Newton, L, Iron Age and Romano-British Settlement at Lower
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IRON AGE AND ROMANO-BRITISH SETTLEMENT AT LOWER EASTON FARM, PYLLE, SOMERSET LEE NEWTON In 2014 Wessex Archaeology carried out an preservation by record of several sample areas excavation in advance of construction of a solar with the highest archaeological potential, and the energy farm, at Pylle, centred on NGR 362700 preservation in situ of the remaining identified 138650. (Fig. 1) The work was commissioned and archaeological resource. A total of seven excavation funded by Pylle Solar Energy Ltd. The site lay areas were stripped, totalling 0.39ha (Fig. 1). Areas approximately 5km south of Shepton Mallet and 1−3 and 7 were targeted on specific concentrations covered an area of approximately 25 hectares. of geophysical anomalies, whereas Areas 4, 5 and It lay at a height of 65−72m above Ordnance 6 acted as a control sample. Only Areas 1, 2 and 7 Datum (OD) and is located in a wide, gently contained archaeological features. undulating floodplain. The site is crossed by a A summary of the results is presented below; the small watercourse, known as Whitelake, and the full report may be found on the Wessex Archaeology geology is mapped as Langport Member, Blue Lias website (https://www.wessexarch.co.uk/our-work/ Formation and Charmouth Mudstone Formation lower-easton-farm-pylle). (British Geological Survey online viewer). The site lies 0.5km east of the Fosse Way Roman road (currently the modern A37) linking Exeter and LATE PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT Lincoln. A possible villa site (Somerset Historic Environment Record 15053) lies approximately A limited number of features of late prehistoric, 0.5km south-west, as evidenced by a concentra- probably Middle Iron Age date were recorded in Area tion of high-status Roman building material 1 and represent the earliest evidence for occupation recovered during fieldwalking (Somerset Historic of the site. These included a length of curvilinear Environment Record 12222). gully, with a projected internal diameter of 11m. A geophysical survey of part of the site was carried This had a probable SSE-facing entrance, matching out in 2013 (Pre-Construct Geophysics 2013). This the results of the geophysical survey for this area, covered the two fields on either side of Easton and suggesting the ring-gully of a roundhouse. Late Lane, the northern field bounded to the north by the prehistoric pottery recovered from the single fill of Whitelake watercourse. In this northern field the this ditch, a total of 51 sherds, may be of Iron Age survey recorded geophysical anomalies indicating date, although the abraded nature of these sherds a widespread array of rectilinear enclosure ditches, makes precise dating problematic. some flanking a potential trackway in the middle Immediately south of the eastern terminal of of the site, and a small number of sub-circular this ring-gully, flanking the entrance, was a small enclosures, as well as possible pits (Fig. 1). Taken feature which contained in situ burning and a single together, these results suggested settlement activity sherd of late prehistoric pottery. Stones in the centre spread over a relatively wide area, increasing in of the pit had been heat-affected. density beyond the eastern limit of the site. The first settlement probably dates to the Middle This geophysical survey highlighted the potential Iron Age. The evidence is limited, but suggests a for remains of a field system possibly relating to small-scale farming community, perhaps consisting the supposed Roman villa to the south-west of of a single family group. It is possible that further the site. The potential for prehistoric features Iron Age activity has been obliterated by Romano- was also highlighted. Given the size of the site, a British features; much of the later prehistoric staged programme of archaeological mitigation pottery comes from Romano-British ditches. was proposed, with the aim of facilitating the 91 15517 - Somerset Arch Vol 161 - 2018.indb 91 20/09/2018 11:50:24 SOMERSET ARCHAEOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY, 2017 Fig. 1 Site location showing the excavated areas and the results of the geophysical survey 92 15517 - Somerset Arch Vol 161 - 2018.indb 92 20/09/2018 11:50:24 IRON AGE AND ROMANO-BRITISH SETTLEMENT AT LOWER EASTON FARM, PYLLE, SOMERSET ROMANO-BRITISH LANDSCAPE ACTIVITY to geophysical anomalies. These represent parts of two adjacent subrectangular enclosures, both of Romano-British features, including ditches, pits which appear to be part of the same arrangement and trackways, were recorded in Areas 1, 2 and 7, of enclosures recorded in Area 1 (Fig. 1). Other indicating widespread activity across the site. The ditches present were not detected by the geophysical pottery suggests a broad date range from the 2nd survey. to the 4th centuries AD, which is confirmed by a Romano-British occupation of the site appears