section (Fig. 3, Section CC). The earliest fill 111, a mid to dark yellow brown silty clay with frequent pottery sherds (spot dated to the 2nd century AD) and animal and human bone fragments. The primary fill was sealed by a deposit of mid-brown black clayey silt 112, which also contained an assemblage of pottery sherds (dating to the 4th century AD), animal bone and two copper alloy coins (mid-4th century). Both ditches 107 and 110 were investigated with small exploratory slots, excavated to reveal the upper cut-profiles. Neither feature was excavated to the base; however a hand-auger survey was undertaken showing that the base of ditches 107 and 110 was cut approximately 1.35m into the natural substrate. The upper fills of all three features were sealed by subsoil 102.

Trench 3 (Figs. 2 & 4)

5.6 Natural substrate was revealed at an average depth of 0.50m bpgl. A small east- west aligned linear ditch 305 was cut through the substrate to a depth of 0.48m at the western end of the trench, backfilled with mid-brown grey silty clay 306 (Fig. 4, Section EE). This was sealed by a deposit of dark brown grey silty clay containing pottery sherds (spot dated to the late 3rd–4th centuries AD). Ditch 303 may represent a further extension of 305 to the east, on a slightly modified alignment, although the relationship between the two features was not visible within the base of the trench (Fig. 4, Section DD). The feature was cut to a depth of 0.40m through the substrate with a single fill, 304, of mid grey brown silty clay; this feature contained a pottery assemblage dating to the 2nd century AD.

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

5.7 In the centre of Trench 3, a large north south aligned linear ditch, 307, measuring 3.65m wide, was cut 1.20m into the natural substrate (Fig. 4, Section FF). The base was recorded with a reconnaissance auger, which recovered natural substrate at a depth of 1.7m bpgl. Hand excavation revealed the upper fills of the feature, including a dark grey-brown deposit of silty clay, 308, which had been tipped from the eastern edge of the feature. This material contained pottery sherds dating from the 4th century AD. The cut was filled and levelled by a deposit of dark yellow-brown silty clay, 309, which had been tipped from the western edge of the feature, sealing 308. This material contained a range of artefactual material dating between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD. A plough furrow, 310 was cut through the upper fill 309, truncating it to a depth of 0.20m. The fills of the furrows were sealed by subsoil 302.

Trench 6 (Figs. 2 & 5) 5.8 The natural substrate in Trench 6 was encountered at an average of 0.46m bpgl. An east-west aligned linear ditch 606 was cut to a depth of 0.65m and contained a series of three fills (Fig. 5, Section HH). The primary fill 607, was dark grey-blue clay consisting of weathered natural substrate, also containing an assemblage of 2nd to 4th century pottery, as well as faunal remains. The secondary fill 608, consisted of compacted grey brown clay, containing a higher proportion of artefactual material, with a range of dates spanning the late 2nd century to the 4th century. The final fill, 609, was friable dark grey-brown silty clay, containing a pottery assemblage dating between the mid-3rd to 4th centuries AD.

5.9 Ditch 603 cut through the natural substrate to a depth of 0.46m and contained two distinct fills (Fig. 5, Section GG). The primary fill 604, consisted of mottled dark grey and orange-brown silty clay. The secondary fill 605, consisted of dark grey-brown silty clay, with no trace of mottling. The presence of a mottled horizon may, in this case, indicate the alteration of the deposit by a post-depositional process, in this case soil gleying.

5.10 Ditch 610, a continuation of ditch 307 in Trench 3, was recorded within the trench, but not investigated.

8 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

Medieval/post-medieval (AD410-1800) Trenches 1-7 (Fig. 2)

5.11 A series of furrows, the remains of a medieval/post-medieval open field system, were identified in all of the trenches. They were aligned north-west to south-east and ran downslope, parallel to Watling Street. The spacing between the furrows was variable, ranging from c. 2m up to 10m; where excavated, they were no more than 0.2m deep. The ground surface had been extensively churned up in modern times and no surviving earthworks associated with the furrows were visible on the surface.

Modern (1800-present) Trench 2 (Fig. 2) 5.12 Natural substrate was encountered at an average depth of 0.55m bpgl. Four north- west to south-east aligned furrows were cut through the substrate to a depth of 0.08m; these were truncated in turn by a pair of early modern or modern field drains. A large, sub-circular feature (203), filled with a mix of broken concrete, brick, demolition rubble and broken glass (204), was situated at the western end of the trench. This feature is an infilled pond or natural spring, as shown on the 6” Ordnance Survey sheet (Northamptonshire XXIX.NW – Revised 1950). The feature is not shown on later maps, indicating that it was infilled in the second half of the 20th century, most likely to make way for the go-karting track.

6. THE FINDS by Jacky Somerville

6.1 Artefactual material was hand-recovered from 16 deposits (ditch fills and subsoil), and recovered from bulk soil sampling of three of these. The recovered material all dates to the Roman period. Quantities of the artefact types recovered are given in Appendix B, Table 1. The pottery has been recorded according to sherd count/weight per fabric. Recording also included form/rim morphology and any evidence for use in the form of carbonised/other residues. Fabrics correspond to the Northamptonshire County Ceramic Type-Series (Perrin 2006). Where applicable, National Roman Fabric Reference Collection codes are also given in Appendix B, Table 1 (Tomber and Dore 1998).

