Rutland History Society's
Archaeological Group has
been fieldwalking an area
near Thistleton for several
years. It is known to have
been the site of a
Romano-British town, but
most of it was thought to
have been lost as a result
of ironstone quarrying in
the 1950s. However, the
investigation revealed
that the archaeology had
survived and that the
town extended to nearly
100 acres. This confirmed
the need for the more
intensive survey which
followed. Jeremy Taylor
of Leicester University,
assisted by members of
the group, then carried
out a geophysical survey
which revealed a number
of interesting features
including a magnificent
temple, roads, ditches
and iron smelting sites.
When a planning
application was presented
to open a new limestone
quarry in the area a
condition attached to the
permission stated that a
haulage road had to be
built in order to avoid disruption and noise to the
village. The route chosen happened to go through the
site of the Romano-British town. A known or suspected
site of archaeological significance must be evaluated
before work commences. In this case an extensive
geophysical survey and trial trenching was carried out
along the length of the proposed road by
Northamptonshire Archaeology.
The results were spectacular. A section of
exceptionally well preserved Roman road was
exposed, the rut marks from wheels still clearly
visible. In another trench an oven was found, the
stones showing clear signs of burning and there was
evidence of a possible flue structure. Several ditches
were uncovered and collapsed masonry pointed to
where walls had once stood. The skeleton of a child
was perhaps the most remarkable find. It was a
considerable distance from a cemetery which had
been excavated by Ernest Greenfield in the late
1950s.
Before the arrival of Christianity, it was not
uncommon for young children to be buried with little
or no ceremony and in places that we would find very
strange today, even under the floors of houses. One of
several theories suggests that until a child could speak
properly it was not considered to be fully human.
Geophysics and trial trenching were also undertaken
on the site of the quarry itself. Whilst not quite so
exciting as the finds along the haulage road there was
nonetheless evidence of Romano-British rural activity
together with an undated ring ditch. When work
begins to open the quarry a watching brief will take
place. This will involve archaeologists observing the
topsoil as it is removed. It is highly likely that more
archaeology will be found.
Inspecting the Romano-British road at Thistleton. The line of trees marks
Fosse Lane, a link between Ermine Street and Fosse Way
Rut marks in the surface of the Romano-British road at Thistleton
The Romano-British infilled ditch found on the Thistleton site.
The skeleton of a small child was found near here
Burnt limestone indicates a hearth surrounded by flooring material
All the trenches were accurately recorded and photographed before back filling. None of the structures found
were lifted, although pottery sherds were removed for dating purposes. If the haulage road is built the
archaeology will be protected for future generations by a special membrane, which acts as a shock absorber, and
approximately 1.5 metres of earth.