An area of the Romano-British linear village at Fosse Lane, Shepton Mallet

Reasons for Designation

Rural settlement was an important part of the Roman economy but the remains are generally poorly known and understood, with archaeological work to date having concentrated on military sites and the higher status villa buildings. Only some 50 examples of Romano-British linear villages have been recorded, mostly restricted to southern and central England. Exploratory excavations at Shepton Mallet have confirmed the good survival of the archaeological remains of a significant and long-lived settlement, including important evidence of industrial activity.

Details

The monument includes part of a Romano-British linear village lying alongside the Fosse Way and earlier, underlying archaeological features. An additional area of the village, situated immediately to the north, with an arm extending south into the west side of the scheduling, is being developed as a business park and is not included in the scheduling at the present time. Following the discovery of the site in 1988, exploratory excavations identified a settlement lying on both sides of the Roman road, three associated cemeteries and underlying archaeological remains of Neolithic and Iron Age date. The settlement, dating to between the first and fourth centuries AD, included stone and timber-framed structures fronting the Fosse Way with yards to the rear, streets running off at right angles to the main road, field boundaries and areas of industrial activity. Industry appears to have been an important function of the settlement and discoveries have included metal smelting ovens, traces of iron ore residues and slag and raw materials such as lead ingots. The three cemeteries appear to exhibit changes in religious belief and burial practices. Two of the cemeteries include burials orientated north-south and are thought to be pagan; the third, with burials orientated east-west, is interpreted as Christian and has yielded a silver amulet cross. The village may have been founded on an earlier settlement of Iron Age date. Excluded from the scheduling are all modern structures including the Showerings warehouse, the modern road surfaces of Fosse Lane, the service roads, the former railway embankment and the modern embankment east of the Showerings warehouse but the ground beneath all these features 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:

22803

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Leach, P, An Archaeological Evaluation at Cannard's Grave Shepton Mallet, (1990), 4
Leach, PJ, Shepton Mallet: Romano-Britons and Early Christians in Somerset, (1991), 14-15
Leach, PJ, Shepton Mallet: Romano-Britons and Early Christians in Somerset, (1991), 24
Leach, PJ, Shepton Mallet: Romano-Britons and Early Christians in Somerset, (1991), 8
Leach, PJ, Shepton Mallet: Romano-Britons and Early Christians in Somerset, (1991)
Leach, P, Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeology and Natural History Soc in Roman Site at Fosse Lane: Interim Report of the 1990 Excavations, (1990), 52
Leach, P, Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeology and Natural History Soc in Roman Site at Fosse Lane: Interim Report of the 1990 Excavations, (1990)

Other
Leach, P, The Roman site at Fosse Lane, Shepton Mallet: An Interim Report, 1990,
Leach, P, The Roman site at Fosse Lane, Shepton Mallet: An Interim Report, 1990,
Leach, P, The Roman site at Fosse Lane, Shepton Mallet: An Interim Report, 1990,

End of official list entry

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