Pottery 6.2 The pottery assemblage totals 310 sherds (3.340kg). The average sherd of 11g is slightly low for a Roman group, suggesting a moderate degree of fragmentation. In

9 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

terms of edge abrasion and surface preservation, most of the pottery is in moderate to good condition, with just a small number of sherds in poor or very good condition. Evidence for use, in the form of external carbonised residue, was recorded on one sherd from fill 309 of ditch 307.

6.3 Almost half of the assemblage comprises coarsewares, probably of relatively local manufacture. This includes: 67 sherds of medium sandy, self-coloured greyware (C20), 46 sherds of fine greyware (C3) and 23 sherds in oxidised fabrics (D). A probable source for the most abundant greyware fabric (C20) is the central Warwickshire kilns in the Wappenbury/Ryton-on-Dunsmore/Bubbenhall area, approximately 15km to the west of the site. Forms include: a necked jar from fill 106 of ditch 104, and a strainer bowl from fill 312 of ditch 305, both in fabric C20; and a bead-rim bowl in fabric D from fill 109 of ditch 107. Nine sherds of ‘Developed’ grog- tempered ware (A3), which was probably produced in the Upper Nene Valley close to Northampton, were recovered from two deposits. Sherds from fill 106 of ditch 104 represent a large storage jar.

6.4 A range of regional imports is represented. A hooked flange from a mortarium in Mancetter Hartshill whiteware (M/H) was recorded in fill 308 of ditch 307. This ware type is sourced to the Warwickshire/Leicestershire border area and the flanged type of mortarium was in production during the early to mid-2nd century (Tyers 1996, 123). Twenty-one unfeatured bodysherds of Pink grog-tempered ware (A2) were retrieved. Production of this ware type is attested in Stowe, Buckinghamshire (Booth 1999) and it is commonly found in Northamptonshire, dating to the late 2nd to 4th centuries.

6.5 Lower Nene Valley Colour-coated ware (D1) is represented by 37 sherds. This type of pottery was manufactured in Cambridgeshire, close to Peterborough, from the mid-2nd to 4th centuries (Howe et al. 1980). Included are: a rouletted bodysherd from a beaker or jug (fill 108 of ditch 107); a sherd from a castor box lid (fill 609 of ditch 606); and a bodysherd featuring slip-trailed barbotine decoration (fill 112 of ditch 110). Forty-five sherds of Harrold Shelly ware (B4), produced in north Bedfordshire, were recorded. Horizontal combed/‘rilled’ decoration was noted on seven bodysherds (fill 106 of ditch 1040 and fill 112 of ditch 110). Sherds from ditch fill 112 also include a rimsherd from a large storage jar.

10 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

6.6 A total of 19 sherds of Oxford Red-slipped ware (D4), which was in production from the mid-3rd to 4th centuries, was recorded (Young 1977, 123). Forms include: a probable beaker or flagon with rouletted decoration (fill 106 of ditch 104); and a (Young) C51 hemispherical flanged bowl (fill 609 of ditch 606) ( ibid, 152–3; 160–1). Dorset Black-burnished ware (C8) totals 25 sherds. This type of pottery was manufactured near Poole in Dorset and when found outside the county it typically dates to the 2nd to 4th centuries (Davies et al . 1994, 107). More closely dateable are: a (Seager Smith and Davies) Type 21 ‘fish dish’ from fill 312 of ditch 305 (late 3rd to 4th centuries); and Type 25 conical flanged bowls from fill 106 of ditch 104 and fill 109 of ditch 107 (mid 3rd to 4th centuries) (Seager Smith and Davies 1993, 232–4).

6.7 Continental imports are restricted to Gaulish samian, all of which are unfeatured bodysherds, in poor to moderate condition. These comprise: three sherds from central Gaul (D42); and one from east Gaul (D43). Samian was exported to Britain from central Gaulish production centres during 2nd century, and from east Gaulish centres from the mid-2nd to mid-3rd centuries (Webster 1996, 2–3).

Ceramic building material 6.8 A total of 44 fragments (610g) of ceramic building material was retrieved from six deposits. Those which are sufficiently complete for further classification are: tegulae (topsoil 101 and fill 106 of ditch 104); and imbrex (fill 308 of ditch 307). This material is all in moderate to good condition.

Coins 6.9 Four copper alloy coins were recovered, all of Roman date (Appendix B, Table 2).

Metal objects 6.10 A total of nine fragmentary iron objects, in moderately to heavily corroded condition, was recovered from three deposits. A nail was identified from fill 112 of ditch 110 and a strip/strap fragment from fill 106 of ditch 104. Most of the remainder are bar fragments. Ditch fill 106 also produced a key. This is classified as an L-shaped lift- key, which is the most common type of Romano-British key (Manning 1980, 90, Fig. 25, Plate 40). It measures c. 170mm in length and retains only one of its three original teeth.

11 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

7. THE BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

Human Remains by Andy Clarke 7.1 Fragments of human bone were recovered from two ditch fills associated with the Roman settlement (Appendix B, Table 1). A single fragment (13g) of human bone was recovered from deposit 106, the secondary fill of ditch 104. This has been identified as a right, second metatarsal from an adult individual.

7.2 A further 144 fragments (575g) of human bone were recovered from deposit 111 the fill of ditch 110. The fragments were poor to moderately well preserved and had clearly suffered from both historical and modern damage. However, it was possible to identify a mandible, scapula, clavicle, humerus, a left radius and ulna, a carpal, three metacarpals, two phalanges, five thoracic vertebrae, 19 rib fragments and a left femur. None of the identified elements were complete.

