SCHEDULING ENHANCEMENT PROJECT 2009: ROMAN NON-MILITARY SITES: DYFED Prepared by Dyfed Archaeological Trust For Cadw DYFED ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST RHIF YR ADRODDIAD / REPORT NO.2009/5 RHIF Y PROSIECT / PROJECT RECORD NO.63967 Mawrth 2009 March 2009 SCHEDULING ENHANCEMENT PROJECT 2009: ROMAN NON-MILITARY SITES: DYFED Gan / By F. Murphy and M. Page Paratowyd yr adroddiad yma at ddefnydd y cwsmer yn unig. Ni dderbynnir cyfrifoldeb gan Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Dyfed Cyf am ei ddefnyddio gan unrhyw berson na phersonau eraill a fydd yn ei ddarllen neu ddibynnu ar y gwybodaeth y mae’n ei gynnwys The report has been prepared for the specific use of the client. Dyfed Archaeological Trust Limited can accept no responsibility for its use by any other person or persons who may read it or rely on the information it contains. Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Dyfed Cyf Dyfed Archaeological Trust Limited Neuadd y Sir, Stryd Caerfyrddin, Llandeilo, Sir The Shire Hall, Carmarthen Street, Llandeilo, Gaerfyrddin SA19 6AF Carmarthenshire SA19 6AF Ffon: Ymholiadau Cyffredinol 01558 823121 Tel: General Enquiries 01558 823121 Adran Rheoli Treftadaeth 01558 823131 Heritage Management Section 01558 823131 Ffacs: 01558 823133 Fax: 01558 823133 Ebost: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Gwefan: www.archaeolegdyfed.org.uk Website: www. dyfedarchaeology .org.uk Cwmni cyfyngedig (1198990) ynghyd ag elusen gofrestredig (504616) yw’r Ymddiriedolaeth. The Trust is both a Limited Company (No. 1198990) and a Registered Charity (No. 504616) CADEIRYDD CHAIRMAN: C R MUSSON MBE B Arch FSA MIFA. CYFARWYDDWR DIRECTOR: K MURPHY BA MIFA SCHEDULING ENHANCEMENT PROJECT 2009: ROMAN NON-MILITARY SITES: DYFED RHIF YR ADRODDIAD / REPORT NUMBER 2009/5 Mawrth 2009 March 2009 Paratowyd yr adroddiad hwn gan / This report has been prepared by Frances Murphy Swydd / Position: Archaeologist Llofnod / Signature ............…………................. Dyddiad / Date Mae’r adroddiad hwn wedi ei gael yn gywir a derbyn sêl bendith This report has been checked and approved by Kenneth Murphy ar ran Ymddiriedolaeth Archaeolegol Dyfed Cyf. on behalf of Dyfed Archaeological Trust Ltd. Swydd / Position: Trust Director Llofnod / Signature .............…....…………....... Dyddiad / Date Yn unol â’n nôd i roddi gwasanaeth o ansawdd uchel, croesawn unrhyw sylwadau sydd gennych ar gynnwys neu strwythur yr adroddiad hwn As part of our desire to provide a quality service we would welcome any comments you may have on the content or presentation of this report CONTENTS SUMMARY 2 INTRODUCTION 3 PROJECT AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 3 METHODOLOGY 5 RESULTS 7 Figure 1: Map of Dyfed showing the locations of the 107 records of Roman non-military sites listed in the gazetteer 7 Site Visit Descriptions 9 Areas Requiring Further Investigation 15 DATABASE GAZETTEER 19 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 53 REFERENCES 53 Front Cover: pit containing a cremation deposit in an intact Romano-British greyware jar, Park Hall, Carmarthen 2001 1 SUMMARY In 2007 Cadw commissioned Dyfed Archaeological Trust to undertake an assessment of the minor site types within the regional Dyfed Historic Environment Record for which there was a known or potential under representation within the Schedule of Ancient Monuments. Three distinct site groups were identified in this study: • Prehistoric settlement and associated agricultural remains • Roman non-military sites • Medieval Fortified Dwellings The aim of this project was to evaluate the Roman non-military sites on the regional Historic Environment Record that had not been the subject of a previous threat-related assessment. In total 105 non-military records dating to the Roman period were identified, as well as 299 records of ‘unknown’ but potential Roman date. A desk-based assessment of the relevant records was carried out. A number of the records required considerable updating, but few sites were found that required a site visit. In all only 4 Roman non-military sites were visited as part of this study. It had been estimated that this project would require approximately 30 sites to be visited; therefore the resources set aside for this were re-directed to carrying out site visits for the Defended Enclosure Additional Sites 2009 project. The project confirmed the limited nature of the available information on Roman non-military sites in Dyfed, and that the majority of sites worthy of scheduling have already been scheduled. A significant number of records highlighted the relative quantity of archaeological work that has been undertaken in Carmarthen town and at Dolaucothi gold mines, much of which has resulted in areas being scheduled. The remaining records are scattered across Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, with very few in Ceredigion. Of the two sites recorded as ‘villas’, or more accurately Romano-British homesteads, Llys Brychan in Carmarthenshire has been scheduled and Trelissey in Pembrokeshire has already been recommended for scheduling in a previous project. Of the five identified ‘villa?’ sites one, Upper Newton, warrants further investigation to determine the nature of the rectangular building revealed through geophysical survey, and the very limited explorative work. This in turn will inform any decision making on the protection or not that the site should afford. Another 15 records listed as ‘Occupation site’ range from rectangular stone buildings recorded within earlier prehistoric earthwork enclosures, such as Cwmbrwyn and Castle Flemish, both of which have been scheduled, to records of individual Roman finds from Iron Age defended enclosures, including promontory forts. The finds range from a substantial number of pottery sherds down to a single glass bead. Apart from these the majority of the records relate to sites suggested by documentary sources, Roman quarries identified from aerial photographs, or the large group of records covering sporadic finds ranging from a group of coins to burials recorded in the 19 th -20 th centuries. Of the four sites visited, Castell Waun Withan, was found to be a square earthwork enclosure in good condition that merits further investigation. Llanwrda was found to be a square enclosure possibly of Roman or Iron Age date that survives as a slight earthwork, no earthwork was visible on the ground at Yet Wen, and Dan y graig is a misinterpretation of the natural topography. 2 INTRODUCTION In 2007-2008 Dyfed Archaeological Trust (DAT) undertook a study for Cadw Appraisal of Minor Site Types in Dyfed: Prehistoric, Roman and Medieval Fortified Dwellings . This was an assessment of the minor site types within the regional Dyfed Historic Environment Record (HER) for which there was a known or potential under representation within the Schedule of Ancient Monuments. It had been anticipated that by 2010 the proposed Heritage Protection Reform bill would be implemented, and it was intended that all prehistoric and Roman period sites would be reviewed and, as far as possible, the Schedule of Ancient Monuments complete and correct for all nationally important archaeological sites for which scheduling was the appropriate management tool. However, the passage of the Heritage Protection Reform bill through Parliament has been postponed, and perhaps cancelled, but the date of 2010 for assessing all sites is still achievable. One group of sites that appeared under represented within the Schedule was Roman non-military sites. 105 non-military records dated to the Roman period were identified in the study, as well as 299 records of ‘unknown’ but potentially Roman date. A specific project was proposed to enable a desk based and field assessment of such sites, for the purpose of updating the records as well as the identification of those examples, which were of potentially national importance. In 2008-2009 this project Scheduling Enhancement Project 2009: Roman Non Military Sites Dyfed was undertaken. PROJECT AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The main aim of this project is to assess the Roman non-military sites on the regional Dyfed HER that have not been the subject of a previous threat-related assessment. The overall project aims are: • The definition, classification, quantification and distribution of Roman non- military sites in southwest Wales • Assessment of the archaeological significance of these sites in both a regional and national perspective. • Assessment of the vulnerability of this element of the archaeological resource, review of scheduling, and recommendations for future management strategies. • Enhancement of the regional HER and Extended National Database. The project’s objectives are: • To identify all non-military sites of Roman date that require further assessment. • To collate existing documentary evidence for the sites. • To carry out a field assessment of those sites where necessary. 3 • To incorporate all the information into a database and enhance the regional Dyfed HER. • To advise Cadw on those sites which are of national value and currently without statutory protection. Areas That Require Further Investigation A number of areas that might require further investigation were suggested in the 2007-2008 Appraisal of Minor Site Types project, and this report will endeavour to address them. They included: Settlement The known Roman settlement evidence is limited and is likely to remain so but a desk-top assessment in association with other settlement evidence is worthwhile. Villa sites or potential villa sites may require field assessment. Burials The identification of the potential for further associated remains to survive with identified cremation