9. KINGSCOTE GAZETTEER
The gazetteer information has been summarized Professor Rainey and Miss E K Ralph, Univ of Pennsylvania, below in condensed format. An 'A' following the of southern track in Middle Chessalls. I Sources: Eagles NGR indicates approximate; a 'C' means centred. For and Swan 1972, 61, fig 1. further explanation of gazetteer see pp 4f and Site No: 4 I Date of Recog: 1993 I NGR: ST 806960 C I Appendix 1. The Site numbers are those referred Description: A pilot geophysical survey was undertaken by to in the text and on Figures 119-20. Site Name is the A M Lab over a grid of 30m squares using magneto Kingscote unless otherwise stated or provided in meter and resistivity. I Sources: Cottrell and Payne 1993. more detail such as Field number. Numbers 1-62 See also pp 16-23. relate to sites within the immediate area of settlement; nos 1001-52 to the Kingscote area. Site No: 5 I Date of Recog: 1993 I NGR: ST 8120 9605 C I Description: A pilot geophysical survey was undertaken by the A M Lab in field adjacent to A 4135. See also Site 1002. I THE SITE (Figs 119-20) Sources: Cottrell and Payne 1993. See also pp 16--23.
ANTIQUARIAN EXCAVATION (SITE TYPE: AE) INTERPRETATION AND MAPPING UNIT Site No: 1 I Date of Recog: c 1925-6 I NGR: ST 807957 A I (SITE TYPE: IMU) Periods Rep: RB/Description: Correspondence in 1952 between Marjorie Crook (nee Willmore) to E S Lindley, with Site No: 6 I Date of Recog: 1971 I NGR: ST 807960 C I reference to possible excavations at the Chessall site, about Description: Air Photography Experiment I Sources: 1926, in a site comprising two adjoining fields at the cross Hampton 1974, 37-64; RCHME MS Notes. road from and immediately W of the schools in Newington Site No: 7 I Date of Recog: ?1970-5 I NGR: ST 802964 C I Bagpath parish. Crook reported the finding in April 1925 Site Name: Wotton-under-Edge (to W of First Chessalls) I and subsequently of samian, black pot, tile, flue tile, Periods Rep: undated I Description: Cropmarks indicating ?fragment of mortar, in a ploughed field, lying between the a double-ditched enclosure and linear boundary. I Sources: 600-700ft contour. The site was interpreted as a 'villa', and RCHME 1976; CUAP. marked as 'Roman remains Newing Bagpath Glos' on Sheet LVII 6" map. I Sources: Correspondence Files, Stroud Site No: 8 I Date of Recog: 1993 I NGR: ST 807960 C I Museum. Periods Rep: ?Preh-RB-Med-Post-med I Description: Updated survey by RCHME, combining information from previous surveys, and photographic sources. See pp 13-16, CARTOGRAPHIC DEPICTION (SITE TYPE: CD) fig 00. I Sources: RCHME 1993. Site No: 9 I Date of Recog: 1975-80 I NGR: ST 807960 C I Site No: 2 I NGR: ST 8085 9565 C I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Copy deposited with NAP (RCHME) Description: Roman coins found in area. I Sources: OS 6" Swindon I Description: Aerial photographic record made ST89NW. by C Pennycuick. I Sources: Pennycuick, personal archive.
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY UNIT (SITE TYPE: GSU) INDIRECT RECORDS (SITE TYPE: IR)
Site No: 3 /Date of Recog: 1971 I NGR: ST 8064 9595 A I Site No: 10 I Date of Recog: c 1691 I Periods Rep: RB I Periods Rep: RB I Description: Geophysical survey by Description: ' ... at Kingscot, Roman coins have been 278 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb , Gloucestershire
80> 81 0 ; -N- I
960
'I# AE
IQ] CD GSU ·- ·IMU
111111 ME e RO EB RSF ... __ _ "· """ scu --- ...... , :: ) ... •• sscu ----...... :u UGS ==.== =~ == = ~a.;; ;=rjE.j; =.t= uscu
0 500m c . ==----~==~----~==~ Fig 119 Kingscote showing archaeological 'sites'. Scale 1:750.
frequently found in the fields, after showers of rain, which . .. [plate XIV, fig 7]' I Sources: Camden, Britannia (1772), I, they call Chesle-money, perhaps for Castle or Chester 286; Eagles and Swan 1972, 60; Witts 1883. money; and also, in the year 1691, was found a Roman fibula, of the same shape and height with that which is Site No: 11 I Periods Rep: RB I Description: 'The inhabit represented in the table annexed to the description of Wales ants have a tradition, that there was once a city here, of the Kingscote Gazetteer 279
80 5 - 810
-N-t I
0 0 IZl .1" IZl I
960
= cropmarks -n walls ... Iron Age : 0 coin
Roman:
• pottery
0 coin I IZl other finds
0 500m ~==------=~====------=====~
Fig 120 Plot of known archaeology for Kingscote. Scale 1:750.
name of Kingchester, which, however may be a mistake, it ings. And accordingly it appears that there was a Roman understood agreeably to their notion of a city; but as station at a place called the Chestles, not only from the tradition has generally something of truth for its foun name of it, which seems to have something of a military dation, it serves, at least, to show that this village has been significance, as if it were the same with castle, from antiently distinguished by camps or some eminent build- castellum a fort or town; but also from the remains of a 280 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire tessallated pavement, and great numbers of Roman coins PLACENAME EVIDENCE (SITE TYPE: PN) which have been found there, in plowing the fields at different times. A large statue of stone, and other remains of Site No: 18 I Site Name: Chesle, Chessals, Chessalls, antiquity, have also been turned up by the plow in the same Chisalls I Description: The name is recorded by Camden field. I saw many of the coins, and some of the dice-like in 1772 as 'Chesle-money', and by Rudder in 1779 as pieces that composed the pavement, which were of brick of 'Chestles'. The tithe map and accompanying apportion different colours, in the possession of Mr Brooks of this ment of 1838 records Chisalls'. The placename is derived place. There was also an antient Fibula Vestiaria, of brass, from OE ceastel 'heap of stones', and often, as here, is curiously chequered on the back part with red and blue associated with remains of Roman buildings. I Sources: enamel, found in the same field in the year 1691, as Carriden 1772, I, 286; Rudder 1779,512;AH Smith 1965, 237; mentioned in the late editions of the Britannia, with some GRO Tithe Map 1838; Eagles and Swan 1972. description of the manner of using it. Had a person of Site No: 19 I Site Name: Cold Harbour I Description: judgement been present when these things were discovered, Bacon's quarter-inch county map labels the area as 'Cold many curious particulars might have been preserved, Harbour' meaning 'inhospitable place'. I Sources: Bacon which were either unnoticed or destroy'd by the plow 1st edn. OS Sheet 68 (1830); A H Smith 1965. man.' I Sources: Rudder 1779, 512. Site No: 12 I Date of Recog: 1886 I Periods Rep: RB I Description: Morgan quotes Wright: 'extensive buildings RECORDED OBSERVATION (SITE TYPE: RO) have been found ... which belonged to a villa or station' I Sources: Morgan 1886; Wright 1875, 68. Site No: 20a-e I Date of Recog: 1994 I NGR: ST 80 95 C I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: CAT I Description: Site No: 13 I Description: Baddeley reports 'frequent Recorded observation of 5 test-pits dug for the Midlands finding of funerary urns and RB ritual remains'. [No Electricity Board to relocate wooden electricity poles. corroborative evidence] I Sources: Baddeley 1930a, 151. Topsoil was removed by machine, and hand-excavated to Site No: 14 I Date of Recog: 1951 I Description: Note in natural. A roughly metalled surface with pottery-rich black Stroud Museum from C Overy through Mrs Clifford soil above was encountered in test-pit 3, possibly indicating (11.4.51) reporting that the site has been traversed once or a surface within an outbuilding or external yard surface. twice when the fields have been under plough. No finds Geological anomalies encountered in test-pits 1, 2 and 4. I resulted, but the field labourers reported occasionally Sources: Bateman 1994. finding Roman coins. I Sources: Stroud Museum, Corres pondence Files. RECORDED STRAY FINDS (SITE TYPE: RSF)
Site No: 21 I Date of Recog: 1925 I NGR: ST 8085 9565 C I MODERN EXCAVATION (SITE TYPE: ME) Periods Rep: RB I Description: Record of samian, Upchurch Ware, broken tile, flue tile and Roman mortar in fields. I Site No: 15 I Date of Recog: Oct 1971 I NGR: ST 8065 9594 Sources: Crook 1926. A I Periods Rep: RB I Description: Excavation by N Spry Site No: 22 I Date of Recog: 27 Aug 1872 I NGR: ST 805961 across line of track. Trench lm wide, 17.2m long; excavated A I Site Name: Middle Chessalls I Periods Rep: RB I Finds across and at right-angles, at a point 134m W of the Location: Kingscote churchyard (coffin) I Description: field boundary between Middle and Lower Chessalls. Solid stone coffin found in Middle Chessalls field, N-S Excavations revealed road c 11m across, partly paved, and orientation, buried less than 80mm below ground surface. with side ditches. I Sources: RCHME MS Notes, inclu Willmore Type C and D: length 1.9m, 0.6m maximum photographs; Eagles and Swan 1972, 61, 86-9, A pp 5, figs 1, width, O.Sm deep. Top two stones secured by iron clamp at 7-8, pls I, II; Spry 1973, 11-12, with section; Glos SMR each end of the coffin. Contained perfect skeleton, probably 325. female. Removed to Kingscote Family burial ground in Site No: 16 I Date of Recog: 1973-5 I NGR: ST 8075 9576 I Kingscote Churchyard-could still be seen in 1953. I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Corinium Museum I Sources: Lindley 1953, 154-8; Willmore 1939, 140; Kingscote Description: Excavations by E J Swain in NE corner of Field Family Archive, GRO D471IC16. II (=Site 1). See pp 91-113, for summary and discussion of Site No: 23 I Date of Recog: pre-1962 I NGR: ST 807956 I finds etc. I Sources: MS Notes, held by E J Swain; Wichard Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: City of Liverpool 1975, 12. Museum Ace No 62.43 I Description: Roman coin Site No: 17 I Date of Recog: 1975-80 I NGR: ST 806960 C I (Constantine I) presented by Dr Cave in 1962. Found 'in Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Corinium Museum I ploughland c 800 m SW of Hunter's Hall'. I Sources: Description: See main report above I Sources: KAA 1976; RCHME MS Notes; RCHME 1976, Kingscote (1); Eagles and 1977; 1978; 1979; Swain 1976; 1977; 1978; 1979; 1981. Swan 1972, 60. Kingscote Gazetteer 281
Site No: 24 I Date of Recog: pre-1972 I NGR: ST 8098 9557 unknown, 'found years ago on Kingscote Estate, near A I Periods Rep: RB I Description: Single Roman coin Horsley'. 25 Roman coins and one pre-Roman coin. I found in gardens E of the road. I Sources: RCHME 1976, Sources: Stroud Museum. Kingscote(l); Eagles and Swan 1972, 60. Site No: 33 I Description: Finds donated from 'Kingscote'. Pottery sherds. I Sources: Stroud Museum. SYSTEMATIC SURFACE COLLECTION UNIT Site No: 34 I Site Name: 'near Kingscote' I Finds Location: (SITE TYPE: SSCU) Stroud Museum; 1947.1010 I Description: Roman coin F L Fabius, 81-80 BC, donated by E P Little. 'Dug up near Site No: 25 I Date of Recog: 1994 I Finds Location: CAT I Kingscote'. I Sources: Stroud Museum. Description: Systematic field-walking across the scheduled Site No: 35 I Finds Location: Stroud Mus; 1947.1110 I area and adjacent available land. I Sources: see pp 23-5. Description: Coin of Constantius II, AD 346-50, 'found at Kingscote', donated byE P Little. I Sources: Stroud Museum. UNRECORDED STRAY FINDS (SITE TYPE: USF) Site No: 36 (deleted)
Site No: 26 I Date of Recog: c 1914 I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Bristol City Museum, (1) F.1940; (2) F1941 I Description: Two objects catalogued as given by J E UNSYSTEMATIC GROUND SURVEY Pritchard, 1931. (1) Bronze key. (2) Bronze handle of razor, (SITE TYPE: UGS) found 1914. In shape of leg of stool with lion's foot. I Sources: RCHME MS Notes. Site No: 37 I Date of Recog: 1966-7 I NGR: ST 807958 C I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Gloucester City Mus Site No: 27 I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Gloucester (Ace Nos 39-4511968; 10411968); private collections I City Museum; N905, N907, NX67-8 I Description: Four Description: Survey by RCHME 1966-7. Eagles and Swan coins: Maximinus I, Valentinian I, Tetricus I, Probus. I summarised the results of surface collection of finds from Sources: RCHME MS Notes. fields, and wherever possible assigned find spots to either a Site No: 28 I Periods Rep: Bronze Age I Finds Location: building platform or an area of structural debris. For full Stroud Museum 1972.3010 I Description: Grass-tempered details and plan see Eagles and Swan 1972. I Sources: sherd from Chessalls, donated by Rev C Lloyd I Sources: RCHME MS Notes; Eagles and Swan 1972,60-91, fig 1. Glos SMR 538; Stroud Museum. Site No: 38 I Date of Recog: 1972 I NGR: ST 807958 C I Site No: 29 I Date of Recog: probably pre-1779 I Periods Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Stroud Mus; private I Rep: RB I Finds Location: Corinium Museum B958 I Description: Additional site information recorded by E J Description: Head of Minerva. Rudder describes 'a large Swain, enhancing survey by RCHME 1966-7. I Sources: statue of stone'. Rather worn, carved in the round, of oolitic Kingscote Archive, compiled byE J Swain; KAA 1977; 1978; limestone. Minerva wears a plumed helmet, on the left side 1979. of which two serpents are visible. Thick curly hair, with Site No: 39 I Date of Recog: 1976 I NGR: ST 807958 C I Site prominent eyes. I Sources: Henig 1993b, no 83, pl23 (with Name: The Chessalls I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: full references); Rudder 1779, 512; Eagles and Swan 1972, various I Description: Survey summary combining infor 60; Baddeley 1925b, 353. mation from Sites 37-8, with additional contributions and Site No: 30 I Date of Recog: pre-1911 I Site Name: probably research. In summary: large unwalled RB settlement, with Kingscote I Periods Rep: RB I Description: Note by J E at least 75 buildings, covering an area of 50 acres. I Sources: Pritchard: 'From.a farm on the Cotswolds, at an altitude of RCHME 1976, Kingscote (1). over 700ft, and several miles SW of Nailsworth, flint Site No: 40 I Date of Recog: pre 1968 I NGR: ST 807958 C I scrapers and a small lot of Roman coins [were brought to Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Gloucester City Museum me].' The coins (17 in total) were identified as "small brass of I Description: Summary of survey and report by D A the Constantine family". I Sources: Pritchard 1912,109-110. Mears, describing the outline of buildings and finds Site No: 31 I Date of Recog: pre-1953 I Periods Rep: RB I suggesting the presence of an agricultural settlement cover Description: E S Lindley reported minor finds of roof and ing 200 acres and working the adjacent land. I Sources: flue tiles, pottery, flints, painted samian ware, oyster and Mears 1968, 4-6. snail shells. Two coins identified by Miss Rennie: Tetricus I, AD 270-3; and Probus, AD 176-82. I Sources: Lindley 1953, 156. UNSYSTEMATIC SURFACE COLLECTION UNIT Site No: 32 I Site Name: Kingscote Estate I Finds Location: (SITE TYPE: USCU) Stroud Museum; 1958.7511, 12 I Description: Unproven anced finds, donated by C E Horton. Exact find area Site No: 41 I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Private 282 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire collection I Description: Various finds I Sources: G Walker by E J Swain, found in areas 12-14 or 1-3, in Lower pers comm. Chessalls: copper-alloy nail cleaner, strip, decorated sheet frag, and molten waste. I Sources: Stroud Museum. Site No: 42 I Periods Rep: RB-modern I Finds Location: private collection I Description: Finds recovered by E J Site No: 51 I NGR: ST 807960 A I Site Name: Lower Swain. Seep 206-16. I Sources: Personal correspondence. Chessalls I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Stroud Mus, 1971.401-04 I Description: Finds from areas 12-14, Lower Site No: 43 I Periods Rep: RB-early medieval I Finds Chessalls, donated by E J Swain. Includes jet pin, glass Location: Private collection (1972-9) I Description: Field handle, window glass, samian, pottery. I Sources: Stroud walking finds, identified by J Rhodes: Iron brooch Hull type Museum. 2, copper-alloy brooches Fowler type Dl, Hull type 7 coins (3) C4, glass beads, iron arrowhead, Heliotrope intaglio I Site No: 52 I NGR: ST 808960 I Site Name: Lower Chessalls Sources: J Rhodes, Gloucester City Mus. I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Stroud Mus 1971.417 I 0-41910 I Description: Finds from site 12, Lower Chessalls, Site No: 44 I Periods Rep: RB, post-medieval I Finds donated byE J Swain. Includes 2 copper-alloy bracelets and Location: Private collection; Stroud Museum I Description: a pin. I Sources: Stroud Museum. Information given to Eagles and Swan during 1966-7 survey. Finds donated to Stroud Museum include: scissors, Site No: 53 I NGR: ST 808962 A I Site Name: Lower molten glass, button. I Sources: Eagles and Swan 1972, 91; Chessalls I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Stroud Mus, RCHME MS Notes. 