7.3 Due to the fragmentation of the identified elements there were few osteological landmarks relating to age at death estimation. The only complete epiphysis present was the distal radius, which fuses between 18 and 22 years of age. Incisor and molar teeth were present in the mandible but displayed such excessive wear as to make unrealistic. No landmarks relating to sex determination were present. The remains were not recovered in an articulated state, nor was any form of grave cut noted. However the comparative size and development of each fragment is suggestive of an origin from a single, adult individual.

Pathology 7.4 As stated above the incisor and molar teeth present display excessive levels of wear. This is especially true of the incisors and is probably the result of the mouth repeatedly being used as a ‘third hand’ to assist with a regular, possibly daily task. Anti-mortem tooth loss and the presence of a large abscess were also noted on the right side of the mandible.

Animal Bone by Andy Clarke 7.5 A collection of animal bones numbering 400 fragments (5250g) was recovered by a combination of hand excavation and bulk soil sampling from eight ditch features spread across site and in association with artefacts dating to the Roman period (Appendix B, Table 2). For the purpose of this report, the bones were identified to species and skeletal element using an osteological reference collection (Cotswold

12 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

Archaeology Ltd) as well as standard reference literature (Schmid 1972), and quantified by fragment count and weight. Where modern breakage was observed and re-fitting was possible, those fragments were recorded as a single bone. The material was generally well preserved but was highly fragmented with frequent historical and modern damage. This has rendered 77% of the assemblage unidentifiable beyond the level of cattle or sheep size mammal. However, it has been possible to identify the remains of cattle ( Bos taurus ), sheep/goat ( Ovis aries/Capra hircus ), pig ( Sus scrofa sp .), horse ( Equus callabus ) and dog ( Canis familiaris ).

7.6 Of the identifiable material, bones from cattle and sheep/goat dominate, with 39 (2744g) and 28 (215g) fragments of both meat-poor and meat-rich elements. Roman butchery employed a cleaver for carcass dismemberment. Evidence of this was observed in the form of rough chop marks through the shaft of a cattle radius from deposit 106 the fill of ditch 104 and a sheep/goat metacarpal in deposit 609, the fill of ditch 606. The latter deposit also contained a sheep/goat mandible juvenile radius and ulna from an animal of between 2 to 6 months.

7.7 The remains of pig were the least abundant of the three major domestics, with only five (106g) fragments of mandible or individual molars recovered.

7.8 Horse bones were also identified from 15 fragments (856g). Apart from a fragment of tibia from deposit 308, fill of ditch 307, this species was identified solely from loose molars.

7.9 Dog was identified from two fragments of mandible (8g) found in deposit 308, fill of ditch 307 and deposit 605 the fill of ditch 603.

7.10 The Roman activity on site produced the fragments of both meat-poor and meat- rich skeletal elements, some of which display butchery marks pointing to carcass dismemberment. This is highly indicative of domestic refuse, comprising both primary and secondary butchery, the preparation of a carcass after slaughter and its subsequent dressing into individual cuts of meat. Beef and mutton were clearly the favoured dietary choice with pork making only a minor contribution in terms of protein intake. Age at death data was recovered of less than 1 year for sheep/goat indicating that this species may have been bred nearby during this period. The

13 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

remains of horse and dog were not recovered in sufficient numbers to make any inference as to their contribution to the site economy during this period.

Palaeoenvironmental Evidence by Sarah Cobain 7.11 Two environmental samples (40 litres of soil) were retrieved from two deposits with the intention of recovering evidence of industrial or domestic activity and material for radiocarbon dating; the results have been tabulated in Appendix C, Table 3. The samples were processed by standard flotation procedures (CA Technical Manual No. 2).

Romano-British 7.12 Sample 2 was recovered from fill 307 within ditch 307 and contained no plant macrofossils and only two fragments of charcoal identifiable as willow/poplar (Salix/Populus ) and oak ( Quercus ). Fill 607 within ditch 606 (sample 2) contained no plant macrofossils and a small amount of charcoal identified as alder/hazel (Alnus glutinosa/Corylus avellana ). The paucity and poor preservation of this ecofactual material suggests it is residual, originating from wind-blown hearth debris. No further interpretation of site activities is possible. No material is recommended for radiocarbon dating.

8. DISCUSSION

8.1 Archaeological remains consisted of Romano-British ditches, probably forming enclosures and sub-divisions, containing evidence for domestic activity, situated in the western half of the proposed development site. These features have been truncated by the plough furrows of a medieval ridge and furrow field system. Twentieth-century landscaping associated with the use of the site as a go-karting track has caused minimal damage to the below ground archaeology, having been limited to the movement of the topsoil and subsoil.

Roman 8.2 The earliest activity on site is characterised by the cutting of two east-west aligned ditches 104 and 303, broadly perpendicular to the alignment of Watling Street, which dates to the mid-1st century (Margary, 1973). Both features contain primary fills with exclusively 1st or 2nd century assemblages. These ditches may represent the

14 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

establishment of new boundaries dividing up the land adjacent to the road, following its construction.

