Following the study of a collection of Roman querns at Starbuck House, Longwalls Lane, Blackbrook... more Following the study of a collection of Roman querns at Starbuck House, Longwalls Lane, Blackbrook (SK33174829), the suspected nearby quern-making site could not be pinpointed due to modern landscaping. An opportunity arose in 2007 to excavate the surrounding area for remnant structures and artefacts to support our dating of the querns to late 1st to at least late 2nd century AD. Evidence of rough stone buildings, pottery and a hearth or kiln were exposed in the garden, across the lane and into a field on the opposite side. Further querns were re-used in walls and floors. This confirmed an industrial settlement using the Ashover Grit in this part of the Derwent valley, and set the writers an agenda to search northwards for further similar sites.
A collection of querns found on land at Longwalls Lane were shown to the writers in 2006 and iden... more A collection of querns found on land at Longwalls Lane were shown to the writers in 2006 and identified as flat rotary querns of the Roman period. They were made of the local Ashover grit, of the Carboniferous Millstone grit series. A scarp slope behind the owners' house and other small pits in the surrounding area are the probable source. The presence of Roman pottery seen on the site prompted the writers to request permission to excavate for evidence of structures as future work.
A metal detectorist find of a 3rd century coin hoard lead to the authors' excavation of a previou... more A metal detectorist find of a 3rd century coin hoard lead to the authors' excavation of a previously unknown later Roman site. One room of a stone building with painted wall-plaster, locks, a key and further coins and large storage jars were discovered. Several geophysical surveys evidence suggested a range of further buildings, one of which was investigated, revealing a baby burial in a pit and other finds. A prepared stack of Roman Charnwood roof slates was uncovered. The pottery was largely 3rd-4th century AD. An anomaly in the adjacent field was not evaluated, but may be the footprint of another building. A welcome discovery in this pastoral farming area of the Derwent valley where the Romans took full advantage of local rocks and clays.
Following the study of a collection of Roman querns at Starbuck House, Longwalls Lane, Blackbrook... more Following the study of a collection of Roman querns at Starbuck House, Longwalls Lane, Blackbrook (SK33174829), the suspected nearby quern-making site could not be pinpointed due to modern landscaping. An opportunity arose in 2007 to excavate the surrounding area for remnant structures and artefacts to support our dating of the querns to late 1st to at least late 2nd century AD. Evidence of rough stone buildings, pottery and a hearth or kiln were exposed in the garden, across the lane and into a field on the opposite side. Further querns were re-used in walls and floors. This confirmed an industrial settlement using the Ashover Grit in this part of the Derwent valley, and set the writers an agenda to search northwards for further similar sites.
A collection of querns found on land at Longwalls Lane were shown to the writers in 2006 and iden... more A collection of querns found on land at Longwalls Lane were shown to the writers in 2006 and identified as flat rotary querns of the Roman period. They were made of the local Ashover grit, of the Carboniferous Millstone grit series. A scarp slope behind the owners' house and other small pits in the surrounding area are the probable source. The presence of Roman pottery seen on the site prompted the writers to request permission to excavate for evidence of structures as future work.
A metal detectorist find of a 3rd century coin hoard lead to the authors' excavation of a previou... more A metal detectorist find of a 3rd century coin hoard lead to the authors' excavation of a previously unknown later Roman site. One room of a stone building with painted wall-plaster, locks, a key and further coins and large storage jars were discovered. Several geophysical surveys evidence suggested a range of further buildings, one of which was investigated, revealing a baby burial in a pit and other finds. A prepared stack of Roman Charnwood roof slates was uncovered. The pottery was largely 3rd-4th century AD. An anomaly in the adjacent field was not evaluated, but may be the footprint of another building. A welcome discovery in this pastoral farming area of the Derwent valley where the Romans took full advantage of local rocks and clays.
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Papers by Susan Ebbins
Evidence of rough stone buildings, pottery and a hearth or kiln were exposed in the garden, across the lane and into a field on the opposite side. Further querns were re-used in walls and floors. This confirmed an industrial settlement using the Ashover Grit in this part of the Derwent valley, and set the writers an agenda to search northwards for further similar sites.
Evidence of rough stone buildings, pottery and a hearth or kiln were exposed in the garden, across the lane and into a field on the opposite side. Further querns were re-used in walls and floors. This confirmed an industrial settlement using the Ashover Grit in this part of the Derwent valley, and set the writers an agenda to search northwards for further similar sites.