An Archaeological Excavation at Roman and Saxon Court, Coneygree Road, Stanground

Abstract

From 11th to 29th June 2012 an archaeological excavation was undertaken at Roman and Saxon Court, Stanground (centred on TL 20775 97018) extending over c. 0.21ha. The work was commissioned by Davis Langdon on behalf of Cross Keys Homes in response to a request from the Peterborough City Council Archaeological Service (PCCAS). The site was situated within close proximity to a series of known Roman pottery kilns and the archaeological features recorded appeared to represent the outer limits of this activity. Two small funerary enclosures were excavated, a small circular barrow and a square barrow. A sub-rectangular pit was situated within the circular barrow, and although devoid of any skeletal remains, was most likely the remnant of a grave. Surrounding this barrow were a group of four discrete features that may have been associated. A single cremation was found within the square enclosure that along with the human bone contained a fragment of worked bone. Set to one side of the cremation was a small pile of animal bone, a pig mandible. Attached to the enclosure was a portion of a second, open enclosure of indeterminate use. With no direct association to either of the funerary monuments, a series of postholes and pits were recorded throughout the excavated area. The final phase of archaeological activity prior to the building of homes in the 20th century was a series of post-Medieval furrows.