The Association for Roman Archaeology MarchARA 2012 NEWSIssue 27 Detail of a cupid painted on plaster from a Roman bath-house, displayed in Southwell Minster. Bryn Walters discusses the campaign to protect Southwell from development (page 3). Photo: © Crown Copyright. CONTENTS Page Contents and Contacts 2 Editorial 2 Campaign to preserve Southwell Roman site 3 ARA study tour of Jordan 4 to 9 Rescue, the British Archaeological Trust – still campaigning after 40 years 10 and 11 Anthony Beeson's Archaeological Round-up 12, 13, 34, 35 and 48 Land of Eagles: Journeys in Roman Albania 14 to 19 Romans in Commagene 20 to 22 Tour booking forms: Annual Dinner Weekend, Dorset 23 Long Weekend Summer Tour: Central England 24 Self-drive to Castle Museum, Taunton & St Algar's Project 25 Excavation at Charles Street, Dorchester 26 Obituary: Peter Yates 26 Spotlight on: Lunt Roman Fort 27 to 29 Holidaying on Vectis Insula 29 What's on 29 From Julius Caesar to Claudius: the Late Iron Age/Roman transition Editorial informed of progress. The council (report on a conference) 30 decided in January to limit Margate FC The imagery of the Hallaton Helmet I once thought there was no point in to a small extension of the existing car – Decoration depicting Roman complaining to the 'powers that be' – park. I don't know if I made a difference, victory revealed by restoration 31 I doubted they'd listen, and it seemed a but I know the council heard from bit presumptuous. But as a commuter, people who cared about our heritage. Membership Matters 32 tired of delayed and dirty trains, and the ARA Honorary Life Membership untidy and overgrown car park at my In the current economic climate, with Awards 32 local station, I started writing letters. the Government's desire for a planning Sometimes I received a polite rebuff, system where the default answer to an News about the Bulletin 33 sometimes I got an apology and a small application is 'yes', some councils seeing cheque. Then, to my surprise, contractors museums as expendable luxuries, and Treasurer's Report 33 were called out: rubbish was cleared from archaeologists' jobs being cut, it's more Latin epigraphy: How to read the car park, grass and hedges were cut. important than ever for people to speak and understand Roman up for our country's archaeological inscriptions, Part II 36 to 43 Margate Football Club applied to the heritage. Rescue has been campaigning local council a couple of months ago, for the preservation of our historic The Lost City of the Legion – seeking approval to extend its car park, environment for over 40 years (see Preliminary excavations in near to the site of a Roman villa and pp10–11); they provide advice on Caerleon's monumental suburb road. As a local resident, I took part in writing to local councils on their website hint at future discoveries 44 to 46 the council's consultation, asking them (called 'Fighting Back'). I intend to write a Ramblings of an ancient volunteer to ensure that the archaeology was letter in support of a Southwell Heritage archaeologist digging through respected; my local archaeological Park (see p3); they might just listen. his memories 47 and 48 group also contacted the council. I received regular e-mails that kept me Nich Hogben, Editor. 2 Campaign to preserve Southwell Roman site In 1959, excavations directed by the When the school was under late Charles Daniels, east of the great construction in 1971, over Minster Church at Southwell in 200 inhumations were Nottinghamshire, revealed evidence disturbed in the area for a Romano-British rural building, subsequently identified as interpreted at the time as a villa of the lower courtyard of the substantial proportions (Daniels, C Roman villa. Unfortunately, 1966).1 The excavation had been no firm dates for the burials prompted by a proposal to construct a was secured. The school was school over the area east of the Minster. demolished over ten years Romano-British remains including ago; when it was proposed tessellated flooring had been revealed that the site be used for a intermittently across the area since the housing development, local late 18th century. objections were raised. Fig. 1. Southwell Minster from the north. Photo: © Southwell Civic Society. The present Norman Minster dates from As Director of the ARA I was the beginning of the 12th century, but approached to support the campaign theory that the Southwell 'villa', had been preceded by a smaller Saxon opposing the planning applications. certainly from the fourth century, had Minster church of the 10th, the plan of As I have an interest in the Southwell been part of a spring-line sanctuary which is unknown as it lies buried 'villa' site and its transition through with a possible temple/shrine on the beneath the present Norman building. history, I supported the campaign to higher ground above, in much the Interestingly, part of a tessellated floor preserve the site. I wrote letters of same manner