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Dragonby: An Interim Report on Excavations on an Iron Age and Romano-British Site near Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, 1964–9

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2011

Jeffrey May
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Summary

The development of open-cast ironstone mining has made necessary emergency excavations on an apparently undefended Iron Age and Romano-British settlement of at least 20 acres, situated immediately near the Jurassic Way six miles south of the Humber estuary. In the Iron Age, the site was characterized by complex ditch systems and small irregular gullies, and only two huts, both circular, have been located in an excavated area of 1.7 acres. The main occupation probably began around 100 B.C. with an Iron B pottery assemblage. The sequence continued, apparently without abrupt break, into an Iron C assemblage very closely related to the ‘Aylesford—Swarling Culture’ of the Thames estuary region. More marked modification early in the first century A.D., most clearly defined by the introduction of Gallo-Belgic pottery, resulted in cultural similarities with Camulodunum. The occupation continued throughout the Roman period. The site was then characterized by an irregular system of metalled roads flanked by ditches, and plots of land defined by ditches and fences. Within these plots stood individual rectangular buildings of timber and stone, together with ovens, wells, pottery kilns, and other structures of an industrial or agricultural nature.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
The Antiquaries Journal , Volume 50 , Issue 2 , September 1970 , pp. 222 - 245
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1970

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References

page 224 note 1 Alternative names foir the site which have earlier appeared in archaeological literature are Sawcliffe Hill, Conesby Cliff, Money Field, and Dragonby Coin Field. Crosby Warren, now destroyed by mining, lay just to the south-west of the present excavated area.

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page 226 note 2 I am indebted to Professor H. Mattingly and Mr. L. R. Laing for comments on the Roman coins from Dragonby.

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page 242 note 2 Cf. R. E. M. and T. V. Wheeler, Verulamium: A Belgic and Two Roman Cities, Reports of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London, xi, 1936, 168, fig. 19, no. 60b.

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page 242 note 4 A surface find in the collection of Mr. H. R. Mossop of Marshchapel, Lincolnshire.

page 243 note 1 Ordnance Survey, Map of Southern Britain in the Iron Age, Chessington, Surrey, 1962, table facing p. 25; D. F. Allen, The Coins of the Coritani, British Academy, 1963.