The village of Navenby lies half way from Lincoln to the larger village of Ancaster which was a day's march for legionnaires on their way to and from London. Ancaster was an overnight stop for troops and significant remains of Roman occupation have been uncovered in the village. Navenby was most likely a good place to stop for lunch, or so we like to think, with services the soldiers might need such as taverns, bakers and a blacksmith.
Some authorities believe there are indications that Navenby was a Roman Posting Station (Heritage Lincolnshire and NKDC publication 'The Roman Trail') with facilities for an overnight stop. Whatever the full purpose, Navenby was certainly a site with significant activity in Roman times based on finds that have accumulated over many years.(View the Open Space Project for examples)

Archaeological surveys previously conducted around Navenby focussed on the land to the west of Ermine Street which is the site of the present village. Artefacts have been found on the surface of land to the east of Ermine Street but as far as we can ascertain, no detailed surveys have been conducted.
It seems very likely that both sides of the road would have contained settlements, shops and similar activities to draw the attention, and take the money, of the troops and others using such a major highway.
With this in mind, NAG developed a project to perform a systematic survey of the east side involving field walking to collect surface artefacts, geophysical surveys to detect possible underground structures and classification of all our discoveries.

In 2005, with permission of the landowners, NAG applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant of £24,000 to cover costs of the project over a three year period. The grant was issued to us in December 2005 and in 2008 was extended into 2009. Most of the expenditure is for professional support to conduct magnetic and resistivity geophysical surveys, to lay out field grids with satellite positioning equipment and to identify and analyse finds.

Under the terms of the grant we are obliged to match the amount with the equivalent in effort by our volunteers. With some advertising on local radio and in local press, we found many able volunteers and now have a mailing list of some 84 enthusiasts willing to turn out for walking fields, washing muddy remains of pottery then sorting and classifying them into some semblance of order. In between such activities we organize meetings and talks by local experts to educate us all on the professional aspects of archaeology.

At the end of the project in 2009, after analysis of our finds, all the results from the survey will be posted here and made available in public archives in printed form. We are also documenting all activities as a video record.

During the project we release Update Reports on activities. These can be viewed through the links below.

2006 to 2008 Updates

NAG helps to manage an area of land located at the corner of Chapel Lane and High Dyke which is owned by NKDC and set aside as a preserved public space. It contains several significant archaeological remains.
Archaeological finds around Navenby indicate occupation at least since the Bronze Age around 600BC. During excavation prior to development for new housing, the remains of Iron Age farms were found on a field adjacent to Ermine Street, know locally as the High Dyke.
These remains were so important that the site was protected under an area of public Open Space, in the charge of the District and Parish Councils with support from Navenby Archaeology Group.

Significant Roman remains were also found in the area. Shops and houses fronted onto Ermine Street. A possible Romano-British Temple and some burials are located behind the busy street frontage. In Roman times Lincoln was a very important city, having been a Legionary Fortress, a Colonia and probably the capital of the late Roman Province of Flavia Caesariensis.
Navenby's position on the well drained limestone cliff edge, half a days march south of Lincoln and on the road to London, would have added to its success as a thriving community.
Cremations dating to the middle Saxon period have been found near the junction of the High Dyke with Chapel Lane. Late Saxon remains were found under and around the Church. This indicates that the village was centred around Church and North Lanes, from the late Saxon period, presumably moving closer to the spring line and away from the Roman Settlement, which was centred on Ermine Street.

With a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, NAG placed interpretation boards around the Open Space to explain the finds that were made and their location in the field. From time to time, NAG organizes events on the Open Space to explain the finds and review how the site may have been used at various periods of its history.

Further details of the project, which was completed in 2003, can be viewed at the Local Heritage Initiative website.

One requirement under the terms of the Heritage Lottery Fund grant for the High Dyke Survey is to promote the involvement of the local community in the project and in the understanding of our local heritage as a site for Roman and other settlements. To achieve this goal, NAG organized a major day of activities for the village in July 2007 to recreate the atmosphere of a Roman camp in Navenby.
With the help of the Roman Military Research Society, a troop of Roman soldiers marched along Ermine Street, as they might have done 2000 years ago, to enter the village and establish a camp on the Open Space - on the very spot where significant Roman remains have been preserved.
You can view a short movie clip of The March

The day was a big hit with a full page spread of photographs in the local press. About 400 people attended the day and enjoyed sights of Roman troops performing drills, opportunities to test some of the soldier's 'kit' and to taste a few Roman delicacies. We also enjoyed a display of Falconry, searching for real Roman coins in a metal detector pit, displays of thatching, weaving, bee-keeping and other activities of a Roman theme.

Many local residents took the opportunity to dress for the day - either as Romans or as Brits typical of the period. Our Centurion handed out real Roman coins to the winners of the 'Best Dressed' competition.

You can see more pictures of the day - Here

To find out more about the Roman Military Research Society, visit their website - Roman Army