8.3 A series of larger boundary ditches (107, 110, 307, 606 and 610) may enclose a rectilinear plot, aligned north-south parallel with Watling Street. Where the primary fill of this enclosure was hand-excavated, it was found to contain late 2nd to 4th- century material. This included possible evidence of structures on the site, comprising highly abraded and fragmented stone rubble and occasional fragments of roof tile. No wall footings were recorded during the evaluation, but it is possible that any standing walls left after the abandonment of the site would have been robbed out. Alternatively the tile may derive from re-use (for example associated with corn-drying ovens). Features inside the possible enclosure may represent internal divisions associated with a main enclosure, rather than robber trenches, as they have an analogous sequence to the main enclosure ditches, with 3rd and 4th century cultural material in the upper fills. Although there was only indirect evidence for structures within the enclosure, there was also an assemblage of local, regional and continentally produced pottery and an iron key indicating the presence of settlement activity, while the faunal remains indicate the primary and secondary processing of animals on the site, to provide a supply of meat, This is likely to represent a development and intensification of domestic activity, perhaps as part of a late 2nd to 4th century roadside settlement.

Medieval 8.4 In the medieval period, the site lay within the open fields surrounding the village of Lilbourne, which were characterised by the earthworks of ridge & furrow ploughing. The investigation of furrows as part of the current investigation did not reveal any datable material.

Post-medieval/modern 8.5 A small infilled pond, visible on the 1st edition 6” Ordnance Survey sheet of the area, had been backfilled with modern material in the second half of the 20th century, at the same time as the site was landscaped for the construction of a go-karting track. The original purpose of this pond and its origin remain unknown, as excavation of the fill was not possible during this phase of works.

15 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

Conclusions 8.6 The objectives of the evaluation were to confirm the nature, extent, location and date of any archaeological remains within the development area, as well as making an assessment of the integrity and state of preservation of those remains. The evaluation has demonstrated the presence of Romano-British activity in the western half of the development area, immediately adjacent to Watling Street. This includes late 1st–2nd century boundary ditches relating to the organisation of the landscape following the construction of Watling Street followed by a 2nd-4th century enclosure, with internal features, containing evidence for domestic activity.

9. CA PROJECT TEAM

9.1 The fieldwork was undertaken by Jake Streatfeild-James and Ralph Brown, assisted by Anna Moosbauer, Matt Ferron, Mai Walker, Kim Devereux-West and Sam Bithell. The report was written by Jake Streatfeild-James. The finds and biological evidence reports were written by Jackie Sommerville and Sarah Cobain respectively. The illustrations were prepared by Dan Bashford. The archive has been compiled by Emily Evans and prepared for deposition by Hazel O’Neill. The project was managed for CA by Simon Carlyle.

10. REFERENCES

Baker, P. and Worley, F. 2014 Animal bones and archaeology: Guidelines for best practice Swindon, English Heritage

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2015 Geology of Britain Viewer http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geology viewer_google/googleviewer.html Accessed 9 November 2015

Booth, P. M. 1999 ‘Pink Grogged Ware again’, Study Group for Roman Pottery Newsletter 27 , 2–3.

Davies, B., Richardson, B. and Tomber, R 1994 The archaeology of Roman London Volume 5: A dated corpus of early Roman pottery from the City of London. CBA Research Report 98. London. Museum of London and Council for British Archaeology.

16 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

DCLG (Department of Communities and Local Government) 2012 National Planning Policy Framework)

Howe, M. D., Perrin, J. R. and Macreth, D. F. 1980 Roman Pottery from the Nene Valley: A Guide . Occasional Paper 2. Peterborough. Peterborough City Museum and Art Gallery.

Manning, W. H. 1980 Catalogue of the Romano-British Iron Tools, Fittings and Weapons in the British Museum . London. British Museum Publications Ltd.

MAS Midland Archaeological Services 2010 Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling \Street, Rugby, CV23 0AE: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment , unpublished document

NCCAAA (Northamptonshire County Council’s Assistant Archaeological Advisor) 2015a Brief for a Programme of Archaeological Investigation of Land at Watling Street, Lilbourne, Northamptonshire , unpublished document

NCCAAA (Northamptonshire County Council’s Assistant Archaeological Advisor) 2015b Brief for the Archaeological Field Evaluation of Land at Watling Street, Lilbourne, Northamptonshire , unpublished document

OA (Oxford Archaeology) 2012 Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Lilbourne: Archaeological Strip Map, Sample and Evaluation Report, report 5382

Parry, S. J. 2006 Raunds Area Survey: An Archaeological Study of the Landscape of Raunds, Northamptonshire 1985-94. Oxford. Oxbow Books.

Perrin, J. R. 2006 ‘Romano-British pottery’, in Parry 2006, 84–91.

Schmid, E. 1972 Atlas of animal bones: For prehistorians, archaeologists and quaternary geologists Amsterdam, Elsevier Publishing Company

Seager Smith, R. and Davies, S. M. 1993 ‘Roman Pottery’, in Woodward et al . 1993, 202–141.

17 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

Tomber. R. and Dore. J. 1998 The National Roman Fabric Reference Collection: A Handbook . MOLaS Monograph 2. London.

Tyers, P. 1996 Roman Pottery in Britain . London. Routledge.

Webster, P. 1996 Roman Samian Pottery in Britain . Practical Handbook in Archaeology 13 .

Woodward, P. J., Davies, S.M. and Graham, A.H. 1993 Excavations at Greyhound Yard, Dorchester 1981–4. Dorchester. Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society.

Young, C. J. 1977 Oxfordshire Roman Pottery . British Archaeological Reports. 43. Oxford.