1971.42010, 42110 I Description: Finds from site Kl5, Lower Chessalls, donated by E J Swain. Copper-alloy Site No: 45 I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Two private brooch, copper-alloy buckle with stylised horse decoration. collections (1972-9) I Description: Field-walking finds, Classified as Type IB buckle loop (Hawkes 1974)-dolphins identification by J Rhodes, Gloucester City Mus: 2 frags with buffer-jaws, circlet-eyes on well-moulded heads, a line Dobunnic silver coin (incl Van Arsdell type 110); coins (x4) of punched arcs at the base of each horse-head. Despite Cl-C2; (x90) C3-C4; brooches (xlS) incl Hull types 4 plough damage, there is evidence of much original wear, (Polden Hill), lSA, M (x 3), 5 (x2), Collingwood types H, M, especially on the left side. A broken perforation through R4 type Q, Fowler type D1 (x2); plate brooch; 2 copper the remains of the right horse-head suggests that it may alloy studs, 2 frags copper-alloy bracelet, pin, ring, nail have been used as a pendant. I Sources: Stroud Museum; cleaner (x2), spoon bowl, phallic amulet, enamel mount, Hawkes 1974,386, fig 3.3. samian; pottery spindle whorl, quern, glass rim, glass beads, jet spacer, bone bracelet, stone counter I Sources: J Site No: 54 I NGR: ST 808955 A I Site Name: Field IV I Rhodes, Gloucester City Mus. Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Stroud Mus, 1971.422-30 I Description: Finds from Field IV, donated by E J Swain. Site No: 46 I Date of Recog: c 1968 I NGR: ST 809962 A I Includes copper-alloy brooch, 9 frags AE casting waste, Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Stroud Mus; 1968.2210, whetstone, glass handle frag, glass bead (blue), black glass 1968.2311, 2 I Description: Finds foundS of Ashel Barn by counter, jet bead?, samian, one stamped ASIANCIN, A P Garrod. Copper-alloy brooch, pottery, iron nail I Rhenish ware, Nene Valley ware. I Sources: Stroud Sources: Stroud Museum. Museum. Site No: 47 I NGR: ST 805960 A I Site Name: Middle Site No: 55 I NGR: ST 808955 A I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Chessalls I Finds Location: Stroud Mus 1971.40710 I Location: Stroud Mus, 1972.8011-35, 81111 I Description: Description: Copper-alloy skillet handle, donated by E J Finds made by E J Swain, 'mostly from Field IV'. Includes Swain. Found west of areas 1-3 in Middle Chessalls. I samian, pottery, glass, bone, stone. I Sources: Stroud Sources: Stroud Museum. Museum. Site No: 48 I NGR: ST 808955 A I Site Name: Field IV I Site No: 56 I NGR: ST 806960 A I Site Name: Middle Finds Location: Stroud Museum; 1971.41510, 41610 I Chessalls I Periods Rep: Roman I Finds Location: Stroud Description: Objects found by E J Swain, Site Kll, Field Mus, 1974.14910,15010 I Description: Finds made at site 2, IV area 1: copper-alloy brooch, lead weight and spindle Middle Chessalls. Schist whetstone, carved stone boss or whorl I Sources: Stroud Museum. finial, in form of compressed sphere. H 34mm, diameter Site No: 49 I NGR: ST 808955 A I Site Name: Field IV I 57mm I Sources: Stroud Museum. Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Stroud Mus, 1971.4111 Site No: 57 I NGR: ST 808957 A I Site Name: Field I, 0-41411, 2 I Description: Finds recovered byE J Swain, in Northfield I Periods Rep: Roman I Finds Location: Stroud Field IV area 1. Copper-alloy bracelet, samian with lead Mus, 1974.17810, 17911-3, 28510 I Description: Finds rivet, quartzite rubber, iron lynch pin, nail in lead plug donated by P Griffin. Pottery, copper alloy: wire frags, strip, matrix. I Sources: Stroud Museum. bracelet, coin of Constantine the Great I Sources: Stroud Museum. Site No: 50 I NGR: ST 807960 A I Site Name: Lower Chessalls I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Stroud Mus, Site No: 58 I NGR: ST 809957 A I Site Name: Field I I 1971.40810, 40910, 41011, 2 I Description: Finds donated Periods Rep: Roman I Finds Location: Stroud Mus, Kingscote Gazetteer 283
1974.28610 I Description: Pottery from site 20, Field I, Site No: 1006 I NGR: ST 829960 I Periods Rep: Undated I donated by P Griffin. I Sources: Stroud Museum; Description: Enclosures partly revealed by cropmarks E of Claypits Wood. I Sources: RCHME 1976, Kingscote (5); Site No: 59 I NGR: ST 808955 A I Site Name: Field IV, South NMR, OAP ST 8295121251-6. Field I Periods Rep: Roman I Finds Location: Stroud Mus, 1974.19011, 1975.30-3310 I Description: Finds donated by Site No: 1007 I NGR: ST 837962 I Periods Rep: Undated I P Griffin. Includes pottery, copper-alloy penannular brooch, Description: Enclosures and linear ditches, show as coin, lead offcut. I Sources: Stroud Museum. cropmarks E of Hazlecote Barn. I Sources: RCHME 1976, Kingscote (6); CUAP, OAP AXT 34-5. Site No: 60 I NGR: ST 809955 A I Site Name: Field IV I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Stroud Mus, 1972.27110 I Description: 10 Samian sherds donated by Rev C Lloyd, from 'NE corner of Field IV, beyond site 1'. I Sources: Stroud Museum. INDIRECT REFERENCE (SITE TYPE: IR) Site No: 61 I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Stroud M us, Site No: 1008 I NGR: SO 800000 I Site Name: Owlpen I 1972.810 I Description: Amphora handle, donated by Rev Periods Rep: IA I Description: Multi-vallate hillfort C Lloyd, recovered from 'area 1-2'. I Sources: Stroud supposed to exist at Owlpen could not be confirmed by Museum. RCHME survey. A substantial bank of unknown date with Site No: 62 I Periods Rep: Preh-RB I Finds Location: Stroud slight ditches on either side, described in 1926, survives in Mus, 1972.2910 I Description: Unprovenanced finds from part. I Sources: RCHME 1976, Nympsfield, Owlpen, 91a; Kingscote, donated by Rev C Lloyd. Include samian, flints, Crook 1926, 42. roof and hypocaust tile I Sources: Stroud Museum.
KINGSCOTE AREA (Fig 121) MODERN EXCAVATION (SITE TYPE: ME)
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY UNIT (SITE TYPE: GSU) Site No: 1009 I NGR: ST 790996 I Site Name: West Hill, Uley I Periods Rep: Iron Age-early medieval I Descrip Site No: 1001 I Date of Recog: 1994 I NGR: ST 8120 9605 C I tion: Excavation of RB settlement and temple complex. I Description: Eight 30m squares surveyed using magneto Sources: RCHME 1976, Uley (2); Woodward and Leach metery in field adjacent to A4135 by A M Lab, English 1993. Heritage. Samples also taken for magnetic susceptibility. I Sources: Cottrell and Payne 1993. Site No: 1002 I Date of Recog: 1994 I NGR: ST 8065 9530 C I RECORDED OBSERVATION (SITE TYPE: RO) Description: Eight 30m squares surveyed using magneto metery in field adjacent to Barnhill Farm by A M Lab, Site No: 1010 I Date of Recog: 1955 I NGR: ST 825972 I Site English Heritage. Samples also taken for magnetic Name: Kingscote Wood I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Locat: susceptibility. I Sources: Cottrell and Payne 1993. Stroud Museum I Description: A burial exposed by soil slip on a N-facing slope near the stream. Finds comprise the lower legs and feet only of a male inhumation, with a INTERPRETATION AND MAPPING UNITS 'Polden Hill' brooch. I Sources: RCHME 1976, Kingscote (SITE TYPE: IMU) (2); Clifford 1963, 205-7; Glos SMR 2895. Site No: 1011 I NGR: ST 820940 C I Site Name: Westonbirt Site No: 1003 I NGR: ST 8615 9585 I Site Name: Horsley I with Lasborough I Periods Rep: RB I Description: Roman Periods Rep: Undated I Description: Enclosure of c 0.4ha villa believed to have existed at Lasborough. I Sources: shows as a cropmark on land falling gently SE. I Sources: RCHME 1976, Westonbirt with Lasborough, 123b; Lysons RCHME 1976, Horsley (3), plan. 1860,42. Site No: 1004 I NGR: ST 8140 9610 I Periods Rep: Undated Site No: 1012 I Date of Recog: 1986 I NGR: SO 7985 0020 I I Description: Undated enclosure, partly revealed by a Site Name: Nympsfield I Periods Rep: RB I Description: cropmark, 450m SW of the church. I Sources: RCHME 1976, An inhumation burial found in a foundation trench Kingscote (3); NMR, OAP ST 80951371174. excavated for the S corner of a new building. Grave dug Site No: 1005 I NGR: ST 825957 I Periods Rep: Undated I into rubble stone to a depth of 0.6m. The badly damaged Description: Enclosure, track and linear ditches, undated, skeleton suggested a supine burial with the head to the N show as cropmarks W of Claypits Wood. I Sources: and the left arm parallel to the body. Possibly an outlier of RCHME 1976, Kingscote (4); NMR, OAP ST 8295111 the Roman cemetery N of Uley temple. I Sources: Price 245-50. 1987, 248. 284 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire
-N-t
+1010 1022 . 0 . 1046
'~ c::J temple - earthworks 0 burial Iron Age: u tombstone pottery pottery •0 coin •0 coin Roman: 0 votive find 0 building IZI other finds
0 3km
Fig 121 Plot of known archaeology in the Kingscote area.
Site No: 1014 I Date of Recog: 1969 I NGR: ST 790958 I Site RECORDED STRAY FIND (SITE TYPE: RSF) Name: Wotton-under-Edge I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Gloucester City Museum I Description: Site No: 1013 I Date of Recog: c 1835 I NGR: ST 838978 A I Fragment of quem found immediately S of Symonds' Hall Site Name: Horsley Wood, Horsley I Periods Rep: RB I Farm. I Sources: RCHME 1976, Wotton-under-Edge, 134b. Finds Location: Stroud Museum 1960.53 10 I Description: Inscribed Roman gabled tombstone found c 0.5 mile SW of Site No: 1015 I Date of Recog: pre-1779 I NGR: ST 839926 the village, near Hartley Bridge. Dedicated to Julia I Site Name: Westonbirt with Lasborough I Periods Rep: Ingenuilla, who died aged 20 years 5 months and 29 days. RB I Finds Location: Lost I Description: An inscribed I Sources: RCHME 1976, Horsley, 65; RIB I, 133; Baddeley gabled tombstone, found at Bowldown Farm before 1779. 1930a, 164; Henig 1993b, no 145, pl37. Formerly at Kingscote House. Inscribed 'D M Sulicena lived Kingscote Gazetteer 285
14 years'. I Sources: RCHME 1976, Westonbirt with (1) (1024), indicated by an extensive scatter of sandstone Lasborough 123b; RIB I, 134; Rudder 1779, 515, Maclean tiles, large limestone slabs and RB pot. I Sources: RCHME 1886-7, 339. 1976, Horsley (2); oral information D A Mears. Site No: 1016 I Date of Recog: c 1846 I NGR: ST 854925 I Site No: 1025/ Date of Recog: 1977 I NGR: ST 821933/ Site Site Name: Beverstone I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Name: Westonbirt with Lasborough I Periods Rep: RB I Corinium Museum I Description: Inscribed gabled Description: RB pottery and building debris found over an tombstone from Nesley Farm, discovered by ploughing area of c 2 acres. I Sources: Swain 1978, 90. Metus, a Getan by tribe 35 years. I Sources: RCHME 1976, Site No: 1026 I Date of Recog: 1970s-1980s I NGR: ST Beverstone, 13b, 123b; RIB I, 136. 849968 I Site Name: Tiltups End I Periods Rep: RB I Site No: 1017 I NGR: ST 854925 A I Site Name: Beverstone Description: RB pottery and building debris found. I I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Lost I Description: Sources: Swain pers comm. 'Another tombstone of which no description survives is Site No: 1027 I Date of Recog: 1970s I NGR: ST 821933 I said to have been found nearby', ie near to Site 1016 above, Site Name: Ledgemore Bottom I Periods Rep: RB I Nesley Farm. I Sources: RCHME 1976, Beverstone, 13b; Description: RB pottery and building debris found. I Maclean 1886-7, 336-9. · Sources: Swain pers comm. Site No: 1018 I NGR: ST 8238 9245 I Site Name: Boxwell Site No: 1028 I Date of Recog: 1970s I NGR: ST 856952 I with Leighterton I Periods Rep: RB I Description: Pottery Site Name: Cranmore Farm I Periods Rep: RB I Descrip and several late Roman coins found at Boxwell Lodge. I tion: RB pottery and building debris found. I Sources: Sources: RCHME 1976, Boxwell with Leighterton, 21b; Swain pers comm. Baddeley 1930a, 162. Site No: 1029 I Date of Recog: 1970s-1980s I NGR: ST Site No: 1019 I Date ofRecog: 1966 I NGR: ST 839947 I 864949 I Periods Rep: RB I Description: RB pottery and Periods Rep: ?RB I Finds Location: Gloucester City Mus I building debris found. I Sources: Swain pers comm. Description: A corner fragment of a limestone tablet with a carved border found in NE corner of field S of Calcot Barn. Site No: 1030 I Date of Recog: 1970s-1980s I NGR: ST I Sources: Glos SMR 2929. 834944 I Periods Rep: RB I Description: RB pottery and building debris found. I Sources: Swain pers comm. Site No: 1020 I NGR: ST 839947 I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Gloucester City Mus I Description: Finds made Site No: 1031 I Date of Recog: 1970s-1980s I NGR: ST by RCHME in course of their survey. I Sources: Glos SMR 825947 I Site Name: Newington Barn I Periods Rep: RB I 2929; RCHME 1976, Kingscote. Description: RB pottery and building debris found./ Sources: Swain pers comm. Site No: 1032 I Date of Recog: 1970s I NGR: ST 815946 I UNSYSTEMATIC SURFACE COLLECTION Site Name: Newington Bagpath I Periods Rep: RB I (SITE TYPE: USC) Description: Fragment of a tombstone, now destroyed and pottery found south of the castle mound. I Sources: Swain Site No: 1021/ Date of Recog: 1977 I NGR: ST 808941/ Site pers comm. Name: Hirecombe Wood, Kingscote I Periods Rep: RB I Description: RB pottery and C4 coins found over an area of Site No: 1033 I Date of Recog: 1970s I NGR: ST 831923 I 12-15 acres. An aerial photograph suggests a rectangular Periods Rep: RB I Description: RB pottery and building building. Reported byE J Swain. I Sources: Swain 1978, 88; debris found. I Sources: Swain pers comm. Glos SMR 4550. Site No: 1034 I Date of Recog: 1970s I NGR: ST 944830 I Site No: 1022/ Date of Recog: 1977 I NGR: ST 823971/ Site Site Name: Lasborough I Periods Rep: RB I Description: Name: Hill Barn, Kingscote I Periods Rep: RB I Descrip RB pottery and building debris found. I Sources: Swain tion: RB pottery spread over an area of 30x40m. I Sources: pers comm. Swain 1978, 88; Glos SMR 2905. Site No: 1023 I Date of Recog: c 1968 I NGR: ST 852972 I Site Name: Horsley I Periods Rep: RB I Description: RB UNRECORDED STRAY FIND (SITE TYPE: USF) villa, c 0.5 mile E of Tiltups End, identified by a scatter of tesserae, roof tiles, nails and pottery. Two coins of the C3 Site No: 1035 I Date of Recog: 1883 I Site Name: Wotton and C4 were found. Area measures c 140x90m. I Sources: under-Edge I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Ashmolean Info H J Whitaker, Gracie 1968, 204; RCHME 1976, Horsley Museum I Description: Brooch found in parish in 1883. (1). Part of Sir John Evans Collection. I Sources: RCHME 1976, Wotton-under-Edge, 134b. Site No: 1024 I Date of Recog: pre-1972 I NGR: ST 8578 9733 I Site Name: Horsley I Periods Rep: RB I Description: Site No: 1036 I Site Name: Wotfon-under-Edge I Periods Settlement site, on S-facing slope, about 640m E of Horsley Rep: RB I Finds Location: Private possession-unknown I 286 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire
Description: Stone votive tablet depicting three Celtic (Alien's type British RA), over 150 Roman coins, and a mother-goddesses. May originate from the area of bronze mask, were reported in the C19 from the vicinity of Symonds' Hall Farm, or from Kingscote further E. I Uley Bury hillfort and West Hill RB settlement/temple site. Sources: RCHME 1976, Wotton-under-Edge, 134b; Proc I Sources: RCHME 1976, Uley, 121a; Alien 1961, 89, 120, pi Cotswold Nat Fld Club 1913, 123; Lindley 1954b, 233; XXXIX no 19; Archaeol J, 11 (1854), 325. Toynbee 1964, 173; Henig 1993b, no 97, pl26. Site No: 1045 I NGR: [ST 812994] I Site Name: Nympsfield Site No: 1037 I NGR: [ST 77 /94A] I Site Name: Tyley I Periods Rep: RB I Description: RB pottery reported Bottom, Wotton-under-Edge I Periods Rep: Roman I Finds as found near Field Farm. I Sources: RCHME 1976, Location: lost I Description: Metal spoon identified by Nympsfield, 91a; Baddeley 1930a, 158. British Mus I Sources: RCHME 1976, Wotton-under-Edge, Site No: 1046 I Date of Recog: c 1890 I NGR: [ST 825970 A] 134b; Overy 1948, 398. I Periods Rep: RB / Finds Location: Stroud M us I Descrip Site No: 1038 I NGR: [ST 790960 A] I Site Name: Wotton tion: RB pottery found near Kingscote Wood. Collection Mr under-Edge I Periods Rep: RB I Description: RB objects Paul Smith, November 1898. Includes late Roman pottery, found near Symonds' Hall Farm (unspecified). I Sources: tile and slag. I Sources: RCHME 1976, Kingscote, 71a; Glos RCHME 1976, Wotton-under-Edge, 134b. SMR 2904. Site No: 1039 I Site Name: Horsley-Kingscote area I Site No: 1047 I Date of Recog: pre-1795 I NGR: [ST 839949] Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Stroud Mus 1947.12/0; I Site Name: Kingscote? I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: 13/0 I Description: Collection of unprovenanced Roman Ashmolean Mus / Description: Inscribed oolitic relief, coins, thought to have come from the Horsley or Kingscote probably representing an equestrian Mars with worship area, donated by G H Pavey-Smith. Septimus Severus, pers, formerly built into the wall of Calcot Barn. Said to AD 193-211. Constantine II, AD 317-40 I Sources: RCHME have been found in the parish of Kingscote. 'Julius willingly 1976, Horsley, 65a; Stroud Museum. fulfilled his vow'./ Sources: RCHME 1976, Kingscote, 70b; Baddeley 1925b, 354; Glos SMR 2897; Lindley 1954a, 230-2; Site No: 1040 I Date of Recog: pre-1821 I NGR: [ST 839926 Toynbee 1964, 154; Henig 1993b, no 125, pl32. A] I Site Name: Westonbirt with Lasborough I Periods Rep: RB I Description: Roman coins said to have been Site No: 1048 I Periods Rep: IA I Description: Possible IA found at Bowldown. I Sources: RCHME 1976, Westonbirt silver coin found, in Kingscote/Horsley area. Evans type with Lasborough, 123b; Archaeologia 19 (1821), pi XII. F4, Mack type 378. I Sources: Glos SMR 537, 2894; Overy 1948,368. Site No: 1041 I Site Name: Beverstone I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Ashmolean Mus (part of Sir John Evans Site No: 1049 I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Stroud Collection) I Description: Two fibulae from Chavenage, Mus I Description: Two Roman coins from Calcot. I one with an enamelled bird figure. I Sources: RCHME 1976, Sources: Glos SMR 2929. Beverstone, 13b. Site No: 1050 I Periods Rep: RB? I Finds Location: Garden Site No: 1042 I Site Name: Beverstone I Periods Rep: IA I of house at Calcot I Description: Fragments of round Finds Location: Lost I Description: An uninscribed gold columns may represent re-used Roman material. I Sources: coin of 'British Q' type is recorded from the parish. I Glos SMR 2929. Sources: RCHME 1976, Beverstone, 13b. Site No: 1051 I Date of Recog: 1910 I Periods Rep: RB I Site No: 1043 I Date of Recog: pre-1791 I NGR: [ST 815927 Finds Location: Gloucester City M us I Description: Bronze A] I Site Name: Boxwell I Periods Rep: RB I Description: coin found 'by ancient track to Calcot'. I Sources: Glos SMR Coins, human bones and burnt stones found in the 2929. 'Warren', probably E of the parish church at Boxwell. I Sources: RCHME 1976, Box well with Leighterton, 21 b; Bigland 1791-2, I, 229. VISIBLE FEATURE (SITE TYPE: VF) Site No: 1044 I Date of Recog: 19th century I NGR: [ST Site No: 1052 I NGR: ST 784989 I Site Name: Uley Bury I 789994 A] I Site Name: Uley I Periods Rep: IA/RB I Finds Periods Rep: IA I Description: Univallate hillfort. I Location: Gloucester City Mus (gold coin); Corinium Mus Sources: RCHME 1976, Uley (1). (mask) I Description: An uninscribed Dobunnic gold stater 10. KINGSCOTE GENERAL DISCUSSION
