Roman remains
(Duston)
Just after
44AD when the Romans invaded, a settlement and possible fortress
was formed in an area of Duston, next to Sixfields and stretching
as far out as Wootton and up to the Thorpelands estate. This
settlement was detected in the 1800's by the discovery of pottery,
coins and bones from a Roman cemetary. In the early years of 1900,
from 1903 to 1908, various Roman findings came to light, including
a lead coffin, a Roman well and followed by a Roman mausoleum.
The findings did not stop there. As recently as 1970, a mosaic was
discovered. From the Roman mausoleum was a coffin made from Barnack
limestone. Because of it's size and weight, it would probably have
been transported up river to Duston. The mausoleum was found seven
feet below ground in a four foot thick walled enclosure.
Unfortunately, little is known of the
nature of this settlement but because of the size of the villa
remains, it is thought to have been a central unit servicing other
Roman provinces in the area. Extensive ironstone quarrying in the
19th and 20th century had destroyed much of the Roman town. The
Roman occupation lasted almost 400 years until the Saxon invasions
in 410AD.
A small bronze head of Lucius Verus, who ruled the Roman empire
jointly with Marcus Aurelius (between 161-169 AD) was found at
Duston around 1870. It was designed to be attached to a ceremonial
staff.