Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire
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COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY Cotswold Archaeology EXCAVATIONS AT KINGSCOTE AND WYCOMB, GLOUCESTERSHIRE A ROMAN ESTATE CENTRE AND SMALL TOWN IN THE COTSWOLDS WITH NOTES ON RELATED SETTLEMENTS Frontispiece: Aerial view of Kingscote Site 2 in 1978 (Source: KAA archive) Cotswold Archaeology EXCAVATIONS AT KINGSCOTE AND WYCOMB, GLOUCESTERSHIRE A ROMAN ESTATE CENTRE AND SMALL TOWN IN THE COTSWOLDS WITH NOTES ON RELATED SETTLEMENTS by Jane R Timby with contributions by Paul Arthur, Cliff Bateman, Thomas Blagg, Nick Cooke, Hilary Cool, Mark Corney, Step hen Cosh, Peter Cottrell, Timothy Darvill, Brenda Dickinson, Isabel Figuerial, Janet Firth, John Giorgi, the late Margaret Guido, Alejandra Gutierrez, Martin Henig, Roger Ling, Doilald Mackreth, David McOmish, Mark Maltby, Catherine Mortimer, David Neal, Andrew Payne, Mark Redknap, Richard Reece, Fiona Roe, Ian Scott, John Shepherd, Fiona Small, Cathy Stoertz, Edward Swain and Linda Viner Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd Cirencester 1998 ©Authors and Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd, 1998 Headquarters Building, Unit 9, Kemble Business Park, Cirencester, Glos, GL7 6BQ ©Original site archive, Cotswold District Council, 1998 ISBN 0 9523196 1 6 The publication of this volume has been generously supported by English Heritage All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd. This volume reports the results of two important excavations on Roman sites in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds: Kingscote (1973-1980) and Wycomb (1973-1977). The substantial collection of finds recovered are catalogued and discussed. New and detailed aerial and topographic surveys by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England and a geophysical survey of Kingscote by English Heritage are included. Kingscote is interpreted as an estate centre and Wycomb as a small town. Other similar sites in the Cotswolds are described and comparisons made. ISBN 0 9523196 1 6 Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd Headquarters Building Unit 9, Kemble Business Park Cirencester, Glos GL7 6BQ Printed by Henry Ling (The Dorset Press) Ltd, Dorchester CONTENTS List of illustrations ix 4 The excavations: Site 2, 1975-1980 31 List of tables xi Introduction: the excavation record 31 Foreword by Timothy Darvill xiii Current analysis 31 Acknowledgements xvii Phasing summary 33 Summary xix Detailed discussion of phases 35 Summary 67 1 Introduction 1 What is a small town? 3 5 Architectural details The Cotswold small towns 4 The stonework by T F C Blagg 73 Catalogue 73 Discussion 76 The wall-plaster by Roger Ling 77 PART A: KINGSCOTE Description of the paintings 77 The mosaics by David S Neal and Stephen 2 The site 7 RCosh 87 Location 7 The Kingscote buildings: a reconstruction by The archaeological background 9 David S Neal 89 The discovery by Edward Swain 12 Air photographic transcription and analysis 6 The finds 91 by Fiona Small and Cathy Stoertz The coins by Richard Reece and Nick Cooke 91 (RCHME) 13 Kingscote Site 1 91 Summary 13 Kingscote Site 2 91 Objectives 15 The Antonine medallion by Paul Arthur 92 Photographic sources consulted 15 The small-finds 92 Survey methods and techniques 15 Introduction by Linda Viner 92 Description of features transcribed 15 The small-finds from Kingscote Site 1 by Report on the geophysical survey by Peter Mark Redknap 93 Cottrell and Andrew Payne 16 Objects of personal adornment or dress 93 Introduction 16 Hairpins; bracelets; finger rings by Method 17 Mark Redknap Results 19 Iron brooches; buckles by Ian Scott Conclusions 21 Miscellaneous jewellery; Field-walking by Jane R Timby 23 beads; pendants; buckles by Field-walking 1994 by Clifford Bateman 23 Mark Redknap Introduction 23 Iron hobnails and other shoe fittings Methodology 23 by Ian Scott Results 23 Toilet, surgical or pharmaceutical instruments 101 3 The excavations: Site 1, 1973-1975 26 Tweezers, toilet spoons/ ear scoops; Introduction 26 nail cleaners by Mark Redknap The quarry 28 Objects used in the manufacture or The buildings 28 working of textiles 103 vi Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire Needles; spindle whorls; loom Spoons; hook; furniture attachments; weights by Mark Redknap bindings and fittings, ring-keys and Household utensils and furniture 103 bone inlay by Linda Viner Iron objects: bucket fittings; lamps; Household objects in iron: bucket other household objects by Ian Scott fittings, candlestick, lamp by Ian Ceramic rings by Alejandra Gutierrez Scott Objects used for recreational purposes 105 Stone objects: mortars, discs, querns, Counters by Mark Redknap whetstones, rubbers and