Roman BritainSite of Roman villa NE of Sibson Hollow
Roman Villa · Civilian

Site of Roman villa NE of Sibson Hollow

Roman Britain
Pleiades ID: nhle-5039
Site type
Villa
Category
Civilian
Latitude
52.5668
Longitude
-0.3717
Overview

History & context

The site northeast of Sibson Hollow lies in the Nene Valley hinterland of Cambridgeshire/Northamptonshire, an area densely occupied in the Roman period and dominated by the small town of Durobrivae (Water Newton) a few kilometres to the north. Like other villas in this landscape, it is likely to have been a working agricultural estate active from the later 2nd through the 4th century AD, supplying grain and produce to Durobrivae and the regional Nene Valley pottery industry.

Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →

Significance

Historical significance

Villas in the Sibson–Stibbington–Wansford area formed part of the prosperous rural belt that supported Durobrivae, one of the wealthiest small towns of late Roman Britain, and they benefited from proximity to Ermine Street and the navigable Nene. Their density here reflects an unusually intensive pattern of villa-based estate agriculture in the 3rd–4th centuries.

Archaeology

Archaeological record

Little detailed published excavation appears to be recorded for this specific site; its identification rests largely on surface finds, cropmarks, and antiquarian/fieldwalking reports typical of villa identification in this part of the Nene Valley, which usually produce building stone, tile, tesserae, and Nene Valley colour-coated wares. Without targeted excavation, the plan, dating, and status of the building remain undefined.

About this site

Questions & answers

What is Site of Roman villa NE of Sibson Hollow?

The site northeast of Sibson Hollow lies in the Nene Valley hinterland of Cambridgeshire/Northamptonshire, an area densely occupied in the Roman period and dominated by the small town of Durobrivae (Water Newton) a few kilometres to the north. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a villa site from the Roman period in Britain.

What type of Roman site is Site of Roman villa NE of Sibson Hollow?

Site of Roman villa NE of Sibson Hollow is classified as a Roman villa — a civilian site in the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer. Roman Britain's archaeology encompasses thousands of sites ranging from legionary fortresses and marching camps to villas, temples and towns.

What other Roman sites are near Site of Roman villa NE of Sibson Hollow?

Several Roman sites lie within a short distance, including Roman villa SW of Castor station (0.6 km), Roman site in Normangate Field (1.3 km), Roman fort and enclosure at Sutton Cross (1.3 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.

How can I research the history of the area around Site of Roman villa NE of Sibson Hollow?

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