to number of coins. Almost all the Romano-British have begun during the 2nd or 3rd century AD and features in Area 1 were ditches, either for drainage continued into the 4th century, a fairly typical date and/or to mark boundaries. Most of these were range for such sites in southern England. However, orientated either north-west to south-east or north- the fact that the finds include two coins as well as east to south-west, which matched the general several fragments of brooches dating to the 1st or orientation of the enclosures recorded more widely 2nd centuries AD shows that there was activity across the site by the geophysical survey (Fig. 1). in the vicinity during the early Romano-British The most substantial of these features were two period. These finds were all unstratified or residual parallel ditches which formed a 5m wide trackway in later features, so may relate to the possible villa aligned north-west to south-east across the area, nearby. which was shown on the geophysical survey as Perhaps during the early Romano-British period extending for over 40m. These ditches contained a villa was established approximately 0.5km south- 3rd-century AD pottery and displayed a number of west of the site, as evidenced by the large quantity recuts, indicating their prolonged use. One section of building materials recovered during fieldwalking contained a length of Romano-British stone-filled (Somerset Historic Environment Record 12222). It drain along its centre, which is perhaps unsurprising is clear from geophysical surveys of the site that the given the location of the site in a floodplain. At its features uncovered during the excavation formed north-western end this ditch turned sharply to the part of a wider agricultural landscape probably north-east, which corresponds to the eastern side related to this villa. Indeed, two fragments of of an enclosure apparent on the geophysical survey; Romano-British ceramic building material were this enclosure appeared to span the trackway. found in Area 1. Based on its thickness, one of One ditch on the northern edge of Area 1 appears these fragments is probably from a brick, whilst to represent the southern end of a small rectangular the other may be from a box flue or voussoir tile. enclosure. This feature lies on a different Most notably a probable track or droveway crossed orientation to the other Romano-British features the middle of Area 1 in a north-west to south-east in this area and is perhaps later, a possibility borne direction, with field boundary/drainage ditches laid out by the pottery evidence, although this is not out at right angles to it. The field system continued conclusive. It certainly contained finds suggestive and apparently became more focused to the east of of a late Romano-British date in its bottom fill. This the excavated areas. ditch enclosed an area 13m east-west by at least 5m The finds material mainly falls into two principal north-south. Only the southern end of the projected phases of activity; one dating to the later prehistoric enclosure was visible, the remainder lying outside period, the other of Roman (2nd–4th-century) date. of the excavation area and being ill-defined in the Roman pottery accounts for 91% (sherd count) geophysical survey. of the assemblage and largely dates from the The excavation of Area 2 revealed an arrange- middle/late 2nd into the 4th century AD. It is ment of Romano-British ditches which corresponds overwhelmingly dominated by a diverse range of closely to the anomalies recorded by the geophysical ‘local’ coarse wares. Continental imported wares survey. These ditches indicate a number of phases are limited to 21 sherds of samian and a single burnt of reorganisation of enclosures/field systems. handle from a Baetican Dressel 20 amphora. The pottery suggests a broad date range from the This suggests mid−late Romano-British occupa- 2nd−3rd century. tion with a very limited repertoire of forms The stratigraphically earliest features were two dominated by jars; higher status wares such as short lengths of north-south ditch, with terminals Gaulish samian (1% count) and other imported 6.8m apart, possibly marking an entrance. fine/specialist wares are almost absent from the The excavation of Area 7 revealed an arrange- assemblage. A few regional imports from the ment of ditches some of which correspond closely Oxfordshire and New Forest industries were 93 15517 - Somerset Arch Vol 161 - 2018.indb 93 20/09/2018 11:50:24 SOMERSET ARCHAEOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY, 2017 present, (1% and 1.2% respectively by count of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the Roman assemblage), however, the assemblage is still dominated by local wares. This is perhaps The programme of work was commissioned by likely to reflect a rural settlement of moderately Pylle Solar Ltd. and Wessex Archaeology would low status. This is unsurprising at a rural site dating like to thank Nigel Davie for his help and assistance.