Highfields Farm - Post-excavation Assessment

Wessex Archaeology

An isolated pit containing Bronze Age pottery, and a handful of flint (all residual), are the only evidence relating to the earlier prehistoric periods. Evidence for occupation becomes more conspicuous during the late Iron Age, with two near complete roundhouse eaves drip gullies and a network of enclosure ditches thought to belong to this period.

However, the majority of the remains on the site date to the Romano-British period and comprise an extensive system of rectilinear ditched enclosures containing further roundhouse eaves drip gullies, a well, a waterhole, middenlike spreads, and slight traces of a potential rectilinear structure defined by beam slots. The ceramic evidence suggests that the main boundary framework on the site appears to have been established by the 2nd century AD, with activity continuing until the middle of the 4th century AD, but with no indication that the settlement continued survived until the end of the 4th century AD.

Post-Roman remains comprised cultivation furrows, a small assemblage of medieval and postmedieval finds, and relatively modern field boundaries.

A range of finds was recovered from the site, including a relatively large pottery assemblage. This contained a modest range of regional and Continental imports, which is unusual for a rural Romano-British site in Derbyshire, and presumably reflects the proximity of the military and civilian centres at Derby and the road by which they were supplied. Of most interest amongst the finds was a pair of metal bowls, with one decorated with a six-pointed star, possibly intended as a Chi-Rho (Christian) symbol.

Environmental remains collected during the excavation show signs of the production and processing of cereals, mostly spelt wheat with some barley, with pollen evidence suggestive of wet areas, pasture, meadows, arable and disturbed ground, but little indication of woodland. The animal bone assemblage was small; it suggests the site’s occupants ate beef, mutton and some pork. Remains of horse and deer were also noted.

Iron Age and Romano-British occupation in the hinterland of Derby is not well understood, and so the excavations contribute to the emergent understanding of the local settlement pattern. The Romano-British pottery and a few of the charred plant assemblages hold the highest potential to understand the nature of the site and its role within the wider Romano-British landscape.