locality also include a small quantity of early Roman Origins and development material. Amongst these are twelve copies of A small number of objects of potential Iron Age date Claudian asses, a coin of Nero, pre-Flavian samian, have been recovered from the locality, both from at least twelve Claudian-early Flavian brooches, field-walking and as residual finds from the excav a 'baldric' loop, and a few oth~r possible military ations. In particular, at least four Dobunnic coins have bronzes (Eagles and Swan 1972, 61-2). A consider been recorded by Van Arsdell (1994, 74, 80), with a ation of the limited knowledge concerning the further 17 examples noted by Swain (pers comm). A distribution of the early finds suggests that most few possibly pre-conquest brooches are present, both came from the fields to the south of the settle from field-walking and from the Site 1 quarry, along ment area, ie Fields I, 11, IV and V, with perhaps two with a finger ring (Site 2, Fig 74, 1.261) and a strip concentrations, one in the area of Site 1, the other on fragment 13.2 (Fig 102). Some reservations have been the eastern boundary area of Field IV. Cropmarks expressed on the dating of some of the Claudio plotted within Field I show a curious north-'south Neronian brooches (cf Cool p 221) which may have grid arrangement (Fig 6) but there is no indication had a longer lifespan in the west than previously that these are pre-Roman, or indeed Roman. The acknowledged. In all cases, therefore, these finds Claudian copies are difficult to explain as they could represent stray, curated, long-lived or post usually give evidence of occupation before c AD 64, conquest losses. after which it appears that they became virtually There are no earthworks to indicate the existence of demonetarised. Their presence could, therefore, be any immediately pre-Roman occupation of the site, taken to signify an official or military connection with nor were any structures of this date found during the site. The presence of the small number of potential the course of the excavations. It is also particularly military items also led Eagles and Swan to postulate significant that there is no evidence, from either the existence of early Roman military activity on the excavation or aerial survey, of any round houses at site (1972, 61). The possibility of a military origin to Kingscote. At many sites where there is continuity of Kingscote has also been aired by other scholars (eg occupation through from the native Iron Age into the Webster 1970, 184). On balance the evidence is very Roman period there is evidence of round-house tenuous, and despite a fairly thorough aerial survey vernacular architecture continuing well into Roman there are no cropmarks which- might indicate a times, for example Frocester (Price forthcoming), Roman military installation. Access to finewares Bourton-on-the-Water, Brockworth (Rawes 1981) and and other Roman ephemera does not necessarily Cowley, Birdlip (A Mudd pers comm). suggest a military presence. The nearby farmstead at The earliest evidence of Roman activity at Frocester, which was in existence from at least the Kingscote comes from the excavations on Site 1, early first century AD, has also produced imported which suggest occupation in the area from around the first-century finewares and brooches in small quan later first century AD. Pottery from the quarry backfill tities. Odd items of military material are a relatively includes first-century coarsewares, Neronian-Flavian common find on many sites, for example from the and Flavian samian, glass tableware and Claudian Ditches, North Cerney, Glos and Claydon Pike, Glos Neronian brooches. The presence of imported fine (Millett 1990, 60). At Claydon Pike, Miles (1984b, 199, wares and quality glassware suggests the existence of 202) has suggested the finds might indicate a small one, or more, relatively high-status establishments, scale military presence, perhaps a small number of with a taste for Roman eating and drinking habits. soldiers policing an agricultural establishment where Field-walking finds and other stray objects from the tax was collected. However, there is no ancient 288 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire evidence that tax was collected in this way in the By the later second-early third century the area early Empire. Hingley (1989, 181) also disputes this previously quarried was occupied by a series of strip interpretation and notes a number of other civilian buildings, some encroaching on the earlier workings. sites where such finds have been made. At Catsgore it A possible comparable arrangement of buildings may is suggested that some items may have been part of have existed in the north end of Field Ill where the dress worn by auxiliary soldiers (Leech 1982, 36). cropmarks show a series of parallel north-east/ south It may simply have been that military ephemera had west boundaries meeting a north-west/ south-east become a collector's item. Curiously, the nearby boundary. In the fourth century several of the strip temple complex at Uley, dating from the later Iron buildings in Site 2 had been cleared away to make Age, shows few imported or luxury items clearly room for a more substantial building, set within a dateable to the first century in terms of pottery and compound. glassware, and only a small fraction of the personal Finds from the settlement suggest fairly contin items date to this period. Only three Dobunnic coins uous occupation spanning the first to fourth centuries. were recovered from the site (Woodward and Leach Fourth-century coins and pottery occur over most of 1993). Apart from Uleybury hillfort to the north-west, the occupied area and outnumber earlier finds the temple complex at Uley, and Frocester, there are considerably. This could be taken to imply that the no other recorded Iron Age settlements in the settlement was at its most extensive in the later immediate locality. Roman period. Evidence from the excavated build The origins of the site at Kingscote, therefore, ings indicates contin,ued activity into the late fourth remain enigmatic. Use of the site does not seem to century, perhaps beyond. At an unknown date stem from any pre-Roman occupation, but shows a following the abandonment of the Site 2 buildings, relatively early Roman presence, which could perhaps the ruins were used for burial. There has been no be tenuously construed as having some official Saxon pottery, nor other Saxon finds, from Kingscote connection. There are no clearly defined early foci to suggest continuity or reoccupation after the Roman although a slightly higher proportion of the early period, although this is well attested at both Uley material comes from the southern part of the defined temple and Frocester Court villa. settlement area. On the evidence of the small-finds it is suggested that the absence of a Claudio-Neronian Morphology presence is emphasised by negative evidence, ie the absence of certain common finds dating to this period. Recent aerial photographic survey work combined This might perhaps suggest a modest settlement with field-walking evidence suggests an area of established in the early Flavian period (or slightly Roman occupation of approximately 30ha. Geo earlier if the Claudian copies have any significance), physical survey in pasture fields to the north and whose purpose and significance are unknown at south of the defined core area indicated only sparse present. The disparity in material goods between archaeological activity in these localities. Topo Uley and Frocester and Kingscote, particularly the graphically there is little scope for the settlement to pottery, emphasises the indigenous connections of have extended to the south where the ground drops the former two sites and the apparent lack of a pre away. On the eastern edge, the limit of the settlement Roman progenitor for the latter. It is unusual to find a appears to correspond roughly with the modern road total lack of native-type pottery, either handmade since no significant finds have been reported beyond. vessels or early wheelthrown wares, on a first On the western edge, the limit of the settlement century site in Gloucestershire, the only parallel being appears to be in Middle Chessalls, although field the second Gloucester fort and subsequent colonia boundaries continue out from here. Some indications established on a new site close to the earlier fortress at of further isolated buildings have been identified Kingsholm. The occupants of Kingscote appear to north of the present route of the A419, although again have stronger Roman rather than native connections. it is not proven that these are of Roman origin. The The earliest documented activity is stone quarry settlement does not appear to have been defended in ing, which appears to have been fairly intensive in the any way. The arrangement of building scatters and area around Site 2 (Middle Chessalls). This could ditches acting as probable property demarcation suggest that this area was away from the early core of boundaries implies a level of planning to the settle the settlement, emphasising a focus to the south. ment layout in a north-east to south-west and north In addition to the excavated examples, a number west to south-east arrangement (cf Fig 6). This is of further quarry scoops can be discerned on the mirrored by the excavated buildings in Site 2. At odds geophysical plot in the same general area (see Figs 8, with this arrangement, however, are cropmarks 9). The presence of a boundary ditch and subsequent showing a villa-type complex in Crow Hill field. wall suggest some form of territorial division. The Superficially this appears to be a modest-sized court quarries were probably accessed by a road, the line of yard, or winged corridor structure, with associated which was to remain throughout the Roman period. detached barns and other outbuildings. The east-west Kingscote General Discussion 289 road crossing the area to the south of the excavation revealed by a soil slip in Kingscote Wood (Clifford area is heading towards this complex. 1963). The brooch could be either later first or second A section across the east-west road in 1971 (Spry century, although originally identified as pre-Flavian. 1973) indicated that the side ditches had become Pottery, tile and other debris from the same area filled by the end of the third century. The southern might indicate nearby later occupation (Fig 123, ditch, however, had been recut in the fourth century, S1010, S1022 and S1037). A Roman cemetery may possibly connected with a slight realignment of have been associated with Uley temple. Although the road. The northern ditch contained far more evidence for this to date is slight, analogy with other occupation debris compared with the southern ditch sites would indicate that most late Roman or post which was taken to reflect an absence of settlement Roman religious sites had cemeteries (Woodward and south of the road (Spry 1973). There was no evidence Leach 1993, 321-2). to suggest a date of construction for the metalled road. Cropmarks further indicate several enclosures or BUILDINGS fields, particularly on the south and west sides of the The Royal Commission survey suggested that the settlement, which may be of Romano-British date. sites of at least 75 buildings could be identified from The boundaries do not conform in any way to the the ground, generally as concentrations of limestone modern field layout. slabs, Old Red Sandstone tile, mortar and associated Apart from the burials associated with Building dark soil containing pottery and other occupation VIII there are no defined cemeteries recognised to debris (Eagles and Swan 1972, 61). Recent sub date connected with the settlement. However, a stone soil investigation of one of the identified buildings coffin ploughed up in Middle Chessalls field in 1872 through the relocation of an electricity pole could not contained an adult burial, possibly female. The coffin find any structural remains but would suggest that, in located approximately 150m north-west of Building some cases, a few of the rubble spreads may be the VIII seems to be in a field defined by ditches. This result of bedrock out-cropping near the surface could be interpreted in two ways. In the Roman (Bateman 1994). Cropmarks and field-walking period it was illegal to bury the dead within towns, indicate the presence of a complex in Field Ill (Crow and thus burial was usually beyond the limits of the Hill) which seems to be a courtyard building, with town, with cemeteries often located alongside roads. a number of associated ancillary buildings and The Middle Chessalls coffin may, therefore, be part of enclosed on at least two sides by a boundary. a larger burial ground set beyond the defined limit of Abundant well-dressed good-quality stone and the settlement although in this case not alongside a numerous finds have been noted in the immediate road. Both the cropmark and field-walking evidence vicinity (Swain pers comm). Another smaller build suggest Site 2 was positioned towards the north ing complex comprising the walls of a smaller western limits of the settlement. However, it is by no multiple-roomed structure can be seen from the means certain that this legal burial requirement cropmarks at the south end of Field IV. A detached applied to the larger nucleated settlements which rectangular structure occurs to the west of the build may well have had a more flexible arrangement. It is ing. Other building traces are much more ephemeral, thus more likely that the coffin marks the site of a although fragments of another possible complex may family cemetery plot. This was often the practice in be present to the north-west of the Crow Hill rural settlements, each farm with its own discrete courtyard building. The suggestion, therefore, is that family cemetery, close to the boundaries of the there is one larger central building and three smaller property, and in areas furthest away from the road. complexes including Site 2. Timber or cob structures The practice has been noted elsewhere, for example would not be detectable from surface survey, and Catsgore (Leech 1982, 31), Bradley Hill (Leech 1981) strip buildings with drystone wall foundations, like and Owslebury (Collis 1977). The use of a stone coffin those documented at Site 2, are likely to leave little may well reflect the status of the house and owner, surface trace once demolished, especially if stone and is more typical of burials of the later Roman robbed. The cropmarks may only be picking up either period. Its proximity to the excavated Building (VIII) evidence of structures with mortared walls, or the might suggest that the burial was from a family plot latest phase of occupation of the site. belonging to this complex. Several building types exist at Kingscote. Evidence for Roman burial is sparse for the area as Ephemeral traces of beam slots noted by the a whole. A small number of tombstones have been excavators at Site 2 might indicate the presence of documented from the region which may similarly timber buildings. The use of timber buildings in the relate to discrete family cemeteries. One was found at early Roman period is very much the norm and could Bowldown Farm (Fig 123, S1015) and two to the be anticipated at Kingscote in the later first and west of this at Nesley Farm (Fig 123, S1016-17). An second centuries. The appearance of stone buildings uncoffined male burial with a Polden Hill brooch was from the later second to third centuries also reflects a 290 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire
widespread regional pattern, with timber buildings indicate structural components in wood, as well as being replaced by stone in areas of stone availability. wooden furniture. A large number of what must have This is generally seen as a reflection of increased been common household items were recovered, prosperity and growth. Wacher (1995b, 207) suggests including stone tables, buckets, candlesticks, lamp that a surplus stock of building stone became holders, ladles, spoons, knives, cleavers, whetstones available with the cessation of demand from public and pottery. building programmes in the larger towns at the end of the second century. Certainly in Cirencester timber Functions buildings seem to have been replaced by stone from the mid-second century (McWhirr 1976, 84ff). This There are no buildings identified to date at Kingscote might have set a trend, adopted by the smaller to suggest a specialist role in terms of religious settlements towards the later second and early third or cultural foci. Evidence from Uley temple, and centuries, as building stone was hardly in short elsewhere, suggests that votive objects to be expected supply in the Cotswolds. At Kingscote the earliest in a religious context might include inscribed lead recorded stone structures are the strip buildings with tablets, stone sculpture, altars, figurines, and votive drystone wall foundations. Evidence from elsewhere plaques. Other objects considered to be of a votive suggests in some cases the stone was used as the nature by their association with the site include foundation for cob or daub walls (cf p 68); equally the weapons, full size and miniature, copper-alloy rings buildings may have had stone walls. Finds of ceramic and miniature pots. Most of these items did not tile from adjacent quarries suggest buildings with feature in the Kingscote assemblage. The only tiled roofs in the second century. Strip buildings excavated find with some religious significance is the are characteristic both of small towns where they stone relief of Fortuna, found outside the compound frequently form the dominant building type con in Area 18. Most Roman establishments probably had structed end-on to the street (Burnham 1988, 176) and a smalllararium, and although few have been recog of larger village-like settlements such as Catsgore or nised this figure may have derived from such a Camerton. Many examples have provided evidence context. of craft specialisation with combined workshop and Casual field-walking finds from Kingscote have domestic accommodation. Evidence for use is poor at found one example of a miniature weapon, in this Kingscote but at least four buildings have internal case an axe (FW 14.1). Other finds from the area ovens, and may have equally served as work include the stone head of Minerva recovered from shops, living quarters or agricultural buildings. The near The Chestells (now Hunters Hall Inn) in the insertion of a later corn-drying oven into one longer eighteenth century (S29) (Rudder 1779, 512; Baddeley lived structure suggests that one at least, Building 1925b, 353, and plate; Henig 1993b, CSIR 83). The VII, functioned as a barn. The buildings on Site 1, head wearing a plumed helmet was almost life-size, although less complete, seem to be of similar build indicating a substantial statue. Minerva is often and at least one was used as a workshop for metal associated with springs and healing as well as being working. This may have had an open end with an a patroness of arts and crafts. The relief from Calcot associated covered walkway rather than conforming barn (S1047) (CSIR 125) shows a mounted Mars with to a strip building proper. Open-ended buildings have other figures, probably goddesses. Mars is seen as an also been found at Hibaldstow, Humbs (Burnham agricultural deity, as well as a warrior. Both deities 1989, 44). The later buildings were constructed of are well represented at other sites in Gloucestershire, mortared stone and all three (Building VIII, main notably Lower Slaughter (CSIR 86-8) (seep 00), Kings block and south wing, and Building IX) were Stanley (CSIR 48-50, 58), Bisley (CSIR 53-6, 123) and constructed with a side aisle. The former two were Chedworth (CSIR 126-8). The nearby temple at Uley developed into more complex arrangements com was dedicated to Mercury. It is extremely likely that prising several rooms, but Building IX retained a there was a small temple or rural shrine somewhere simple rectangular form and probably functioned as a within the Kingscote settlement from which these workhall. items originally derived. Both Building VIII and the Crow Hill 'courtyard There is evidence for several different craft building' were furnished with mosaic and/ or tessel activities at Kingscote, including metal-working, both lated floors. Tesserae and dressed stone found on of iron, copper alloy and perhaps lead, carpentry, and Crow Hill suggest a relatively well-appointed leather-working. Iron-working is perhaps the best establishment. Building VIII was also furnished with represented from the prolific quantities of iron slag a hypocaust system and a probable triclinium show present. Field-walking has identified one particularly ing a desire on behalf of the owner to improve his heavy concentration at the south end of Lower establishment. The building, however, is by most villa Chessalls and Crow Hill. The character of the slag standards modest and does not boast a bath-house. suggests it is mainly derived from smithing rather Various fittings, hinges, nails, padlocks and keys than smelting activities (see Mortimer p 201£). Tools Kingscote General Discussion 291
found associated with smithing include at least three of cereal grains, mainly emmer, from the Kingscote iron punches (Site 2, 15.4-6) and a possible poker (Site structure, its location in a barn and its association 2, 15.9). Some of the furnaces found in the excavation, with millstones suggests agricultural use. in particular from Site 1, may have been used for iron There is some evidence to suggest that Building IX working although it is probably more likely that they contained stalling for animals, and it has been were used for bronze manufacture. Two pairs of suggested (Neal p 89) that the first phase of Building dividers (Site 2, 15.7-8) are also interpreted as smith's VIII was also used for stock. In German and Frisian tools. Iron slag both from Room 8 and from within an farmsteads there is evidence for the accommodation 'oven' in Room 12 may also be indicative of iron of cows and horses in compartments flanking working on or near the premises. a central hall which served as a threshing floor The large number of pieces of copper-alloy (Applebaum 1972, 134). jewellery from Site 1, including rings, pins and Agricultural tools connected with crop growing brooches, represent material collected together as include spuds, probably for cleaning ploughs (eg Site scrap for remelting. Additional evidence for copper 2, 12.6), a possible hoe (Site 2, 12.7) and a reaping alloy working is indicated by a brooch with casting hook (Site 2, 12.8). Animal husbandry is suggested residue still attached, recovered during field-walking, by the presence of a number of ox goads (Site 2, and a small cross pane hammer from Site 2, probably 12.10-13) and a pair of shears (10.9). The presence of used for fine metal-working (15.3). Possibly there was horses is indicated by several snaffle bits (8.1-4) and a small industry manufacturing such items to supply a farrier's butteris (Site 2, 12.14). Identifiable cart local inhabitants, or even the suggested temenos shop fittings are limited to a single lynch pin (no 8.5). at Uley (Henig 1993a, 174) where a particularly high Analysis of the available animal bone data indicate number of personal items, in particular finger rings, a substantial number of cattle and sheep I goats suggested their use as offerings. at Kingscote. The species proportion bears some The presence of copper-alloy terminals, along with similarities to that which might be expected on an evidence of copper-alloy waste in the ovens in urban site, although there did not seem to be great Building IX, led to the suggestion that this was a evidence for the intensive processing of cattle which furniture workshop. Bone inlay was also found. The might also be expected at the latter. Unfortunately, building also housed a number of ovens/furnaces. the information is not well enough documented Carpenter's tools include several saw blade to allow any deductions as to whether Kingscote fragments (Site 1, 10.4-5) and a paring or firmer chisel was acting primarily as a producer or a consumer, (Site 2, 10.4), and leather-working is indicated by the although obviously an element of both might be presence of several awls (Site 2, 10.5-8). Other expected. The possible preponderance of cows might specialist builders' tools include a mason's chisel (Site indicate the keeping of stock for milking and thus by 1, 10.3). implication the production of dairy produce: Strip buildings similar to those on Site 2 (Period 3) Several styli (18 in iron and 8 in copper alloy) were are traditionally interpreted elsewhere as workshops found, from both Sites 1 and 2, indicating a high level with domestic premises to the rear, although not all of literacy. This might suggest scribal functions examples are necessarily connected with craft activity connected with trade and the keeping of accounts. (Burnham 1989, 41). Unfortunately there was insuf Similarly large numbers have been recovered from ficient evidence to indicate the function of the both Barnsley Park (Webster and Smith 1982, 104) Kingscote examples. and Catsgore (Leech 1982, 36). At Catsgore it was Possibly also of relevance here is the considerable suggested that the styli might indicate the presence of number of whetstones found from Building VIII, officials concerned with the collection of annona. which suggests frequent use of cutting imple A number of possible lead weights were found, : ments for either agricultural, domestic or industrial including a fine steelyard weight (Fig 88), and these purposes. are also suggestive of commercial activity. Agricultural activities probably formed one of the The numerous coins from the site also imply main occupations of the settlement. Firstly, there is at monetary transactions. Whether this was of a com least one, possibly two barns, one of which contained mercial nature, ie in exchange for manufactured in its later history a substantial corn drier. A recent goods or other produce, or whether it was due to review of the botanical evidence for the function more official reasons (see below) cart only be of corn driers has suggested that they should be speculation. regarded as multifunctional structures used for both The presence of large millstones for grinding corn the roasting of germinated grains for malt production implies a level of productivity over and beyond the and the preparation of grain for consumption/ usual domestic requirements. Also the presence of storage (van der Veen 1989, 302ff). Smith (1993, 142) agricultural buildings suggests that cereal production considers that in some cases corn drier structures may may have been important at Kingscote. The presence be used for domestic heating. However, the recovery of craft activities might indicate a level of self- 292 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire sufficiency, or perhaps slightly wider commercial assessed at 4.5 hides. At some date before 1147 activity. If Kingscote acted as a local tax collecting Robert, Earl of Gloucester granted the estate of point, it may also have been a local market providing Combe, near Wotton-under-Edge, to a certain Nigel produce and other manufactured items. Fitz Arthur, possibly a Welshman. In c 1153 he married The possibility that Kingscote had some official a lady of Saxon descent, Ealdgifu (Aldeva), who connection from the early Roman period has been brought as her dower the manor of Kingscote. The outlined above. Further finds from the excavations Kingscote family was based there for the next 500 have served to reinforce the notion of some form of years. In the nineteenth century the family cherished official presence or activity from the later third a tradition that the estate had remained exactly the century. One of the most significant items from the same size from the twelfth century (Finberg 1957, excavations is the decorated cube of copper alloy, 145ff). The mansion was demolished in 1951. probably used as a stamp. At least five sides are considered to have designs of an official nature (cf Conclusions Henig p 183). The piece is thought to date to around AD 270-80, corresponding to the period when large Although Kingscote displays several features high quantities of coins seem to be accumulating, in lighted by Burnham and Wacher (1990) as common particular the barbarous radiates (AD 270-90), which to many small towns, namely strip buildings, plots mark the site out as unusual (see Reece p 401). The indicative of planning, location adjacent to a road rather limited evidence might suggest that this was way, craft industry, in this case jewellery and the residence of someone (a decurio?) with a ?furniture manufacture, it does not conform to the governmental role rather than a site used for official notion of a small town in various other respects. The purposes. evidence to date does not indicate a pre-Roman origin Henig has suggested that Building VIII is the for the settlement, and although clearly some form of administrative centre for an Imperial estate. Unfor occupation had been established by the Flavian tunately, without further corroborative evidence, period, there are no traces of native influence in terms such as the dedication stone from Combe Down, near of architectural styles or cultural material. Although a Bath which records the restoration of a ruined military presence is hinted at by a small number of principia by the freedman Naevius, procurator's casual finds, these are insufficient to be sure. There assistant (RIB I, 179), this can remain only a sugges are no defences, nor any buildings suggestive of tion. Imperial land need not be distinguishable public use, and there is no evidence for any specialist from privately held land and there are no known activity, for example pottery production or mineral archaeological correlates for identifying it. The larger, extraction, connected with the site, although not complex building in Crow Hill is likely be the focus of all specialist activities leave traces. Its location the settlement or estate. Although there are two or apparently off a main road is perhaps unusual. The three unusual pieces in the Kingscote finds it has been quality of the archaeological material is good, with stressed that, taken as a whole, the small-finds some unusual items such as the seal, but does not assemblage does not show any special features to differ greatly in composition from that which might indicate a special status for the site per se (Cool p 226). be expected from any rural site, or in many respects The presence of several styli, a considerable an urban one. There is no status distinction, for quantity of coinage and a few finds of potential example, in terms of pottery and many other artefacts official and/ or military significance could suggest between Kingscote, Frocester and Cirencester other Kingscote was connected with the collection of local than what might be expected from market forces. tax. Rivet (1969) has highlighted the importance of The presence of more than one well-appointed the annona corn tax in the rural economy which was building, however, might be construed as unusual. In probably collected at convenient points locally rather many ways Kingscote finds some parallels with other than at the civitas centres in the late Empire. If agricultural settlements such as Catsgore, Soms, and Kingscote was a local tax collecting point, and there Stanwick, Northants. Catsgore has been interpreted are no other large agglomerated settlements in the as an agricultural village (seven or more households) immediate locality to compete for such a role, it was (Leech 1982, 34ff). Here most of the excavated struc a local government responsibility and therefore tures indicates fairly basic accommodation, and the presumably gathered by the local decuriones who may poor quality of the finds indicate a level of poverty. have been resident here. This is not quite the picture at Kingscote where the finds suggest at least some of the inhabitants were relatively well provided for, certainly in terms of Later history personal possessions. However, to the south-west of At the time of the Domesday survey Kingscote was the settlement at Catsgore, and slightly set to one one of several outliers of the Berkeley Hundred side, is a substantial 'villa' identified from geo which was held by King Edward. Kingscote was physical and surface collection with a second possible Kingscote General Discussion 293 high-quality structure to the east (Leech 1982, 36 Kingscote bore certain resemblances to the pattern of and 176ff). Such well-appointed houses are often dispersed farms found in Caul and Belgium in the also found near town centres, for example Neatham, later Empire, replacing earlier enclosed compounds, Hants, (Millett and Graham 1986) and Great for example Montmaurin (18ha) and Chiragan Casterton, Ancaster, Leics (Todd 1970), which are (16.4ha), both in the Haute Garonne, and Anthee, interpreted as the residences of an upper class living Namur, Belgium (12ha). outside the town. It has further been suggested that The presence of a Roman villa-estate has signifi the nucleated centres of the towns may have been cant ramifications in terms of land ownership, and under the patronage of this elite (Millett 1990, 145), from this point of view can be clearly distinguished although how this is represented remains uncertain. from a nucleated settlement, or a small town with a At Stanwick it is argued that a number of discrete satellite villa. The absence of any other nucleated dispersed well-appointed farms and other buildings centres within the orbit of Kingscote might suggest it form a villa-estate (Neal 1989). Kingscote would fit also acted as a local centre for the district, perhaps for well into a similar model. Clearly there is a building the collection of taxes .. This would also explain the of some importance in Crow Hill surrounded by three fairly high number of coins found and the existence of four moderately well-appointed multi-roomed of the small industries. The gazetteer suggests a structures, including that excavated on Site 2. Other pattern of dispersed farmsteads, or small villas, for parts of the settlement hint at more modest structures example at Horsley, Westonbirt, Newington Bagpath which could well be construed as belonging to estate and Lasborough amongst others, in the immediate workers. locality which might all fall into such a tax collecting Rivet (1975, 114), without the benefit of the area. recent aerial survey work, made the suggestion that 294 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire PART B: WYCOMB