18 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Context Type Context Description L W D Spot -date No. interpretation (m) (m) (m) Trench 1 101 Layer Topsoil Mid greyish brown friable clayey 0.35 silt, small and medium sub- rounded stones, flint fragments 102 Layer Subsoil Dark reddish brown soft silty clay 0.20 with occasional small and medium rounded stones and flint fragments 103 Layer Natural Mid reddish brown friable silty clay with frequent inclusions and patches of light green-blue soft clay, lenses of mid orange yellow sands and gravels 104 Cut Cut of Ditch NE-SW aligned liner feature with >1.0 1.50 0.45 two fills, 105 and 106. Possible boundary ditch, purposefully infilled with midden material 106 105 Fill of 104 Primary fill of Mid green brown silty clay, soft >1.0 1.50 0.27 Late 1st - 2nd C Ditch consistency, with inclusions of small and medium rounded stones, and angular flint fragments. Contained fragments of bone and ceramic fragments 106 Fill of 104 Secondary fill Mid brown black clayey silt, >1.0 0.85 0.28 Mid-3rd - 4th C of Ditch friable consistency, inclusions of small and medium sub-angular stones. Possible backfilling/levelling deposit, contained a large amount of bone and ceramics 107 Cut Cut of Ditch N-S aligned linear feature, max >1.0 3.17 0.59 excavated depth - 0.59m. Backfilled with primary fill (108) midden material (109). 108 Fill of 107 Primary fill of Mid reddish brown clayey silt, >1.0 3.17 0.21 Ditch friable consistency, small and medium sub rounded stones, inclusions of charcoal. Possible natural silting of open ditch. Contained ceramic fragments 109 Fill of 107 Secondary fill Mid brownish black, clayey silt, >1.0 3.06 0.38 4th of Ditch friable consistency, small and medium sub-rounded stones, angular flint, and charcoal fragments. Contained ceramics, bone and a single coin 110 Cut Cut of Ditch E-W aligned linear feature, gently >1.0 1.71 0.37 sloping with break of slope to steep sides. Interpreted as continuation of 107, forming the northern corner of a settlement boundary. 111 Fill of 110 Primary fill of Mid yellowish brown/dark >1.0 1.03 0.13 2nd C Ditch yellowish brown silty clay, soft consistency, small and medium sub-rounded stones, poor horizon clarity. Fill of ditch slumped in from NW edge. Contained ceramic fragments and bone 112 Fill of 110 Secondary fill Mid brown black clayey silt, >1.0 1.27 0.37 4th C of Ditch friable consistency, small and medium sub-rounded stones, angular flint, charcoal fragments. Possibly intentionally backfilled into the ditch as a levelling deposit, contained ceramic fragments, bone and two copper

19 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

alloy coins. Trench 2 200 Layer Topsoil Mid grey brown silty clay 0.30 201 Layer Subsoil Mid reddish brown silty clay 0.40 202 Layer Natural Mid reddish brown friable silty clay with frequent inclusions and patches of light green-blue soft clay, lenses of mid orange yellow sands and gravels 203 Cut Cut of Pond Cut of pond marked on historic 7.5 1.8 mapping. Unexcavated 204 Fill of 203 Fill of Pond Modern backfilling of pond, included concrete, building rubble, glass and other 20 th century material. Unexcavated Trench 3 300 Layer Topsoil Dark greyish brown, silty clay, 0.30 small sub rounded/rounded stones 301 Layer Subsoil Mid orangey brown, silty, small 0.20 sub rounded poorly sorted inclusions 302 Layer Natural Mid reddish brown friable silty clay with frequent inclusions and patches of light green-blue soft clay, lenses of mid orange yellow sands and gravels 303 Cut Cut of Ditch E-W aligned linear feature, >1.0 0.50 0.38 gentle breaks of slope - concave base. Single fill = 304 304 Fill of 303 Fill of Ditch Mid brown grey silty clay, friable >1.0 0.50 0.38 2nd C consistency, small sub rounded stones and mineralisation deposits (possible calcium carbonate percolation). Contained ceramic fragments and bone 305 Cut Cut of Ditch Linear feature, moderate sides, >1.0 0.72 0.48 concave base. Max depth = 0.48m filled by 306/312 306 Fill of 305 Primary fill of Mid brown grey compact clay, >1.0 0.27 0.11 Ditch small rounded stones, primary fill of feature [305], contained small fragments of ceramic and animal bone 307 Cut Cut of Large Linear feature, moderate to steep >2.0 3.65 0.43 Boundary sides, base not excavated, Ditch aligned NW-SE. Upper fills contained RB ceramic fragment and bone, upper fills cut by medieval plough furrow 311 308 Fill of 307 Fill of Large Dark grey brown silty clay, >2.0 1.85 0.43 4th C Boundary moderately compacted, frequent Ditch bone, frequent pot, CBM. Formed by accumulation of midden material from the eastern edge of the ditch. 309 Fill of 307 Fill of Large Dark yellow brown, silty clay, >2.0 1.98 0.40 2nd to 4th C Boundary moderate to highly compacted, Ditch rare ceramic fragments, moderate bone, rare small sub- angular stones, and rare charcoal. Formed by erosion of natural from western edge of ditch 310 Linear Cut of Furrow Linear feature, gradually sloping >2.0 2.23 0.20 sides, concave to flat base, aligned NW-SE, furrow cut through upper fill of RB boundary ditch 307 311 Fill of 310 Fill of Furrow Mid grey brown silty clay, >2.0 2.23 0.20 moderately compacted, frequent

