Our archaeological investigations for Leicestershire County Council’s new road scheme at Melton Mowbray, which cover ten individual areas along the road route, are progressing well. Although the project is ongoing, excavations in three areas to the north of modern Melton Mowbray have already been completed, providing fascinating insights into the history and archaeology of the area.
The earliest evidence for human settlement found during our excavations in this area dates to the Iron Age (800 BC – 43 AD). This is represented by the corner of a settlement enclosure which contained handmade pottery typical of this period. Earlier archaeological works have also revealed the remains of Iron Age settlements in the area in the form of a farmstead, cropmarks and other enclosure systems, painting a vibrant picture of the communities of ancient Melton Mowbray.
Roman (43 – 410 AD) activity in the area is well known with previous archaeological investigations identifying Roman villas and enclosure systems, including one with seven roundhouses. Our own excavations exposed a droveway containing late Iron Age to Early Roman pottery, demonstrating a continuity in the settlement of the area. Beyond this, most of our Roman finds have been sporadic with a coin and pottery, including the distinctive, glossy red Samian wares, found scattered across the surface. This suggests that these areas were not within the centre of Roman settlement, but on the outskirts and possibly utilised for agriculture.
The medieval settlement of Melton Mowbray is detailed in the 1086 Domesday Book. Our excavations uncovered the remains of a medieval enclosure ditch containing animal bones and the green-hued, lead-glazed pottery typical of the period.
In the post-medieval period, settlements in and around Melton Mowbray continued to develop although records demonstrate that the area was still dominated by farmland. The results of our excavations also reflect this, with the discovery of a livestock watering hole that was in use from at least the 18th century onwards. A complete horse burial was also found in the area, although its date is uncertain.
Our excavations, along with the well documented history of Melton Mowbray, continue to illuminate the exciting past of this region. Although our excavations are ongoing, we have already recorded a continual pattern of settlement and development that spans over 2,000 years in the areas that we have investigated. As our investigations continue to the east of the modern township, we will undoubtedly uncover more remains attesting to Melton Mowbray’s past.
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