11. THE SITE
that the site may have been recognised as a Roman Location settlement by Saxon immigrants (Gelling 1978, 95) The Roman settlement of Wycomb (Syreford) is (516). Further occupation extends into the adjacent situated approximately 20km north of Cirencester, field known as Black Close. The boundary between and 8km south of Winchcombe (Fig 122). The area Wycomb and Black Close was formerly the line of the appears to have been fairly intensively settled from at parish boundary between the parishes of Whittington least the seventh millennium BC, and several collec and Dowdeswell, now defunct. The hedge was tions of prehistoric flintwork have been assembled removed in 1971. (Darvill1987). There is further evidence of continuing activity in the Iron Age, Roman and Saxon periods (for further details see section VIII.4). Archaeological Background The Roman settlement extends from the modern EIGHTEENTH- AND NINETEENTH-CENTURY parish boundary of Andoversford (established 1952) as far as the embankment of the River Coln at the DISCOVERIES south-west and across to Andoversford Inn at SP 0239 The presence of Roman remains in the Wycomb area 1977, an estimated llha. The ground is relatively has been documented from at least the eighteenth flat, lying on the east side of the River Coln, whose century and is mentioned by several antiquarian headwaters are fed by numerous springs issuing near writers. Notes prepared for an unpublished History the hamlet of Syreford. The east side of the settlement of Gloucestershire by Abel Wantner, c 1705, mention appears to be defined by a broad 'dry valley' which the discovery of several large graves in the parish of periodically becomes waterlogged. At this point the Whittington, on the ascent of Wickham hill. The limestone gravel is capped in places by a thin layer of graves, discovered c 4ft down were lined with stone clay. The gravel itself was quarried in recent times, slabs. Several barrows were also noted nearby, and, in particularly in the vicinity of Syreford Mill where the same field, foundations of three streets conjec there is a slightly thicker band. tured to be from some 'eminent town'. Roman coins The settlement was served by the Whiteway are also mentioned (57). In 1799, The Rev P Reynolds linking Cirencester with Chedworth Roman villa. A in his Antoninus Iter Britanniarum mentions Syreford possible Roman agger has been identified near in a list of towns where Roman antiquities have been Fulford, Withington, in the Upper Coln valley, sug found and shows it on a, map of England (Sll). gested to be from an early road linking Andoversford From at least the nineteenth century the area was with Withington (Marshall1989a) (51055). A reference referred to as the site of the 'burnt town' presumably to 'portstraet' in a Saxon charter (Grundy 1935, 268; from the quantities of calcined stone, ash and char Sawyer 1968) is likely to refer to a ridge route from coal later noted on the field surfaces. This burning the Andoversford area towards Seven Springs. may have led to the naming of the field Black Close Marshall suggests that the southern exit road from (59, SlO). The site is also described by the Rev T D Wycomb may have divided, one route following the Fosbrooke (1826) who visited in 1824 and made refer Coln Valley to the south, the other following ence to the large quantities of coins ranging from the upland 'portstraet' in a south-westerly direction Nero to Valens and pottery collected from the fields. (Marshall 1989b, 214). He also referred to cropmarks indicating a road The field in which the settlement is concentrated is through the middle of the field and a circle from known as Wycomb, formerly Wickham. The name which excavations produced carved stones as if from may derive from 'wic' and thus 'vicus', suggesting a frieze of a temple. He further noted the discovery of 296 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire
0 100 150 200 250 300 350m
0
~ Gloucestershire t -N- r< 0 10km
25
Cheltenham
11111
20
15
95 00 05 10
Fig 122 Topographic map of the Wycomb area.
a burial accompanied by a shield and spear from a 1863-4 extensive excavations were undertaken by nearby quarry (SS). the landowner, W L Lawrence, in advance of the Unfortunately no further reference can be found to construction of the Cheltenham to Bourton-on-the the excavations mentioned by Fosbrooke but in Water branch railway line (S1, S2) (see Fig 123). The Site 297
-N-t
AE GSU IMU ~ ME ·:
0 200m
Fig 123 Wycomb: distribution of archaeological 'sites'.
Lawrence's excavations revealed traces of building compartment within it, 2.4m by 1.2m, on the north foundations in several parts of the field and he side, with a floor of hewn stone raised in the middle. accordingly calculated that the settlement covered The floor on the eastern side of the larger room was nearly 12ha. Support from the Society of Antiquaries deeply worn and it was suggested that this may have of London allowed Lawrence to compile and publish been the site of a shrine. Pieces of sculptured stone of a plan of his excavations (1864c) which shows several an ornamental character, fragments of broken rectangular buildings, streets and other structures columns and parts of a broken pavement were found (see Figs 124 and 127). One of the most prominent in and adjacent to the structure. Between 500 and 600 structures is a temple (Fig 125), comprising two parts, coins and a small copper-alloy statuette of Mars were a cella, 12.5m2 internally, and a smaller room c 8m by also found within its circuit. The temple is set within 6.4m. The temple appears to be built over the remains a compound with a street running either side. of a two-cell structure. The larger room had a small To the west of the temple was a yard area with 298 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire
-N-t
....J....J structure ..J L- road 0 quarry -<> oven * pit
Iron Age: EEl burial • pottery 0 coin
Roman: ffi burial • pottery 0 coin 0 other finds
Anglo-Saxon • pottery
0 200m e~~~~--======~'
Fig 124 Wycomb: plot of known archaeology.
stone troughs and drains beyond which were further A street, 2.4-3m wide and composed of cobbled foundations, pavements, forges and fireplaces. A stone ran through the area in an east-west direction. circular oven was found south of the temple. A large Other rectangular stone buildings were found to the rectangular building to the west, partially burnt, was south and north. At the north-east end of the site were thought to be the offices of a large residential two buildings divided by a wall of cut masonry 44m building. On the east side of this structure was a large long, running at right-angles to the road and then mass of pitched stone terminated by a semi-circular alongside it. North of this wall was a large undivided line of raised stonework. A particularly high room 13.9m long and 6.7m wide. The walls were concentration of samian was noted around this 0.75m wide and the floors mostly stone laid in mortar building. Tesserae and hypocaust and other tiles were and gravel concrete. Between this building complex also present. and the temple is a 22.9m stretch of curving wall, The Site 299
Fig 125 View of excavations of the temple at Wycomb by Lawrence, c 1863-4 (Photo: Courtesy Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museums). shown with a continued conjectured line dotted in on stone panels each showing three figures in deep relief. the plan. Lawrence interpreted this as part of an The better preserved shows a genius cucullatus and amphitheatre, presumably from its form, and from its two hoodless deities (Henig 1993b, CSIR 105, 108). juxtaposition to a temple. Two small stone idols and a model bronze axe (now Investigations between buildings 9 and 11 (see Fig lost) are also recorded (RCHME 1976, 126). Two 124) revealed a 0.6m layer of black soil below the further votive reliefs are recorded in the CSIR (nos stone pavement. The soil is described as being full of 106 and 109) presumably also from the nineteenth ash and containing pre-Roman pottery and other century excavations. Lawrence considered Wycomb relics. In the south-east area of the field was a stone to be the probable site of a Roman village which lined pit (no 29) containing a 'rude fibula' and pottery later became an important Roman military station with a cremation. combined with residential houses and villas. Finds from Lawrence's excavations were prolific and included several hundred coins extending from the earlier emperors through to Theodosius, large quantities of pottery including amphorae and much TWENTIETH-CENTURY OBSERVATIONS (CF FIG 123) samian, glass and numerous metal finds. Copper There are no further records of archaeological inter alloy finds included brooches, styli, rings, torques, vention at Wycomb until 1956, when Mrs H O'Neil armillae, pins, a pair of compasses and toilet articles. and Mr A Saunders undertook a watching brief on Amongst the ironwork were spearheads, knives, behalf of the Ministry of Works, during the digging of axes, manacles, strigils, keys, parts of a saddle, rings, a water main trench across the site (520). o remains nails and buckles. Also mentioned are millstones were observed in the fields east or south-west of from Andernach, and many boar tusks, horn cores Wycomb although extensive features were noted in and antlers. Of particular note are two sculptured Wycomb itself. Amongst these was a stone-built 300 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire culvert with a cover of large paving stones some 1m skeletal material, not previously studied is reported in depth which may have been Roman in date. on below with the burials from Syreford Mill (see In 1964 a cinerary urn was found in an old gravel Firth pp 331-6). quarry at Syreford (Bunt 1968) probably of first Whilst work was being completed at the Bypass century AD date (523). Between 1969 and 1971 site, new excavations were started by W Cox at archaeological work commenced on the south side of Syreford Mill gravel pits, where known archaeo Black Close field in advance of the construction of the logical remains were under threat from quarrying A40 Andoversford Bypass (512, 513). The work was (514). The results of this work, previously unpub started by Kenneth Brown and Wilfred Cox on behalf lished, are described below. Earlier small excavations of Cheltenham Museum, and later joined by Bernard had been carried out at the Syreford quarries by Firth Rawes. The results of the latters excavations along in 1936 (53) which produced a cremation urn. Iron with selected parts of Cox's work were published by Age pottery had been recovered from an exposed pit Rawes (1976; 1980). section in the quarry face by Mrs O'Neil in 1934 (521). Four areas were investigated by Cox (see Rawes Further pottery and evidence of a hearth have also 1980, fig 2 for precise trench location) on the north been recorded from this locality (522, 524). side of the bypass, adjacent to the field known as More recently a small-scale excavation and watch Black Close; also an area between the stream and the ing brief were carried out by Gloucestershire County Stow-on-the-Wold junction, and an area of the bypass Council archaeologists at the sewage treatment line along the bank of the River Coln, where the works, located immediately south of the railway, and stream was to be diverted for culverting. Cox's first north-west of the bypass work (515). The earliest area revealed a number of archaeological features, activity identified was quarrying, the scoops being including pits and an oven, which were covered subsequently filled with domestic refuse of Roman in a black humic soil below a surface of beaten date. Contemporary with the quarrying were a series gravel under the ploughsoil. One pit, cutting an of linear gullies and a single adult human burial. The earlier feature, produced pottery of first-century date burial aligned north-south was originally contained including pre-Flavian samian. Two Dobunnic coins, in a wooden coffin with traces of hob-nailed footwear. one inscribed EISU, and three first-century brooches The Roman features were sealed with a dark were recovered. Other features produced third- to brown Roman soil thought to have developed fourth-century material. through cultivation. In the latest phase a spread of The second area to be investigated was targeted to stone was laid over the soil in one corner forming intercept what appeared to be the line of a roadway either a yard, or a road surface (Hoyle 1992, 214). visible on aerial photographs some 10-15m away. The Recent aerial photographs (see Fig 127) show excavations uncovered what was described as a large traces of circular ditched enclosures adjacent to ditch but with cobbling at the base and lower sides Lawrence's feature 5-the curved wall interpreted as from which half a burnt silver Dobunnic coin (EISU) a possible amphitheatre-and south of the temple was retrieved. Rawes (1980) encountered the same (RCHME 1976, 125) (SS). Further aerial photographic feature south of the bypass, recovering a further transcription carried out for this project is described Dobunnic coin, a Neolithic polished axe and part of a below (56). sculptured votive relief, possibly a genius cucullatus A number of casual finds have been made in the (Henig 1993b, CSIR 107). The subsequent fill con fields covered by the settlement, notably an iron tained rubbish dating to the fourth century (coins and brooch (519/25), a silver coin of Domitian (526), a pottery), a late Roman buckle (Hawkes 1972, 145££), Dobunnic coin (527), coins, pottery and other items and two complete cattle skeletons. It would seem (528-38). likely that, contrary to the excavators' interpretation, Continuing use of the site during the post-Roman the feature was a continuation of the road line, which period is indicated by finds of organic or grass became a sunken or hollow-way as it approached the tempered pottery, both from the Syreford Mill excav river. Other features in the area included a possible ations and from the upper fill of the hollow-way sill-beam trench, some parallel ditches and a pit investigated by Rawes (1980, fig 10.119). Undated containing second-century pottery. burials from alongside the culverted stream and from The third area extending south across to the river Syreford may be Roman or later. produced further occupation evidence in the form of pits, ovens and beam slots. The finds included material of pre-Flavian and Flavian date. Machine clearing in the fourth area investigated revealed a Archaeology surrounding Wycomb (Fig 126) total of six skeletons close to the water's edge. They Iron-Age activity in the Wycomb area has been noted had all been shallowly buried, resting on gravel, at Foxcote Manor, Withington (51009) (Donovan and aligned with the heads to the north-east. All were Dunning 1936). A univallate hillfort is documented at extended and uncoffined with no grave-goods. The Dowdeswell Hill (51050) to the west of Wycomb. An The Site 301
-Nt-
20
15
:j# [iJ 1054 -- routeways c:J ------Iron Age : 0 building 0 hillfort 83 burial 0 settlement pottery El7 burial •0 coin pottery [!!] coin hoard ~ •0 coin 0 other finds
Saxon: $ burial
0 3km
Fig 126 Plot of known archaeology in the Wycomb area.
