Roman, Late Saxon, Medieval and Post-Medieval Archaeology at Clay Lane, Castor near Peterborough: An Archaeological Evaluation

Evaluation trenching in April 1997 produced evidence of Roman, late Saxon, medieval and post-medieval archaeology in eight of nine trenches. These remains were not extensive or representative of dense occupation. Roman remains were two ditches, several pits and post holes. The evidence of late Saxon/Norman occupation was confined to a single deep, steep sided pit (well) which was dug through the colluvium, a layer which sealed the earlier Roman archaeology. The medieval and post-medieval archaeological remains included a large boundary ditch and disturbed ridge and furrow in the western field. The ground surface of the entire site was uneven and pitted, the result of periods of Roman and post-medieval quarrying, dumping of stone and infilling of a pond. Artefactual recovery was poor, suggesting that the archaeology was outside the Roman development of Castor, similarly the absence of substantial Saxon and the medieval artefacts confirms that the site has primarily been used for agriculture since the Roman period.