20 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

small sub-angular and sub- rounded stones, infilling of plough furrow with med/post-med plough soil 312 Fill of 305 Secondary fill Dark brownish grey silty clay, >1.0 0.72 0.38 Late 3rd to 4th C of Ditch firm consistency, small sub- rounded stones, moderate compaction. Frequent ceramics and bone, Backfill of midden material Trench 4 400 Layer Topsoil Mid greyish brown friable clayey 0.30 silt, small and medium sub- rounded stones, flint fragments 401 Layer Subsoil Dark reddish brown soft silty clay 0.06 with occasional small and medium rounded stones and flint fragments 402 Layer Natural Mid reddish brown friable silty clay with frequent inclusions and patches of light green-blue soft clay, lenses of mid orange yellow sands and gravels Trench 5 500 Layer Topsoil Mid greyish brown friable clayey 0.30 silt, small and medium sub- rounded stones, flint fragments 501 Layer Subsoil Dark reddish brown soft silty clay 0.10 with occasional small and medium rounded stones and flint fragments 502 Layer Natural Mid reddish brown friable silty clay with frequent inclusions and patches of light green-blue soft clay, lenses of mid orange yellow sands and gravels Trench 6 600 Layer Topsoil Mid greyish brown friable clayey silt, small and medium sub- rounded stones, flint fragments 601 Layer Subsoil Dark reddish brown soft silty clay with occasional small and medium rounded stones and flint fragments 602 Layer Natural Mid reddish brown friable silty clay with frequent inclusions and patches of light green-blue soft clay, lenses of mid orange yellow sands and gravels 603 Cut Cut of Ditch Linear feature, moderate upper 3.38 1.40 0.46 slope, steeper base. Ceramic fragments and bone recovered from fill 604 Fill of 603 Primary fill of Dark grey with flecks of orange 3.38 1.40 0.34 RB Ditch brown, silty clay, friable consistency, and sub rounded and rounded stones. Primary fill of material naturally accumulating in base of ditch. 605 Fill of 603 Secondary fill Dark grey brown silty clay, friable 2.38 1.40 0.12 RB of Ditch consistency, small sub-rounded stones. Secondary fill possibly the result of intentional backfilling at the end of use/ or as a levelling deposit. 606 Cut Cut of Ditch NE-SW aligned linear feature, >1.0 1.50 0.65 straight sides, steep slope, and sharp break of slope at the top. Concave base. 607 Fill of 606 Primary fill of Dark grey blue clay, compact >1.0 0.54 0.04 2nd to 4th C Ditch consistency, sub angular weathered sandstone inclusions, contained ceramic fragments

21 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

608 Fill of 606 Secondary fill Dark grey brown clay, very >1.0 1.50 0.34 Late 2nd to 4th of Ditch compact, small sub-angular C stones. Contained ceramic fragments, bone fragments. Possible natural silting-up of ditch. 609 Fill of 606 Tertiary fill of Dark greyish brown silty clay, >1.0 1.50 0.34 Mid-3rd - 4th C Ditch friable consistency, contained ceramics, bone and shell. Formed by possible backfilling at the end of ditch use/abandonment 610 Ditch Cut of Ditch Aligned NW-SE, not excavated >1.8 3.5 611 Fill of 610 Fill of Ditch Dark greyish brown silty clay, friable consistency, contained ceramics, bone and shell. Formed by possible backfilling at the end of ditch use/abandonment Trench 7 701 Layer Topsoil Mid greyish brown friable clayey 0.35 silt, small and medium sub- rounded stones, flint fragments 702 Layer Subsoil Dark reddish brown soft silty clay 0.05 with occasional small and medium rounded stones and flint fragments 703 Layer Natural Mid reddish brown friable silty clay with frequent inclusions and patches of light green-blue soft clay, lenses of mid orange yellow sands and gravels

22 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Table 1: Quantification of finds by context Context Category Description Fabric Code/ Count Weight Spot -date NRFRC* (g) 101 Roman ceramic Tegula 1 145 RB building material 105 Roman pottery Developed grog-tempered A3 1 35 LC1-C2+ ware Roman pottery Greyware (sandy) C20 6 74 Roman pottery Black-firing, sand-tempered C19 1 4 fabric 106 Roman pottery Dorset Black-burnished ware C8/ DOR BB1 6 115 MC3-C4 Roman pottery Oxford Red-slipped ware D4/ OXF RS 8 14 Roman pottery Lower Nene Valley Colour- D1/ LNV CC 2 5 coated ware Roman pottery Harrold Shelly ware B4/ HAR SH 12 62 Roman pottery Developed grog-tempered A3 8 540 ware Roman pottery Pink grog-tempered ware A2/ PNK GT 1 24 Roman pottery Greyware (sandy) C20 9 96 Roman pottery Greyware (fine) C3 19 239 Roman pottery Oxidised fabric D 2 14 Roman ceramic Tegula 1 208 building material Iron Key, strap/strip 3 668 Fired clay 20 145 108 Roman pottery Lower Nene Valley Colour- D1/ LNV CC 11 138 MC2-C4 coated ware 109 Roman pottery Dorset Black-burnished ware C8/ DOR BB1 1 42 C4 Roman pottery Lower Nene Valley Colour- D1/ LNV CC 3 28 coated ware Roman pottery Harrold Shelly ware B4/ HAR SH 2 10 Roman pottery Pink grog-tempered ware A2/ PNK GT 2 92 Roman pottery Greyware (sandy) C20 4 20 Roman pottery Greyware (fine) C3 3 15 Roman pottery Oxidised fabric D 5 9 Roman ceramic Fragment 5 62 building material Copper alloy Coin 1 2 111 Roman pottery Central Gaulish samian D42/ LEZ SA 1 1 C2+ Roman pottery Oxidised fabric D 1 <1 Roman pottery Greyware (sandy) C20 1 10 Roman pottery Greyware (fine) C3 1 7 Roman pottery Black-firing, sand-tempered C19 2 3 fabric 112 Roman pottery Eastern Gaulish samian D43 1 3 C4 Roman pottery Oxford Red-slipped ware D4/ OXF RS 1 2 Roman pottery Lower Nene Valley Colour- D1/ LNV CC 11 91 coated ware Roman pottery Harrold Shelly ware B4/ HAR SH 12 157 Roman pottery Pink grog-tempered ware A2/ PNK GT 2 84 Roman pottery Greyware (sandy) C20 12 74 Roman pottery Greyware (fine) C3 10 121 Roman pottery Oxidised fabric D 2 4 Roman ceramic Fragment 1 27 building material Copper alloy Coin 1 3 Copper alloy Coin 1 1 Iron Nail, bar 3 41 Fired clay 9 63 304 Roman pottery Central Gaulish samian D42/ LEZ SA 1 3 C2 Roman pottery Oxidised fabric D 1 <1 308 Roman pottery Dorset Black-burnished ware C8/ DOR BB1 2 2 C4