undated ditch in woodland near Withington, to the Other evidence of Iron Age activity in the locality is south of Wycomb, could conceivably be of Iron Age suggested by a potin coin (51047). date (51054) . A crouched burial in a pit recently found A number of Roman villas are known in the at 5hipton Oliffe is also probably Iron Age (51030) . general area, along with surface finds suggestive of 302 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire further Roman occupation, although of unspecified Sandywell. In the nineteeenth century two lead type. To the immediate north-west is Whittington coffins are reputed to have been found either side of Court, a villa excavated by Helen O'Neil (1952) a drain in Sandywell Park. Others may have been (S1014). The excavations revealed a bath-block of found during the construction of the railway. Three second-century origin replaced in the fourth century stone coffins from the railway line are noted as by a small winged corridor house. The building was having been reburied by the drain in Sandywell Park well furnished, containing several mosaic floors and (Willmore 1939, 168; O'Neil 1952, 85) (S1031). An decorated plaster. Occupation appears to have con undated cist burial, possibly also Roman, was found tinued into the fifth century. Remains of a Roman in 1938 near Compton Abdale (S1032). A large round building were also investigated in Waltham field, barrow, Foxcote Tumulus, excavated in 1863 pro Whittington, some 600m north-west of Whittington duced over 200 fourth-century coins, Roman pottery Court (Cox 1979) (S1017, S1040), whilst further and a skeleton (S1002). This may have been a Roman Roman remains were reported in a field to the east in tumulus, or reuse of a prehistoric burial mound. 1947 (S1021). Pottery and metal objects of mid/late Apart from finds at Wycomb, Saxon occupation Saxon date have been found at Whittington (RCHME has only been documented from Whittington and 1976, 127). possibly Foxcote Manor, Withington. At the former, Traces of foundations and pavement were noted sherds of ?late Saxon pottery were found in the during clearance work in Whittington wood noted as excavations (Dunning 1952, 60). At Foxcote Manor, occurring 'at a little distance from the wood'(?SO two crouched burials in pits with associated bone 997214) in 1865. Finds in~luded iron fetters, a pruning combs and bronze strap end were originally con hook, a horse's bit and two, or three, Constantinian sidered Saxon (Donovan and Dunning 1936) (S1009). coins (PSA 1864-7) (S1045). A scatter of Roman The bone combs could possibly be late Roman in date potsherds was collected from south of Arle Grove (SO (L Viner pers comm). 994215), probably a remnant of Whittington Wood (RCHME 1976, 125). To the south of Wycomb, along the Coln valley, are the villas at Withington, Compton Abdale and AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC TRANSCRIPTION AND Yanworth (S1035, S1058), and the extensive complex ANALYSIS By Fiona Small (RCHME) of structures at Chedworth. The villa at Withington, excavated by Lysons in 1811 (S1001), revealed a build Introduction ing of complex structural history with hypocaust systems and mosaic floors. A hoard of over 12,000 late An aerial photographic survey of the plough-levelled third- and fourth-century coins was also found. The remains of the site of Wycomb was carried out in villa at Compton Abdale, excavated in 1931, also dates January 1994 to provide an up-to-date record of the to the third/fourth century (S1008). Further evidence extent of the settlement. All available photography of of Roman settlement was found approximately 200m the survey area was examined in detail and photo to the south-east at Bel Tump (S1007, S1052). The same grammetric plans were prepared at 1:2500 scale of all complex contains a rectangular enclosure (S1012), archaeological features visible in the form of possible field systems (S1053) and building platforms cropmarks. (S1023), as well as much pottery and other finds For the purposes of the survey all vertical and dating from the second to fourth centuries. Chedworth specialist oblique photographs held by the RCHME Roman villa is a large complex establishment with a were consulted, as was all available oblique photo temple to the east and other, presumably associated, graphy from the Cambridge Committee for Aerial structures in the adjacent woodland. The original Photography. structure dates to the earlier second century. Rebuild ing and extension continued until the later fourth Survey methods and techniques century when a large courtyard structure with a complete bath-block existed. A few metres from the The plots of the archaeological features were produced north-west corner of the villa is the nymphaeum (shrine using computer-aided photogrammetric rectification to the water goddesses) which houses the spring from oblique aerial photographs (Fig 127). This was supplying the villa. Other spreads of debris indicative achieved through the use of AERIAL 4.20 software of Roman occupation of some form have been noted at published by the University of Bradford which uses Hawling (S1029), Shipton Oliffe (S1026), Chedworth plane transformation techniques offering metrical (S1028), Hazleton (S1038), Wall-Well (S1035) and precision in the region of ±0-3m at 1:2500 scale. Field within Dowdeswell hillfort (S1036). control was derived mainly from current edition OS Evidence of Roman burial from the area is sur 1:2500 plans: SP 0220 0420 and SP 0219 0419. prisingly sparse in view of the density of occupation. Where features were plotted from more than one Atkyns (1712) mentions Romano-British burials at photograph the correlation was good, in nearly all The Site 303
cases, suggesting that the features were located divided by the embankment of the disused railway. within 2m of their true position on the ground. The Theoretically, the parts of the site masked by the residual errors recorded in rectification of the embankment should be surviving intact, and in better archaeological features were no greater than 2m, condition than the exposed areas which have been generally about +0.1-l.Om. However, the plots of the subjected to ploughing. There are indications of linear features to the west of the main site were less finds from the Iron Age, Bronze Age and Mesolithic accurate owing to poorer control and slight undu periods within the area of the Roman site which must lation of the ground. be taken into consideration when analysing the In the course of the digital survey 11 photo cropmarks. grammetric transcriptions were prepared. These plots The archaeological features transcribed fall into and the digital data files are held by the RCHME. three distinct areas: one on either side of the embank ment of the disused railway line centred on SP 0285 2015 and SP 0310 1990, and the third area to the north Description of the site and features transcribed west of these, centred on SP 0250 2010. A fourth area (Fig 127) of cropmarks to the east of the main site, centred on The survey area lies immediately to the south of SP 0300 1990, previously thought to be of archaeo Syreford, north-east of Andoversford, with the main logical origin, is now thought to be agricultural, and site situated to the east of the River Coln in two fields has, therefore, not been plotted.
025 ~o30oomE
<'20QoomN
~:I Modern topography i R•l Buried ditches and pits ~-~ Raised or metalled surfaces and I Andoversford ~ sites of possible building rubble ! I 50 0 100 200 I metres / 025 \ i-~ 4Q3QoomE ~ RCHME Crown Copyright
Fig 127 Aerial photographic transcription. North to top. (© RCHME) 304 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire
AREA 1 NORTH OF THE RAILWAY LINE parallel with the left-hand branch, and then bends to the south, disappearing at the edge of the field, and is The cropmarks of the archaeological features were not visible in the adjacent field. The western branch is general~y clear~y visible fo.r the southern part of this straight, running north-east to south-west from the are~ with clanty de~reasmg northwards, possibly embankment, artd fades and disappears in the south owmg to the change m geology in this direction. The west corner of the field. There are numerous short area is cut di~gonally by an almost straight length side branches around 20-30m long. The two branches of roadway aligned north-east to south-west which are linke.d ~y a short length of road, with part of a shows as a strong cropmark. There are numerous second linkmg road to the north. This has blocked small side junctions or streets which peter out after off a rough square, in which Lawrence claimed to 30-40m, and one longer, sinuous branch to the north have located the temple. The cropmark evidence does west which disappears at the edge of the field. To indicate the. presence of a large square negative the south-east and abutting the main road are the feature, possibly a building foundation, close to the cropmarks of the foundation ditches of an apparently estimated position of the temple. large complex of enclosed buildings, with internal To the east of the two roadways is a dense area of metalled areas. This corresponds with the areas 1-3 cropmarks of ~e~ative and p~sitive maculae, possibly excavated by Lawrence in 1864 where the foun related to bmldmg foundations and debris, and a dations of a number of buildings were discovered. number of unidentified ditches and pits. To the west On the north-west side of the road are further crop th~ cropm~rks are more sparse, consisting of a scat marks of ditches indicating the presence of a further tenng of pits of varying size, and in the north-west building. corn~r. of the field a curved ditch, possibly part of a To the west of the road there are three circular curvllmear enclosure, can be seen disappearing feature.s. Two are d~tched, the larger being a single beneath the railway embankment. broad mcomplete ditch of around 25m in diameter To the s?uth are a number of linear ditches running possibly a round barrow. The smaller ditched enclos~ parallel With the western roadway which may be part ure is complete (c 15m in diameter), with two internal of a recut trackway of uncertain age. This is cut to the central pits. The third feature appears to be a circular north by a single ditch c 80m in length. There are two banked enclosure which lies at the end of a short branch of the roadway, origin unknown. There are ro~ghly square ~eg~tiv~ features, one surrounded by a lighter mark mdicating the presence of positive a~so numerous pits of varying size throughout the features such as collapsed masonry. SI~e. To the. south-west there are two pairs of parallel ditches which may be further road ways leading off to the n?rth-.west towards the river. The archaeological AREA 3 WEST OF THE RIVER COLN remams disappear to the south under the railway and The features plotted include two ditches running are presumed to be surviving beneath the earth roughly north-west to south-east, the northernmost is embankment. c':rved, the southerly has a trace of a second parallel ditch. Both features have been plotted as ditches, and AREA 2 SOUTH OF THE RAILWAY LINE t~ey may w~ll be connected with drainage into the nver, or possibly former field boundaries. The latter is The cropmarks of the archaeological features were less likely as that alignment cuts the present-day and generally clearly visible throughout the whole of this apparently long-established, field boundaries. ~re~, .althou~h ~here was no clear evidence of any The reason for the inclusion of these features was mdividual bulldmg structure surviving. The northern the .pos~ibility of the southern one being a trackway, m?st part of this area, disappearing beneath the which If extended would meet up exactly with a railway embankment, appears to be the centre of the trackway on the other side of the river, heading settlement, with the densest cropmarks. north-west away from the main settlement. There T~ere ~re two forking arms of metalled roadway, was a third similar feature to the south of these, the JUnction of which is masked by the embank thought to be a field boundary and therefore not ment. The eastern branch runs out from beneath the plotted. embankment in a south-west direction for c 75m I 12. EXCAVATIONS BY THE LATE W L COX AT SYREFORD MILL, 1973-1977
By Timothy Darvill and Jane R Timby
Cheltenham, all of whom travelled out to the site Introduction daily. Excavations at Syreford Mill were carried out in A Wheeler-inspired system of regular boxes advance of anticipated gravel extraction and the separated by baulks was used at the start of the certain erosion of earlier gravel pits. The site was excavation. The site was divided into Sm squares situated approximately lOOm ESE of the Mill House which were numbered on an alpha-numerical co at SP 0278 2017 between the old gravel pit and ordinate system, letters running east-west, numbers Wycomb field (Fig 123, 514). As such it lay on the north-south (Figs 128). Excavation proceeded by western edge of the known extent of the Roman examining each box in turn, starting in line A, a settlement, on a terrace overlooking the Syreford number of boxes being open at any one time. A lm Stream at c lOOm OD. The underlying geology is wide baulk was left between boxes to preserve glacially deposited limestone gravel. The presence of standing sections which were subsequently drawn. significant archaeological deposits in the area was The features encountered in each box were numbered known through excavations in 1963 by Firth (53), and by type and their box-reference (eg Al Pit 1 etc). more recently by a Mr Beveridge of Cheltenham, who When adjacent boxes had been excavated and made an unrecorded cutting into the edge of the planned, sections of the baulk were usually removed gravel pit in the early 1970s. and the feature fills excavated. Thus where features Between 1973 and 1977, a total c 370 square metres spanned adjacent boxes they have combined codes was systematically excavated and a large number of (eg AXl; Al2 etc). By the end of the work an open features revealed. In the following report a brief area had been created, the areas not examined being summary of the findings of the excavation is given, occupied by bushes, trees and footpaths. Fig 129 prefaced by a note on the methodology employed and shows a general view of the site in 197 4. the circumstances of the post-excavation programme. In general, excavation commenced by spading off the turf and topsoil. Thereafter spits of 0.5-0.lm depth were removed until features could be identi Methodology fied. The fills were then removed in similar spits. The excavations at Syreford Mill took place over five Finds were bagged-up by box (ie trench) feature and seasons between 1973 and 1977 in a style of operation spit, but owing to the nature of the work some finds typical of its time. Work was mainly confined to bags were carried over from week to week. Printed Sunday mornings between Easter and the end of cards were used to record the origin of items such as October, although a fortnight's concerted campaign pottery and bone. Small-finds (eg coins, brooches etc) took place annually, usually in July. The work were bagged separately in small envelopes supplied was directed by Mr W L Cox of Charlton Kings, by Cheltenham Museum (who also lent excavation Cheltenham, on behalf of Cheltenham Art Gallery equipment). Burials were numbered in a single and Museum. Mr Cox was a teacher at Oakley School, sequence (I-XI). Bulk finds, including the human Cheltenham, and a number of his pupils assisted in burials, were variously stored in a garage at Syreford the excavation. Also closely involved with the work Mill and outbuildings on Mr Webb's farm, or taken was Mr Peter Kendall, then a lecturer in geography at back to Cheltenham. Unfortunately, as a result of the the North Gloucestershire College of Technology storage arrangements and lack of immediate primary (NGCT). In 1973 a survey of the site was made processing, many finds have since become losLor by students of the Building Department of NGCT. disassociated from their labels. Some of the extant The workforce comprised volunteers, mainly from finds do not specify from which level in a feature they 306 Excavatwns. at Kingscote an d Wycom'b Gloucestershire
7
Syreford Mill -N-t
limit. o f excavation I 2 gully + G1 grave
ab an1ma. I bone? burial
modern sm stone metalling gravel quarry
+ -I
~IG3 I I· I + L + I 0 o I J
I • + '}\~: / .... / ___ \ ,' -- ,----;\... ___ :-\, / I G2,,;;, \.';:;.:::\ ,...--- I ', I...... __}~'' .... __ _
0 5m L_j 1 A B c D
Fig 128X Syreford Mill: plan o f excava ted features. Excavations by the Late W L Cox at Syreford Mill, 1973-1977 307
Fig 129 Syreford Mill: excavations in progress, summer 1974. (Photo: T C Darvill)