chopping Objects used for or associated with written boards by Alejandra Gutierrez and communication 105 Fiona Roe Iron styli by Ian Scott Table-tops by T F C Blagg Objects associated with transport 106 Ceramic rings by Alejandra Gutierrez Harness; horse equipment and cart Objects used for recreational purposes 183 fittings by Ian Scott Counters by Linda Viner Tools and ancillary equipment 106 Objects employed in weighing and Handles by Mark Redknap measuring 183 Ironwork by Ian Scott Steelyard weight by Martin Henig Hone stones by Mark Redknap and Other weights by Linda Viner Sara Chambers Objects used for or associated with written Fasteners and fittings 108 communication 186 Decorative and miscellaneous fittings Cube seal of copper alloy by Martin by Mark Redknap Henig with analysis by N J Seeley Iron keys; rings; collars; spikes; other Styli by Linda Viner and Ian Scott fastenings; nails and dogs; bindings; Seal boxes by Linda Viner miscellaneous objects by Ian Scott Objects associated with transport 188 Objects associated with agriculture, Horse harness equipment and cart horticulture and animal husbandry 111 fittings by Ian Scott Agricultural tool by Ian Scott Tools and ancillary equipment 188 Objects and waste material associated Handles by Linda Viner with metal-working 111 Carpenter's tools; leather-working Bronze smithing; lead scrap; lead tools knives and blades by Ian repairs by Mark Redknap Scott General discussion by Mark Redknap 113 Fasteners and fittings 190 The small-finds from Kingscote Site 2 113 Nails; bosses; studs; fittings by Objects of personal adornment or dress 113 Linda Viner Copper-alloy brooches (Sites 1, 2 and Locks and keys by Linda Viner and field-walking) by Donald Mackreth Ian Scott Iron brooches by Ian Scott Structural fittings; nails and dogs; Beads by the late Margaret Guido bindings; mounts and decorative Finger rings; bracelets; ear-rings; pins plates by Ian Scott by Linda Viner Objects associated with agriculture, Buckles by Linda Viner and Ian Scott horticulture and animal husbandry 196 Studs; fastenings; tags by Linda Viner Spearheads and arrowheads by Ian Iron hobnails and other shoe fittings Scott by Ian Scott Agricultural tools; farrier's tools; other Toilet, surgical or pharmaceutical tools by Ian Scott instruments 165 Objects associated with religious beliefs and Nail cleaners; chatelaine set; tweezers; practices 199 toilet spoons by Lihda Viner Stone relief of Fortuna by Martin Razor or eraser handle by Martin Henig Henig with geological analysis by Mixing palettes by Alejandra Gutierrez Philip Powell and Fiona Roe Objects and waste material associated with Objects used in the manufacture or working metal-working 201 of textiles 167 Copper alloy waste by Linda Viner Sewing needles by Linda Viner Smith's tools by Ian Scott Spindle whorls by Linda Viner and Assessment of technological debris by Alejandra Gutierrez Catherine Mortimer Household utensils and furniture 169 Objects of uncertain function/identification 202 Contents vii Copper alloy, lead, jet, bone by Linda Kingscote Site 2 by Jane R Timby with a Viner catalogue of the samian by Brenda Iron by Ian Scott Dickinson Ceramic by Alejandra Gutierrez Brick and tile 267 Kingscote field-walking finds 206 Ceramic brick and tile by Alejandra Introduction by Linda Viner Gutierrez Objects of personal adornment or dress 207 Stamped tile by Timothy Darvill Beads by Linda Viner Stone roof tile by Alejandra Gutierrez Intaglios with or without rings by Floor inlay by Alejandra Gutierrez Martin Henig Finger rings; bracelets; ear-rings; 7 Environmental evidence 271 necklace; pins; fastening by Charcoal Identification by Isabel Figuerial Linda Viner Charred plant remains by John A Giorgi Toilet, surgical or pharmaceutical Cereal grains instruments 210 Weed seeds Nail cleaners; tweezers; cosmetic Discussion spoons; spoon-probes; ear scoops; spatula by Linda Viner 8 The human bone 275 Objects used in the manufacture, or working Kingcote Site 1 by Janet Firth of textiles 211 Kingscote Site 2 by Janet Firth Spindle whorls; needles by Linda Introduction and analysis Viner Household utensils and furniture 211 9 Kingscote gazetteer 277 Ring-keys; spoons; box fitting; The site furniture fittings; vessels; lamp; Kingscote area whetstone by Linda Viner Objects used for recreational purposes 211 10 Kingscote: general discussion 287 Dice; counters by Linda Viner Origins and development Objects employed in weighing and Morphology measuring 213 Specialist functions Weights by Linda Viner Later history Objects used for or associated with written Conclusions communication 213 Styli; seals; seal boxes by Linda Viner Tools and ancillary equipment 213 Iron punch by Linda Viner PART B: WYCOMB Fasteners and fittings 213 Locks; nails and studs by Linda Viner