Site of Ro polygonal occupational enclosure, fort and walled town on the Foss Way which constitutes "Ad Pontem" of Iter VI of the Antonine Itinerary. (2)
This fort and town were breached by the Fosse Way, now a modern arterial road. The fields to the E of the Fosse are under a high hay crop and there are no surface surveyable features indicative of former occupation. Extensive perambualtion produced a profusion of Ro occupation material (pot, brick, tile etc.) W of the Fosse there is an abrupt low drop to the River Trent flood plains. No finds were made during perambulation. Museums in Nottingham, Newark, Doncaster, Lincoln and Leicester hold minor material from Ad Pontem. Site revisited 02/10/1974 when the main area E of the Fosse was under fresh plough. The only surveyable feature is the outer ditch, now visible as a very slight depression with a max depth of 0.1m. (3)
Nothing visible on the ground, site is known solely from APs and finds from fieldwalking. In danger from metal detectors, SAM should be extended. (5)
The development of the site can be divided into 4 phases: (1 - IA, see M8380). 2 - A C1 military complex consisting of a fort with rampart and double ditches and a polygonal enclosure to the NE. 3 - A rectilinear enclosure with 3 ditches, one of which filled up in the C3. 4 - A larger rectilinear enclosure defended by a stone wall 2.5m thick and 2 outer ditches, later re-cut as one. A metalled track crosses from E to W. There was a possible gate in the W defences, and several buildings have been identified in the rectilinear and polygonal enclosures. A dense distribution of pottery has been found E of the site, suggesting occupation extended well beyond the defences in this direction. West of the Fosse, part of the fort site must have been eroded by the river. (6)
Finds during cable trench watching brief included wall foundations, other features and finds concentration. (7)
See associated elements for details and more references.
See M18038 for gatehouse, M8380 for IA settlement, M3497 for shrine.

Data Held (Document). SNT2647.

Plans, NAR card, SMR

Data Held: Aerial Photograph (Aerial photograph). SNT2645.

JAP 12/8A

Data Held: Aerial Photograph (Aerial photograph). SNT2645.

JAP 12/7A

Data Held: Aerial Photograph (Aerial photograph). SNT2645.

CUCAP BR73

Data Held: Aerial Photograph (Aerial photograph). SNT2645.

CUCAP BR71

Data Held: Aerial Photograph (Aerial photograph). SNT2645.

CUCAP BR72

Data Held: Aerial Photograph (Aerial photograph). SNT2645.

CUCAP ABP 12

F Condron, 1996, Roman small towns in the East Midlands: A regional study of settlement development and interaction. (Published document). SNT4754.

<1> Society for … Ro Studies, 1966, JRS, p 203 (Published document). SNT210.

<2> Society for … Ro Studies, 1970, Britannia, p 49 (Serial). SNT122.

<3> Colquhoun FD, 1974, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT582.

<4> Johnson JS, 1974, AM107 (Unpublished document). SNT839.

<5> Samuels JR, 1986, AM107 (Unpublished document). SNT1231.

<6> TPAT, 1992, Archaeology of the Fosse Way - Implications of the proposed dualling of the A46 between Newark and Widmerpool, pp 41-2 (Published document). SNT1357.

<7> TPAT, Jun 1995, Archaeological Watching Brief of Fibre Optic Cable Trenches Excavated Along the Fosse Way from Saxondale, Nottinghamshire to Swinderby, Lincolnshire, pp 17-21 (Unpublished document). SNT2155.