were recovered. It must also be accepted that consider sequently, the records and finds were sorted out and able contamination of layers occurred because of the assembled by Mrs Cox and handed over to the intercutting. authors for publication as appropriate. From the Recording was mainly by annotated plans and records available it is clear that a general analysis of sections. In the early seasons a loose-leaf sitebook/ the stratigraphy was well advanced at the time of Mr day-book was maintained by Mr Cox, but this has Kendall's death. In particular a set of phase-plans not been found in the archive and was not used in had been compiled. These are followed here, except preparing this report. All the plans and sections were where further work has demonstrated the clear need drawn by Peter Kendall who typically updated the to re-assign features. Some specialist reports were site drawings at the end of each day's digging. Levels also in hand and again these have been either retained were taken and added to the sections where possible. or reworked as part of additionally commissioned An ad hoc photographic record was kept by Paul work. Arnold and, in later seasons, by Timothy Darvill. The finds and records from the excavation have A number of interim statements of the excavation been deposited with Cheltenham Museum and Art were published in the Gloucestershire Echo (1978). The Gallery who were responsible for promoting the RCHME volume on the Gloucestershire Cotswolds work in the first place, providing equipment and includes information provided by Mr Cox (RCHM recording materials, and expert advice and assistance 1976, 125ff). through the offices of Mr Ken Brown and latterly Mr Some post-excavation processing of finds and Alan Saville. records was carried out during the period of the excavations, as for example coin identifications and Phasing the examination of the brooches by M R Hull. Mr Kendall died in 1978 and Mr Cox in 1986. Sub- Cox and Kendall divided the features into three broad 308 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire phases: Phase 1-pits and gulleys dating to the Late PHASE lA (FIG 130) Iron Age/ early Roman period; Phase 2-pits and The earliest features on the site appear to be two scoops broadly dating to the second to fourth circular pits dug into the underlying gravel and centuries; and Phase 3-a small cemetery dating to subsequently cut by the slightly later gullies (Phase the late fourth/ fifth century. A key stratigraphic lB): XA2 Pit 1 and XA3 Pit 1. Of these, pit XA3 Pit 1 marker separates Phases 1 and 2: an extensive spread was a very substantial feature. The pottery from both of reddish-brown clay covering most of the south pits suggests a late first-century BC/ early first-century western part of the site. AD date. The purpose of the pits is not clear from This phasing has been used as the basis for the available finds: they may have been gravel dividing the features discussed below although quarries. where finds or evidence have suggested otherwise some of the features have been transferred. One of the main changes has been the removal of a number of PHASE lB (FIGS 130-1) features from Phase 3, in particular some of the pits The next identifiable episode of activity appears to which in retrospect appear to belong to the main have been the construction of a series of gullies dug Roman period (Phase 2). A Phase 0 has been added across the site forming a roughly rectilinear layout. to cover the early prehistoric finds from the site, The main gully (Gully n referred to on site as the 'big although no features can be attributed to this period. ditch', crosses the area on a north-east to south-west The basic stratigraphy of the site is represented alignment. At least two spur ditches/ gullies branch entirely as intercutting bedrock-cut negative features, off from this on the eastern side (Gullies 2 and 3), set some of which are substantial (Fig 128). The bedrock 14.5m apart at their junction with Gully 1 but throughout the excavated area is limestone gravel tapering to lOm before running out of the excavated which is unstable as a standing face. In consequence, area. North of Gully 3 is a short length of parallel traces of collapsed edges were visible in some gully (=Gully 4), possibly forming a narrow, slightly features. It is also certain that some sinkage and tapering entranceway 1.25-1.75m wide. After a gap of sagging occurred over many of the features. This c 1.75m Gully 1 appears to continue (=Gully 5) but its accounts for the presence of occasional sherds of late line is here cut away by Phase 1C pits. Roman date mixed with what would appear to be late It can be suggested that the gullies mark the Iron Age or early Roman assemblages. The site had boundaries of small rectangular field-plots or gardens, been ploughed in modern centuries although it was the largest (Gully 1) being a major alignment with under long-term grass and scrub at the time of the sub-divisions running south-east from it. How these excavation. plots connected with any adjacent settlement is not known. Nor is it known if the ditches were flanked by Phase 0 early prehistoric banks or hedges. A substantial collection of early prehistoric, mainly PHASE lC (FIG 130) Mesolithic, flintwork was recorded as a residual component of later feature fills in all parts of the site Also belonging to Phase 1 is an extensive series of from the topsoil down. This is one of the largest at least 35 pits and scoops which lie within the assemblages of early prehistoric material known from plots defined by the gullies identified as Phase 1B. such a restricted area in the Cotswolds. Preliminary Two main groups are apparent, one within the area analysis by Alan Saville revealed the presence of over defined by Gullies 1-3, the other to the north-west of 100 cores with commensurate debitage but few Gully 1 and beyond the limit of excavation. implements. The presence of 14 microburins led All the pits have been grouped under Phase 1C as Saville to conclude that microliths had been manu some certainly cut the 1B gullies, although others factured at the site in later Mesolithic times (Saville have no direct stratigraphic relationship and may, 1984, 71; fig 5). therefore, be of earlier date. What is fairly clear, There was no evidence of any features dating to however, is that all these features are earlier than this period, although during the excavation possible Phase 2 as they are sealed by a layer of sterile brown stakeholes were noted and examined in areas X1 and clay deposited after the pits had filled up. Some pits X2. These were subsequently interpreted as rootholes. intercut each other, suggestive of a staged develop ment in their use. The fact that some cut the main gullies suggests that the gullies had at least Phase llate Iron Age-early Roman partly silted-up before pit-cutting became wide On stratigraphic grounds coupled with general spread. chronological indicators such as pottery and finds, With one exception, the pits are oval or round in three sub-phases can tentatively be recognized (Fig shape, irregular in profile and depth, and best 130). interpreted as quarries back-filled with domestic Excavations by the Late W L Cox at Syreford Mill, 1973-1977 309
Phase 1A- 18 ~ Phase 1C ·-·-·-, -N- "'-/l '·-l i i..._:"-/ . r·_. I -~ I I i I ~--~
I 0 - -;;-1 I ., i ---1 - ..1>1 I I I ---, I i :·: I I I I . -, ~I . I ·- _j I I 1 i i --J I_J ~Phase A i... j
Phase 2 Phase 3 ,.--·-·-, r-·-·-, L... . '-l i rj (--:;;~~ r-·_j '--·-·-·-, I i : o'&:·'! edge of i I J i ,J/ brown clay J I I ~----/ I { I i I I i ~3--: I I i I r'-_1 I . _Ji__ j 'G11 I \ I 1 ! J L._-, I I I I G13 ~10 I i, I ' G12 I I ~--·-·-·1 I I / I i I 0 G4 I / c::-:~ G2'-'l .r·--'·-· I r- -, r-1 i I . j I ~---~~~ i I ·-·--: I j I , ___ j L._. G9.:, •G7 I I I GB,; 1 I I I i______-- ~6~~~ ~ ~ ~.J 0 10m 4 animal bone ·--=--==--==-==--='1
Fig 130 Syreford Mill: summary phase plan. 310 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire
Pit 2 E
Beveridge box
SECTION A
dark earth and small stones clay (brown) earth, clay and stone infill clay band Edge of pit 1 gravel E Pit 4
SECTION B
Box BC4 Gully 3 Box AX3 Gully 1 Box AX2 Gully 2 w E
SECTION C SECTION E SECTION D
0 5m
Fig 131 Sections across gullies. refuse and soil from digging adjacent quarries. The posthole at its northern end consists of a square exception is pit BC2 Pit 1 which is sub-rectangular in post set within a post-pit. A second similar post shape and surrounded by at least five postholes was encountered on the south-west side of the which may or may not be contemporary with it. The enclosure. Excavations by the Late W L Cox at Syreford Mill, 1973-1977 311
Fig 132 Syreford Mill: excavation of gully 3. (Photo: T C Darvill)
DESCRIPTION OF FEATURES and gravel capped with a darker soil upper fill (Fig 131D). Cuts a steep-sided, flat-bottomed pit (B4-C4 Pit 1). Finds: Phase lA Pits Amongst the finds from this gully are fragments of copper alloy (bracelet, wire), an iron hobnail, a copper-alloy finger XA2 Pit 1 Exposed on the western edge of the box where the ring, iron nails and slag fragments. Pottery appears to diameter measured 1.75m N-S. Contained an ashy fill. include material dating mainly to the first / second century. Finds: Pottery: Fabrics current from the first century BC into Of particular note is a sherd of imported terra rubra (TR3) the first century AD. Latest sherds probably belong to the beaker. Some fourth-century sherds from the 84 section second half of the first century AD. presumably derive from the upper levels. XA3 Pit 1 (=AB3 Pit 4) Probably cut by Gully 1. Measures Gully 2 Crosses boxes X2-A2, X1-A1 and A1-B1 2.25m (N-S) by 2m (E-W). Depth 1.3m from below topsoil (X2-A2) Gully-large, fairly steep-sided with a flat base. layer, O.Sm from below layer of brown clay. Filled with a Depth 0.85m below topsoil. Filled with a gravel and dark dark stony soil with clay lenses. The primary fill is clay. soil mix with clay in the upper fill immediately below the Finds: Pottery: Late first century BC to second half first topsoil (Fig 131C). century AD, although with some later mixed second / third century sherds presumably from upper levels. Gully 3 (Fig 132) Crosses boxes C2-D2, B2-C2, B3-C3, B4-C4, A4-B4 Depth 0.4m steep-sided gully with a rounded base. Phase lB Gullies Contains a mixed earth, clay and stone fill capped by brown Gully 1 Crosses boxes X2-A2, X3-A3, A3-B3 and A4-B4 clay (Fig 131E). (A3 / B3) Shallow gully on E-SW alignment, depth 0.65m. (B3-C3) A circular 'sump' is marked within this stretch, c Dark clay and soil fill with various clay lenses. 0.7m diameter. Uncertain whether this is an earlier feature (A4-B4) Gully shows a primary clay fill followed by sand cut by the gully or is cut into the gully or represents a 312 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire
localised deposit within the gully. Finds: Pottery from the XA4 Pit 1 =AB4 Pit 1 Shallow oval pit measuring 2.6m gully suggests it had become filled by the early second SW-NE by 1.75m SE-NW. Depth 0.3m. Filled with a brown century. The uppermost fill in BC2 produced a copper-alloy clay. Finds: Pottery: fourth century plate brooch (no 34, SF63) immediately above which was a ABl-Pit 1 Steep-sided roughly circular pit, measuring 2m trumpet brooch (no 21, SF64). E-W by 2.5m N-S. Depth O.Sm. The upper fill comprised a Gully 4 Crosses boxes B4-C4, B5-C5 black stony fill below which was a brown clay layer. The (B4-C4) Gully running more or less parallel to Gully 3, lower fill comprised a brown clay with stones over a layer slightly converging at the north end. Set 1.5-1.75m from of packed stone set on a compacted gravel base. Probably Gully 3 and with a rounded terminus within this box. Finds: cuts A1-B1 Pit 2. Finds: Pottery, first century AD. Pottery from BC4 ranges in date from first to fourth century, ABl-Pit 2 Relationship with Pit 1 not identified but is whereas that from BC4/5 appears to be first century only. probably the earlier of the two. Oval pit cut to a depth of Gully 5 Crosses box A5-B5, B5-C5 1.6m. Measures 2.2m (NW-SE) by 1.55m (NE-SW). Finds: Steep-sided, flat-bottomed gully c 1m wide, 1.25m deep and Pottery, first century BC-AD. exposed for 3.5m length before it passed out of the excav ABl-Pit 3 (=Xl-Al Pit 2) Finds: Pottery first-early second ated area. Contains a fill comprising layers of gravel and with mixed third-fourth century. dark soil with an overlying clay layer. Upper fill cut by Pits AB5 pit 3 and 4. Finds: None located. ABl-Pit 4 Large oval pit cut into the gravel surface and sealed by brown clay. The pit had fairly steep sides and a flat base c 1.1 Om below the gravel surface. The cut extended Phase lC pits out beyond the excavated area but had a diameter of at least 2.5m. The fill comprised a mixture of earth, clay and stone XAl-Pit 2 Large oval pit extending out beyond the including burnt stone, brick and tile. A scatter of human excavated area and measuring at least 3.5m by 2m and cut bone and coffin nails was noted above the feature (=Grave to a depth of 1m below the gravel surface. The upper fill 6). Finds: Pottery, first century AD. comprised dark soil with small stones, below which was a middle fill of clay and small stones. The lower fill is ABl-Pit 5 Large irregular pit on the edge of the trench. described as dark earth with stones. A scatter of human Incompletely excavated but with a mixed earth, clay and bone was recovered from the surface of the feature (=Grave stone fill. Finds: None located. 8). ?Cuts south side of Gully 1. Cut by X1-A1 Pit 4. Finds: ABl-Unlabelled pit immediately south of Pits 1 and 2 Probable Pottery, mixed first to fourth century. pit cut by Grave 7. Relationship with Pits 1 and 2 indistinct. XAl-Pit 3 (=Al-Bl Pit 3) Large irregular pit cut to a depth Sealed by the black soil horizon found below the topsoil. of 1m below the topsoil. Partially obliterates gully which it Finds: None located. presumably cuts. The lower fill comprises dark soil and AB2-Pit 1 Slightly irregular pit, measuring c 1.5m (E-W) stones with a brown clay middle fill with gravelly earth by 0.75m (N-S). No section drawn. Finds: None located. above. Probably cuts Pit 2. Finds: Pottery ranging from first to fourth century AB2-Pit lA An oval pit located north of Pit 1. Measures 1.25 (E-W) by 0.75 (N-S). No section drawn. Finds: None located. XA3-Pit 2 Irregularly shaped pit with an empty grave cut into the top. Measures 2.5m (NW-SE) by 1m (NE-SW). AB2-Pit 2 Irregular elongated pit or possibly two Finds: None located. intercutting pits, measuring 1.75m (NE-SW) by O.Sm (SE-NW). No section drawn. Finds: Pottery mixed date, XA3-Pit 3 Oval pit extending beyond the excavated area fourth century terminus post quem. measuring 1.75m on its N-S axis. Depth O.Sm from below topsoil. Contains brown clay above a small stony fill. Finds: AB2-Pit 3 (=A3-B3 Pit 2) Large irregular pit measuring Pottery, first century AD. 1.5m (E-W) by 2.25m (N-S). The base is l.lOm deep from the topsoil level. 0.55m from the natural gravel surface. The XA3-Pit 4 Irregularly shaped pit measuring 1.25m (E-W) pit contains a dark soil and brown clay fill with a lower fill by 1.6m (N-S). Scooped only on the east side. Finds: None of brown clay. Cuts B3-C3 Pit 2 and B2-C2 Pit 5. Finds: located. Pottery, mixed first to fourth century. XA3-Pit 5 Long irregular shallow pit cut by Pit 6 and AB2-Pit 4 Large roughly circular pit with a diameter of extending beyond the excavated area. Width SE-NW 1.75m. It contains a lower fill of brown clay and stone 1.25m. Depth 0.25m from below topsoil. Finds: None apparently contiguous with A2-B2 Pit 5 and A1-B1 Pit 5. located. This is capped with brown clay and then a layer of dark soil XA3~Pit 6 Oval pit measuring 2.25m (NE-SW) by 1m and stones. Depth 1m. Finds: Pottery, first century AD. (NW-SE). Cuts Pit 5. Finds: None located. AB2-Pit 5 Incompletely excavated pit measuring at least XA3-Pit 7 Edge of pit cut away by modern quarry. Finds: 1.25m (E-W) by l.Sm (N-S). Similar fill to Pit 4. Finds: None located. Pottery, first century AD. Excavations by the Late W L Cox at Syreford Mill, 1973-1977 313
