Marton, north Lincolnshire: a Romano-British settlement in its context

Abstract

This thesis seeks to reconstruct and interpret the form and extent of the Romano- British settlement at Marton, North Lincolnshire. The site at Marton has previously been the subject of no formal programme of archaeological research. However it offers a rich potential for applying non-intrusive archaeological survey, and this study is based on the results obtained from a combination of different survey techniques. Although the site has received very little formal archaeological attention in the past, uncontrolled metal-detection has been intensive over recent years. The unrecorded leaching of material, coupled with the diverse range of artefacts known to have been retrieved in detection has been one of the principal catalysts behind the adoption of this survey. The data was collected both from previous aerial photographic surveys and metal detectorists with whom a working relationship had been established, and in geophysical survey and field walking undertaken by the author. Survey methodology and the results of the different components of the survey are presented in chapters 2 to 6. Initial interpretations of the features identified from the aerial photographic and geophysical survey are proposed and the main chronological and spatial trends m the distribution of pottery, coins and other small finds are summarised. Chapter 7 compares the results obtained from the different classes of evidence and refines the interpretations offered for the development of the site through time and space. Specific issues considered are the origins of the settlement, its internal organisation and extent and its relationship with nearby Littleborough. The final chapter compares Marton with other sites in the region and sites of a similar type in Roman Britain. A series of hypotheses are then proposed concerning the nature of the site and its function and evolution in its local landscape.