as I have argued for from the time of the Saxon church protest, magazine and newspaper Great Witcombe and Chedworth in survives beneath the pews in the articles, and took part in radio Gloucestershire. But the importance present south transept, long believed broadcasts. Most recently, along with of Southwell is in its continuity: its to have been made up from salvaged Professor Martin Henig, I spoke at a transition from a pagan site into a material from the adjacent villa and public gathering at Southwell, which Christian one which did not fade away painstakingly re-laid as a Saxon floor. was arranged by Dr Will Bowden from with time, but continued as a sacred Nottingham University and supported site, serving a living community up to I have contested this theory, as I had by other campaigners from within the the 21st century. In that respect it is never seen evidence for Saxon archaeological fraternity. almost certainly unique in Britain. It has recycling of tessellation in this country been on this argument that I have before, while there are several The most recent archaeological based my support for the continuing examples of Roman mosaics being evaluation trenching on the site of the campaign to save the area for the located beneath and corresponding proposed development revealed people of Southwell, to maintain it as to the alignment of later churches. phenomenal stone walling; this had not an historic area associated with the About 15 years ago I examined this been revealed when the school was history of the Minster. small piece of flooring; in my opinion, built. The walls, constructed in massive based on the manner and compaction blocks of masonry, may have formed Last year a planning application by the of the stones, it is part of an original part of a monumental structure or developer Caunton Properties Ltd was Roman floor still in situ. The floor massive terracing for the suggested refused; further applications may be respects the alignment of the transept 'villa'. Dr Phil Dixon, Archaeological forthcoming. Campaigners intend to walls, which suggests that a minor Advisor for the Minster, supervised submit a formal application for a detached Roman structure, belonging repair works beneath the Minster's change of use for the area, so that it may to the known villa, was utilised as part chapter house several years ago, and be preserved and landscaped as part of of the first-phase Minster. encountered the source of a prolific a Southwell Heritage Park. This would spring. This spring allow more detailed archaeological would have risen study and investigation to take place in on the higher the future. Should any members wish to ground just west offer some support to save this valuable of the main 'villa' site, they should write to the Chief building and a little Planning Officer, Newark and Sherwood way north-east of District Council, Kelham Hall, Newark, the south transept Nottinghamshire NG23 5QX. Please (the site of my send a copy of your letter to Southwell suspected Heritage Park Campaign, 15 Kirklington detached Roman Road, Southwell NG25 0AR. building with the Bryn Walters. tessellated floor). The combination 1 Daniels, C, 1966. Excavation on the of this evidence Roman villa at Southwell, Transactions Fig. 2. The Minster, with known Roman features in red. © Bryn Walters. supported my of the Thoroton Society 1966, pp13–54. 3 ARA study tour of Jordan 22 September–2 October 2011 Readers of ARA News will have read with great interest the of the Tobiads, a wealthy Jewish family of tax collectors. It was article by John Bithell about his visit to Jordan, published in constructed in a Hellenistic style with Egyptian Alexandrian September 2010 (issue 24). In my own reportatio of the influence, and decorated with various animals such as lions, ARA study tour to Jordan, I avoid any detailed reports of leopards and giant eagles (Fig. 2). The structure has specific places already described by John and concentrate traditionally been called a 'fortress' but may have functioned on those sites that he did not visit. The ARA tour was led by as a mausoleum. ARA members had the first of many lively Sam Moorhead of the British Museum, who has excavated in debates during the tour (Fig. 3), discussing the possible the area and proved to be outstanding in his role, and our functions of this building: was it a country palace, mausoleum Jordanian courier and guide, Elias Khzouz, was not only or a place of worship? knowledgeable and enthusiastic, but keen to engage with our discussions and to contribute pertinent remarks based on Jerash (ancient Gerasa) north of Amman was another major his knowledge of local history and traditions.1 We all learnt a member of the Decapolis, and certainly deserves its lot by listening to and participating in the debates led by Sam reputation as one of the most impressive Roman cities left and Elias, with valuable contributions in particular from the standing.