Iron Age and Romano British settlement remains and associated features, 1km south east of Leaze Farm

Reasons for Designation

The settlement and associated remains at Leaze Farm represent one of around 20 broadly similar sites recorded on aerial photographs in the Upper Thames Valley. These photographs have been the subject of a detailed review by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. All of the sites have been levelled by ploughing over the years but retain archaeological remains in and below the ploughsoil. Only a small number of the sites have been the subject of significant examination through excavation, but these have demonstrated that the remains are both more complex and more extensive than the evidence from aerial photographs suggests. Taken together, these sites, all of which lie to the north of the river, are important for their contribution to our understanding of the developing pattern of settlement in this zone from the Late Iron Age through to the Roman period. Although superficially similar, the sites show great diversity in terms of the area covered, the range of features present, and the distribution and density of features across the sites.

Details

The monument includes an area of Iron Age and Romano-British settlement remains and associated features situated on gravel terraces on the north side of the Upper Thames Valley. The site was first identified by the presence of cropmarks, visible from the air, and artefacts recovered from the field surface. Subsequent investigations have also demonstrated the survival of slight earthwork remains. Further remains, masked by alluvium are likely to survive beyond those which are currently known. Interpretation of the aerial photographs taken at Leaze Farm has revealed that the site contains a range of features, as well as demonstrating that there is variation in their form and the density of their distribution within the monument. Four main areas can be identified: To the north, a number of small free-standing sub-square enclosures are visible, partly enclosed, to the north, east and south, by a larger, single ditched enclosure. Part of a trackway is visible running off from the enclosure to the north east. Some pits, most in a SSW-NNE alignment, lie immediately to the west, separated from the enclosures by what may be a later field boundary. At the centre and on the west side of the monument is a concentration of linear features. To the north, trackways and drainage ditches appear to enclose a series of north-south aligned field boundaries. These features are thought to be contemporary. A further concentration of other trackways and field boundaries to the south overlap and intercut with each other. These represent several phases of activity, related to the remains in the south east corner. The south east corner of the monument contains a group of small sub-square and square enclosures, mostly within an area defined by two north-south aligned trackways which appear to converge at a point close to the river. One enclosure overlies or underlies the western trackway, suggesting at least two phases of activity. The south west corner of the monument contains a scatter of enclosures similar in form and spacing to those at the north. Sections of a trackway appear to define the eastern boundary of this distribution. In addition to the visibility of features on aerial photographs, earthworks have been identified over the years. These are thought to include the agger - or raised surface - of a Roman road and, adjacent to this, a low platform, probably representing a building. Finds from the field surface have provided a date range for the occupation of the Leaze Farm complex. A large quantity of Iron Age and Roman pottery has been found, as have about 50 Roman coins dating to between the mid first and late fourth centuries, and metalwork, some of which - brooches and a horse harness - show Roman military affinities. The complex of remains at Leaze Farm is broadly similar to a number of other complexes recorded in the Thames Valley. Taken together these make up a pattern of Iron Age and Roman settlement within the area. All modern drainage ditches and fences are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath the fences is included.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

13807

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, , Iron Age and Roman Monuments in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds, (1976)
Oxford Archaeological Unit in Plot of Occupation Material, (1982)

Other
Title: An Archaeological Strategy for the Upper Thames Gravels in Glos Source Date: 1982 Author: Publisher: Surveyor: 1:2500
RCHME 1:10000, Edis, J., Plot of Cropmarks in Lechlade Area, (1988)
Air Photography Unit, Crop marks at Leaze Farm, Lechlade:a report for English Heritage, (1994)
Miles, D, (1994)

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