23 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

Context Category Description Fabric Code/ Count Weight Spot -date NRFRC* (g) Roman pottery Mancetter Hartshill Whiteware M/H / MAH 1 17 WH Roman pottery Harrold Shelly ware B4/ HAR SH 8 20 <2> Roman pottery Harrold Shelly ware B4/HAR SH 3 <1 Roman pottery Pink grog-tempered ware A2/ PNK GT 1 2 Roman pottery Greyware (sandy) C20 9 71 Roman pottery Greyware (fine) C3 7 25 Roman pottery Oxidised fabric D 1 1 <2> Roman pottery Oxidised fabric D 3 <1 Roman pottery Grog-tempered fabric A 1 7 Roman ceramic Imbrex 1 83 building material <2> Roman ceramic Imbrex, fragments 33 32 building material Copper alloy Coin 1 1 Iron Bar fragment 3 33 Fired clay 14 21 <2> Fired clay 9 3 309 Roman pottery Dorset Black-burnished ware C8/ DOR BB1 1 12 C2-C4 Roman pottery Greyware (sandy) C20 2 14 Roman pottery Oxidised fabric D 1 17 312 Roman pottery Dorset Black-burnished ware C8/ DOR BB1 8 103 LC3-C4 Roman pottery Pink grog-tempered ware A2/ PNK GT 3 42 Roman pottery Harrold Shelly ware B4/ HAR SH 1 6 Roman pottery Greyware (sandy) C20 15 177 Roman pottery Greyware (fine) C3 1 3 Roman pottery Oxidised fabric D 1 2 Fired clay 1 84 604 Roman pottery Greyware (sandy) C20 4 12 RB Roman pottery Oxidised fabric D 1 6 Roman pottery Whiteware D 1 4 Roman pottery Greyware with buff surfaces C24 4 24 605 Roman pottery Shell-tempered fabric B/ ROB SH 1 13 RB Roman pottery Oxidised fabric D 1 8 Roman ceramic Fragment 1 26 building material 607 <3> Roman pottery Dorset Black-burnished ware C8/DOR BB1 1 <1 C2-C4 <3> Roman pottery Oxidised fabric D 1 <1 Roman ceramic Fragment 1 27 building material 608 Roman pottery Dorset Black-burnished ware C8/ DOR BB1 3 47 LC2-C4 Roman pottery Lower Nene Valley Colour- D1/ LNV CC 2 2 coated ware Roman pottery Pink grog-tempered ware A2/ PNK GT 7 174 Roman pottery Greyware (fine) C3 4 13 Roman pottery Shell-tempered fabric B 2 11 Roman pottery Oxidised fabric D 2 6 609 Roman pottery Central Gaulish samian D42/ LEZ SA 1 2 MC3-C4 Roman pottery Dorset Black-burnished ware C8/ DOR BB1 3 21 Roman pottery Oxford Red-slipped ware D4/ OXF RS 10 55 Roman pottery Lower Nene Valley Colour- D1/ LNV CC 8 51 coated ware Roman pottery Harrold Shelly ware B4/ HAR SH 7 27 Roman pottery Pink grog-tempered ware A2/ PNK GT 5 120 Roman pottery Greyware (sandy) C20 5 73 Roman pottery Greyware (fine) C3 1 9 Roman pottery Oxidised fabric D 1 3 Roman pottery Black-firing, sand-tempered C19 1 <1 fabric Fired clay 4 32 * National Roman Fabric Reference Collection codes in bold

24 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

Table 2: Copper alloy coins Context Ra. Denomination Detail Date Ditch 107 1 AE3 nummus House of Constantine. Rev. Gloria Exercitus (two soldiers AD 330-335 (109) and two standards). Trier mint (TRS). Ditch 110 2 AE2 nummus Constans. Rev. Fel Temp Reparatio (soldier leading AD 348–350 (112) barbarian). Mint illegible Ditch 110 3 Minim copy 11mm. Illegible C4 (112) Ditch 307 4 AE3 nummus Constantinopolis. Rev. Victory on prow. With sceptre and AD 330–335 (308) shield. Mint illegible

25 © Cotswold Archaeology Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX C: THE PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE

Table 1: Human remains quantified by fragment count and weight and context

Human Remains

Context Count Weight (g)

106 1 13

111 167 604

111 Residue 163

Total 168 780

Table 2: Identified animal species by fragment count (NISP) and weight and context. Cut Fill BOS O/C SUS EQ Canid LM MM Ind un -id Total Weight

104 105 1 1 210 104 106 5 1 1 13 19 12 51 1127 107 109 3 1 1 8 13 212 110 111 4 1 1 6 74 110 112 1 4 1 7 12 11 36 184 303 304 8 8 24 305 312 1 1 1 3 6 179 307 308 11 1 1 5 1 19 8 33 33 112 1295 307 309 3 1 4 166 603 604 1 4 1 1 4 9 20 138 603 605 3 4 1 5 13 89 606 607 14 14 5 606 608 2 1 1 2 6 817 606 609 4 11 1 3 12 23 56 110 730 Total 39 28 5 15 2 67 62 135 47 400 Weight 2744 215 106 856 8 788 215 295 23 5250 BOS = cattle; O/C = sheep/goat; SUS = pig; EQ = horse; Canid = dog; LM = cattle size mammal; MM = sheep size mammal; Ind = indeterminate; un-id ss = unidentifiable fragments from bulk soil samples

Table 3: Charcoal identifications

Context number 607 308 Feature number 606 307 Sample number (SS) 2 3 Flot volume (ml) 24 20 Sample volume processed (l) 20 20 Soil remaining (l) 0 0 Period RB RB Charcoal quantity >2mm + + Charcoal preservation Moderate Moderate Family Species Common Name Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. / Betulaceae Alder/Hazel 1 Corylus avellana L. Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl./ Fagaceae Sessile Oak/Pedunculate Oak 1 Quercus robur L. Salicaceae Salix L./Populus L. Willows/Poplars 1 Total 1 2

Key RB = Romano-British + = 1-4 items

APPENDIX D: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS Project name Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Lilbourne Short description The evaluation demonstrated the presence of Romano-British activity in the western half of the development area, immediately adjacent to Watling Street. This includes late 1st–2nd century boundary ditches relating to the organisation of the landscape following the construction of Watling Street, followed by a 2nd–4th century enclosure, with internal features, containing evidence for domestic activity. Project dates 2nd–6th November 2015 Project type Field evaluation Previous work None Future work Unknown Monument type Roman rural/roadside settlement Significant finds Roman pottery and metal finds, human and animal bone PROJECT LOCATION Site location Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Lilbourne, Northamptonshire Study area 1.6ha Site co-ordinates SP 5513 7664 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology (CA) Project Brief originator - Project Design (WSI) originator CA Project Manager Simon Carlyle (CA) and Rob Masefield (RPS) Project Supervisor Jake Streatfeild-James (CA) PROJECT ARCHIVE Accession no: - Content Physical Northamptonshire Archaeological Pottery, metal finds, human Resource Centre (NARC) and animal bone Paper Site records Digital Northamptonshire HER Report, digital photos BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2015 Night Owl Truck Stop, Watling Street, Lilbourne, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation. CA typescript report 15798

28 Andover 01264 347630 T N Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE

RE Night Owl Services, Watling Street (A5) SHI N TO P C M FIGURE TITLE A H T Site location plan R O N 0 1km

FIGURE NO. Reproduced from the digital Ordnance Survey Explorer map with DRAWN BY DJB PROJECT NO. 660590 the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller CHECKED BY LM DATE 10-11-2015 of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 APPROVED BY SCC SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1

Section AA

SE NW 111.10m AOD

106

ditch 104 105

01m1:20

Ditch 104, looking south-west (scale 1m)

Section BB

NW SE 110.5m AOD

101

102

109

108 ditch 107

01m1:20

Ditch 107, looking north-west (scale 1m)

Section CC

NW SE 110.8m AOD

101

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 102 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk 111 e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE ditch Night Owl Services, Watling Street (A5) 110 112

FIGURE TITLE 01m1:20 Trench 1: sections and photographs

Ditch 107, looking north-east (scales 1m) DRAWN BY DJB PROJECT NO. 660590 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY LM DATE 11-11-2015 APPROVED BY SCC SCALE@A3 1:20 3 Section DD Section EE

SW NE NW SE 108.5m 108.7m AOD AOD 301 302 ditch 312 303 ditch 305 302 306

01m1:20

Ditch 305, looking north-east (scale 1m)

Section FF

NE SW

108.7m 300 AOD

301

311 ditch ditch 308 310 307 modern drain

Partially excavated ditch 307, looking south (scales 1m)

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

1:20 depth of feature PROJECT TITLE 01m by auger Night Owl Services, Watling Street (A5)

FIGURE TITLE Trench 3: sections and photographs

DRAWN BY DJB PROJECT NO. 660590 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY LM DATE 11-11-2015 APPROVED BY SCC SCALE@A3 1:20 4 Section GG

SW NE NW SE NE SW 106.4m AOD

605

604

ditch 603

01m1:20

Ditch 603, looking north (scale 1m)

Section HH

SE NW 106.2m AOD 609

608

ditch 606 607

Ditch 606, looking south-west (scales 1m) 01m1:20

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Night Owl Services, Watling Street (A5)

FIGURE TITLE Trench 6: sections and photographs

DRAWN BY DJB PROJECT NO. 660590 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY LM DATE 11-11-2015 APPROVED BY SCC SCALE@A3 1:20 5