'Modest' finds not enough to confirm rumour of Roman villa at dig site

ARCHEOLOGISTS investigating a new cemetery site in Lincoln say they've found ancient corn drying flues, Roman pottery and even medieval plough marks.

Experts from Branston-based Allen Archaeology were called in by the City of Lincoln Council to survey the Bakers Field area, off Long Leys Road.

Director of Allen Archaeology Chris Clay, project development officer Diane Gardiner and bereavement services officer Nick Barton at the site of the new burial ground in Long Leys Road, Lincoln.

And after test trenches revealed signs of a millennia old settlement in 2008, the company have been back digging for a month to discover the site's history.

But Chris Clay, director of Allen Archaeology, said the finds have been somewhat more modest than the rumoured Roman villa some residents claim had been found.

"The Roman city on the hill only extended down as far as the Stonebow, so while we are on the edge of the modern city now, back then this would have effectively been a separate settlement," he said.

"But while there has been a lot of comment about a villa, we've not got that.

"Here is a small domestic and agricultural settlement - a few houses with people living and farming.

"But there have been some nice finds which suggest some level of wealth."

All the work has been done to a specification mandated by City Archaeologist Mick Jones.

"By the end of the week we should have answers to all the questions we need to ask," said Mr Clay.