The geophysical survey and trial trenching revealed evidence for a Late Iron Age/Early Romano-British settlement within the west of the Site. (1)

The first phase of activity of the site represents an initial period of settlement during the later Iron Age period, evidenced in the archaeological record by a scatter of ring gullies and semi-circular gullies along the western site boundary. At least some of these may have demarcated the locations of the roundhouses, but no structural evidenced was found. (3)

The possible evidence for unenclosed settlement during the first phase of activity comrpised two or three ring or semi-circular gullies and a small number of linear gullies. There was no obvious focus to this activity, although all features attributed to this phase were in the western half of the site, with some near the western site boundary. It is possible that such activity would have extended beyond the site boundary, under the modern housing. During the late Iron Age, enclosed settlement is the most common form of settlement in the Trent Valley. The findings at Shelford Road therefore appear to run counter to prevailing trends for the period. (3)

Following a period of unenclosed settlement represented by late Iron Age gullies, a large-scale enclosure system was laid out across the landscape. This was mainly achieved by the creation of a series of interlinking rectilinear ditched bounaries to form a 'ladder' or 'washing line' enclsure system. This was dated to be late Iron Age - Early Roman. (3)

The later Iron Age to Early Romano settlement activity was contained within two large and intersecting enclosures. (1)

Two principle enclosures formed a possible 'ladder' system, each of which was orientated on a boradly north-west to south-east alignment. Both enclosures were demarcated by substantial ditches that had been well maintained, with evidence of clearing out and sequential re-cutting events along the inner edges. They were joined along a northwest-southeast aligned section of ditch group. (3)

There is no clear differentiation between the northern and southern enclosures, although the presence of a shallow hollow way forming the eastern extent of the northern enclosure suggests that this area was not used for habitation. The southern area may also have been solely used for stock control but the small material assemblage, including quantities of charred plant remains, a brooch and possible stylus hints at occupation in at least one of the enclosures. (1)

Taken together, the finds dating evidence, recovered from the stirp, map and record exercise, suggests that the enclosure system originated during the Late Iron Age, perhaps from around the late 1st century BC onwards. These features were later recut, perhaps towards the very end of the Iron Age, into the Early Roman period, when there was a slight modification of the layout. (3)

The radiocarbon dating evidence from the enclosure features spans the Late Iron Age to Early Romano-British periods. (3)

Later Roman activity encapulates a shift of site usage from enclosed settlement to more dispersed activities thought to be associated with the agricultural economy. The artefactual, stratigraphic and scientific dating evidence suggest that this occurred at some point during the Early Romano-British period. (3)

The site fell out of use in the late Roman period, with no evidence of activity until the site was subject to ridge and furrow agricultural activity in the medieval or post-medieval period. (2)

<1> Chris Harrison, 2013, Land at Shelford Road, Radcliffe on Trent: Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation (Unpublished document). SNT5758.

<2> Julian Thorley and Alice Forward, 2021, Archaeological Strip, Map and Record Report: Land at Grooms Cottage, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire (Unpublished document). SNT5827.

<3> C. Collins and K. Poole, 2020, Land off Shelford Road, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire: Report on an Archaeological Strip, Map and Record (Unpublished document). SNT5853.