AB2-Pit 6 Small oval pit 1.25m SE-NW by 0.75m SW-NE. BC2-Pit 6 Irregular scoop in SW corner of box. Depth No section drawn. Finds: Pottery first century BC-AD. 1m. Contains a dark fill capped with brown clay which continues over pits 1 and 2. Finds: None located. AB2-Pit 7 Roughly oval pit measuring 1.3m N-S by 1m E W. Finds: None located. BC3-Pit 1 Elongated oval pit 1.3m (SE-NW) by l.Om (SW-NE). Appears to be cut by BC3 Pit 3. Finds: Pottery, AB3-Pit 1 An oval pit 1.9m E-W and 1.3m N-S. Probably first century AD. cuts Pit 3. No section. Finds: None located. BC3-Pit 3 Large rounded pit feature 2.25m (E-W) by 2.4m AB3-Pit 3 Probably cut by Pit 1. Roughly oval pit 1.5m (N-S). No section drawn. Cut by Grave 5 and presumably N-S by 1.75m E-W and 0.65m deep. Contains a dark soil Gully 3. Appears to cut Pit 1. Finds: None located. with mixed stony fill covering a lens of clay on the east side. The lower fill comprises 0.1-0.2m of dark ash sealed by BC5-Pit 1 Large roughly circular clay capped pit, 1.75m stones and clay. Finds: Pottery mixed first to fourth century. (E-W) by 2.15m (N-S). Probably cuts A5-B5 Pit 1. Finds: Fragment of pierced copper-alloy plate. None located. AB4-Pit 3 Roughly oval pit measuring 1.25m (N-S) by 1m BC5-Pit 2 Linear feature labelled as a pit on plans but (E-W). Depth 0.35m. Cuts or cut by AB4 Pit 2. Brown clay appears to be on same alignment as Gully 2 and is therefore fill. Finds: None located. more likely to be a further stretch of gully (=Gully 5). Depth c 0.2m. Finds: None located. AB5-Pit 1 (=CD4 Pit) Steep-sided, flat-bottomed circular pit at junction of Gullies 2 and 3 which apparently cut it. BC5-Pit 3 Small circular pit 1m (E-W), 0.85m (S-N). Cuts Diameter c 1.10m, depth 0.35m. Contains various gravel Pits 4 and 5. Finds: Pottery, first-century material from the and dark clay fills. Finds: None located. lower levels, fourth-century from the upper levels. Glass fragment. AB5-Pit 5 (=BC5 Pit 5)=Gully 5 CD2-Pit 1 Large irregular pit cut into Gully 3. Measures AB5-Pit 6 Small oval pit 1.75m (NE-SW) and 0.6m 2.75m (N-S) by 2m (E-W). Depth 1.3m. Contained a dark (NW-SE). Depth 0.2m. Contains a dark fill. Finds: None soil fill. Finds: Copper-alloy ligula. located. CD2-Pit 2 Irregularly-shaped pit measuring 2m (N-S) by AB5-Pit 8 Irregular oval pit 2.5m (N-S) and 1.5m (E-W). 1.5m (E-W), cutting Gully 3. Depth 0.5m. Contained a dark Depth 0.65m. Dark soil fill. Finds: None located. soil fill. Finds: None located. AB5-Pit 9 Small pit partially excavated in the SW corner cut away by the quarry workings. Finds: None located. Postholes AB6-Pit 1 Oval pit on edge of excavated area, measuring AB2-Pit 8/posthole (=A1-B1) Sub-rectangular shallow cut, 1.55m (E-W) by 0.6m (N-S). Finds: Recorded as containing 0.12m deep and measuring 0.75m by 0.65m. A post-pipe ox bones. Only surviving bones amongst finds are three c 0.25m square occurs to one side. Finds: None located. bird bones. BC2-Four postholes Four square postholes set around BC2 BC2-Pit 1 Sub-rectangular pit roughly on a SSE-NNW Pit 1. No finds located. alignment with a U-shaped profile. Measures 1.55m (NNW-SSE) by 0.65m (ENE-WSW). Depth O.Sm. Possibly BC3-Posthole Square post set in a sub-rectangular post-pit associated with four adjacent stakeholes with a posthole at 0.3m by 0.3m at north end of BC2 Pit 1. Finds: None located. the northern end. Scattered human bone as noted south of CD3-Posthole Clay capped posthole set in the NW corner. the feature but presumably belongs to a later phase of Shallow post-pit c 0.3mm by 0.55m and 0.35m deep contain activity. The feature contained a fill of dark soil and stone ing a square post-pipe. capped by brown clay. Finds: None located. BC2-Pit 2 Large oval shallow pit on south edge of excavated area. Measures 3m (E-W) by 0.75m (N-S). Phase 2 Roman Features Contains a lower fill of brown clay followed by a layer of dark soil and stone, a layer of 'white stones' and an upper Following the Phase 1 activity, all or most of the site fill of brown clay. Cut by Pit 3. Finds: None located. appears to have been covered in a layer of sterile brown clay up to 0.2m thick. In the excavated area the BC2-Pit 4 A shallow scoop north of Pit 3. Measures 1.25m deposit was thickest to the west, tapering out up (N-S) by 1.3m (E-W). Depth c O.Sm. Finds: None located. slope to the south-east. Figure 130 shows the approxi BC2-Pit 5 (=BC3 Pit 2) Large irregularly shaped pit with mate edge of the layer, although its absence is likely an irregular profile. Measures 1.75m (N-S) by 2.25m (E-W) to be a product of survival rather than its original with a maximum depth of 1.25m. Cut by A3-B3 Pit 2. Finds: :extent as the higher part of the site seems to have Pottery, first/ early second century AD. Other finds include been less well preserved, with modern cultivation an iron nail and fragments of slag. truncating the gravel surface. 314 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire
The ongm of the brown clay layer is unclear the virtual absence of activity represented strati although two main possibilities can be considered: a graphically by the deposition of the clay layer. deliberate levelling and sealing of the area, or a At some point the area became active again and natural inundation through flooding. In winter a number of new pits and scoops were excavated, months during the 1970s the old gravel quarries mainly outside the area enclosed by Gullies 1, 2 and frequently flooded as the height of the Syreford 3. Their avoidance of the earlier pits suggests either stream rose, so it is possible that the clay was an that the workings were still visible as earthworks or alluvial deposit. However, the matrix of the material that knowledge of their whereabouts still existed. At was fairly coarse grained and contained small frag least some if not all of these features could perhaps ments of limestone, suggesting a deliberate spread of date to the fourth century. material derived from one of the clayey bands within Some of the later pits / scoops, dug after the the local limestone series. deposition of the clay layer, contained deposits of On balance, the clay layer is here interpreted as a animal bones which looked to be joints of meat buried deliberate deposit laid to seal the Phase lC pits in the ground and covered with a few large stones. containing rubbish, preventing obnoxious smells of Figure 133 shows a photograph of one such deposit decaying matter. The clay can be found preserved in partly excavated in area XI during September 1975. the sag fills of many of the Phase 1 features and in The semi-articulated remains of two animal legs can some parts of the site as a general layer sealed by the be seen. At the time of the excavation these were later black earth and topsoil (see above). The clay recorded as ox and horse. A note by the excavator may, therefore, represent a short hiatus in activity in indicates that he considered that these deposits post the area although there are insufficient finds to test dated the use of the site as a cemetery (Phase 3) for this. The pottery assemblage from the site appears to the burial of cattle plague victims in the fifth century contain relatively little material dating to the later (Cox nd). However, there seems to be no direct second and third centuries, and this may equate with evidence of this and the evidence is best seen as
Fig 133 Details of animal burial in G6, excavated in 1975. (Photo: T C Darvill) Excavations by the Late W L Cox at Syreford Milt 1973-1977 315 localised ritual deposits perhaps associated with the ABS-Pit 3 Circular shallow pit cutting AB5 Gully 5. emerging signification of the area as appropriate for Diameter c 0.45m. Depth 0.2 m. Finds: None located. burials. Its proximity to the river may also be relevant ABS-Pit 4 ( = CBS Pit 4) Large pit extending out beyond the in this connection. excavated area. Cut by Pit 3, cuts Pit 5. Depth c 0.75m. Filled The content of the topsoil on the site is directly with dark soil with white stone with an earth layer above. relevant to the interpretation of Phases 2 and 3 as it Is partially capped by an area of packed stone within a certainly includes finds brought into the plough zone mound of sandy gravel which also extends over Gully 5. through the truncation by cultivation of these and Finds: None located. later features, as well as material deposited on the ground surface during late Roman times which will ABS-Pit 7 Shallow oval scoop 1.3m (N-S) and 0.8m (E-W). have become incorporated into the soil by natural Finds: None located. processes of downward movement. BC2-Pit 3 Roughly circular pit cut into Pit 2. Measures 1m Finds from the topsoil include a mixture of (N-S) by 1.3m (E-W). Depth 0.6m. Finds: None located. material including pottery dating from the first to ?fifth centuries, a number of coins ranging from Box CD2 The gravel surface in this area showed a particu Antoninus Pius (AD 138-61) through to issues of the larly irregular surface with various ill-defined scoops and House of Theodosius and Arcadius (AD 383-408). In upcast. In the NE corner of the box, possibly in a shallow addition a small quantity of slag was recovered, scoop was an animal skeleton, identified on site as ox. The mainly from the later levels, indicating iron-working brown clay horizon peters out here and it is, therefore, in the vicinity. impossible to say whether the scoop is cut into or would Brooches from the surface similarly showed a date have sealed by this clay horizon. range from one example likely to date to AD 1-60 (no 1, SF59), one to the early second century (no 21, SF64), Phase 2 or Phase 3 to examples from the second to ?early third century (nos 33, SF65, and 36, SF60). This range of material is Hearth (Box XA2) Small hearth over gully at north end of consistent with late Roman deposition and pit box. digging which brought earlier items back to the surface. Phase 3 The late Roman cemetery At some point in the fourth century, or conceivably in the later third century, the area was used for human DESCRIPTION OF PHASE 2 FEATURES burial. At least eleven interments are indicated on the site plan, although in three cases these consist of Pits scattered remains. Subsequent analysis of the bones XA1-Pit 1 Incompletely excavated with only the south has shown a minimum number of eight inhumations edge within the excavated area. The extant diameter to be present (see Firth below), although it is quite NE-SW is 0.6m. The feature contained a gravelly fill. Finds: possible that material has been lost. One burial of an First/ early second-century pottery. Considered by excavator articulated infant was found on the gravel surface to belong to the latest phase of use but pottery. suggests with no apparent grave. Five of the burials were it was filled slightly earlier. Fragment of denarius also found in cut graves (Graves 1, 3, 5, 10 and 11). The recovered. shallowness of the graves had resulted in extensive plough damage particularly evident in Grave 3 and XA1-Pit 4 Small pit cut into Pit 2 and extending beyond the scattered bones from the south end of the site. At the excavated area. Width 0.75m (E-W). Contains a gravelly least three of the graves (nos 5, 10 and 11) appear to fill. Finds: None located. have had wooden coffins. AX2-Pit 2 Shallow pit cutting gully 2 and extending out Of the eight burials identified, there were four beyond the excavated area. The pit contained horse bones adults (perhaps three males and one female), and placed under large stones. Other finds: Pottery, mixed first to four children (one child of seven years, one baby of fourth century. about seven months and two at-term/newborn infants). AB4-Pit 2 (=ABS Pit 3) Cuts or is cut by AB4 Pit 3. Depth In addition to the occupied graves two apparently c 0.35m. Brown clay fill. Finds: None located. empty grave cuts were identified either side of Gully ABS-Pit 2 Shallow oval pit cutting Pits 1 and 3 on plan and 1. At least two pits (C02 Pit-and AB Pit 2) were apparently Gully 1 in section (Fig 131, section B). Measures found with animal burials, recorded on plan as horse, 1m (N-S) by 0.6m (E-W). Depth 0.3m. Finds: Recorded on although unfortunately the bones have not survived. plan as containing a horse skeleton (Fig 131, section B). Of the five in situ burials only three (Graves 1, 3 Whether this was complete and articulated is not known. and 11) were placed in the same orientation, with, in No further records. Also stamped samian. the cases of Graves 1 and 3, the head towards the 316 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire
north-east end of the grave. Grave 11 contained the wooden coffin. Neither case would appear to be upper torso at the south-west end but the body had accidentally prone as is suggested to be the case been decapitated and the head placed between the with some of the 33 examples from the Cirencester lower legs. Grave 10 had the head to the south-west, cemetery where the shrouds may have obscured front and Grave 5 to the NNE. In Graves 3, 5, 10 and 11 the from back (McWhirr 1973, 198). bodies had been placed in supine position but the Much attention has been accorded to both prone body in Grave 1 would appear, on photographic and decapitated burials and possible explanations evidence, to be prone. Both Graves 10 and 11 for the practices have been summarised by Philpott produced evidence of grave-goods. Grave 10, that of (1991). It is suggested that the increase in prone a child of approximately 7 years, had six copper-alloy burials in the fourth century may reflect an increasing and two bone bracelets placed at the foot of the grave concern to differentiate the status at death through (now missing). A coin was recovered from Grave 11. the variation in burial practice (Philpott 1991, 73). A This is described in Clarke (1979, 373) as a late third recurrent feature of many prone burials is their century issue placed 0.15m from the skull. The site location on the periphery of cemeteries. It may simply records show a coin placed between the upper legs be fortuitous that both Graves 1 and 11 are on the with a sherd of Oxfordshire ware above it. Grave 5 edges of the excavated area, but it may be more produced a small scrap of iron and a piece of fossil significant that Grave 11 is placed on the west side of coral but it is unclear whether these were incidental Gully 1 separating it from the other burials. in the grave fill, or deliberately placed items. Philpott (1991, 74) cites at least 12 other burials in The Syreford Mill cemetery appears to be a Roman Britain which are both decapitated and prone. small dispersed cemetery with an irregular layout. A number of reasons have been suggested ranging Unfortunately the sample is too small to make many from individuals who had been dishonoured or generalisations, although for such a small cemetery it disgraced, were criminals or outcasts, or buried in does appear to have a diversity of traits. For example, this manner as a result of the circumstances of death, there are burials with and without grave-goods, there perhaps a certain type of illness, or even suicide. In are coffined and uncoffined burials and there are at some cases decapitation is thought to be a rite least two graves accorded unusual rites. intended to bring healing and wholeness (Macdonald The cemetery shows a range of ages and contains 1979). burials of both sexes with four adults (three ?male, The fact that the Syreford Mill decapitated burial one female), a child, a baby and two new-born was placed in a wooden coffin suggest that for infants. Such a range might be that expected from a whatever reason it had been buried in this state it had small family plot although it should be emphasised been accorded a respectful and careful interment, and that the full extent of the cemetery is unknown. was not a low-status burial. The rite is, therefore, Earlier work in the area recovered at least one cinerary more likely to be one associated with healing than urn (Bunt 1968). The presence of coffined burials any other in this instance. might suggest some status differentiation. It has been observed that the proximity of prone It has frequently been observed that cemeteries and decapitated burials is a recurrent feature tend to be placed near topographic features, such as suggesting that the two rites are possibly linked and higher ground, near a stream or river, or alongside a that their distribution is predominantly rural. The road, trackway or other significant boundary (Hirst practice is frequently found in small cemeteries 1985, 20). In this context it should be noted that at associated with minor rural settlements, villas or least three grave cuts, possibly four (Graves 10 and 11 small towns (Philpott 1991, 80-1). Further examples and the two empty examples, Grave cuts 12 and 13) of decapitation in the locality have been recorded appear to respect the line of Gully 1, suggesting that at Temple Guiting. Here a small cemetery of 15 this was still a visible feature. Published examples of inhumations and one cremation was found (Royce cemetery boundaries are rare, usually as a result of 1883, 76-7) associated with a small Romano-British the limitations of excavation. settlement, probably of second- to fourth-century Of the five planned skeletons, three are supine, date (RCHME 1976, 117). Two of the bodies had been one is definitely prone and one is decapitated and decapitated. Both prone and decapitated burials have probably prone. Prone burials occur sporadically in been recorded from Cirencester (McWhirr et al 1982, the Roman period becoming more common in the 78; 108) and Gloucester (Atkin 1986). fourth century (Philpott 1991, 71). The Syreford Mill In conclusion, Syreford Mill appears to be a typical example in Grave 1 suggests some possible coercion small rural cemetery dating to the later Roman or subsequent mutilation in that the lower legs are period. The presence of the coin in Grave 11 might forced back and may, therefore, have been bound. The suggest burial had commenced by the later third shallow nature of the grave might also suggest a century although the date of the coin must remain hasty or careless burial. Grave 11, on the other hand, unconfirmed. The bracelets in Grave 10 would appear if also prone shows a more formal layout within a to be typical fourth-century types. Present evidence Excavations by the Late W L Cox at Syreford Mill, 1973-1977 317
suggests the cemetery is sited on the periphery of the identified the bones indicate an adult burial, probably settlement at Wycomb, located on what had presum female, aged 25-35 years. Several animal bones were ably become derelict ground exploited over previous recovered from the grave fill which may have been centuries for its gravel. connected with the burial, or may have simply been redeposited from earlier disturbed contexts. Amongst those identifiable were a horse metacarpal with a ?chop mark, and a bovine pre-molar. DESCRIPTION OF THE PHASE 3 FEATURES
Grave 1 (Box C2-D2) Grave 6 (Box A1-B1) A scoop grave orientated NE-SW and cut through the Scattered human bone and coffin nails were found above brown clay. The cut measures 1.25m long and 0.45m wide. Pit 4 but no grave was located. Bone now missing. Photographs suggest that the body (adult) had been placed in the grave in prone position with the head at the SW end. Grave 7 (Box A1-B1) The skull was slightly up-tilted and faced left. The right arm was bent with the hand to the right shoulder, the left A grave scoop cut into an earlier pit and sealed by the dark arm was parallel to the left side with the hand just below black earth layer found below the topsoil. The grave pit the pelvis. The legs are doubled back at the knee. The body comprised a small pit c 0.25m deep and c 0.35m diameter. It was surrounded with a dark fill. The bones are now contained the remains of a small infant/neo-natal (foetus of missing. 7.5/8 month-9/9.5 months).
Grave 2 (Box C2-D2) Grave 8 (Box A1-B1/X1-A1) Articulated infant remains were found lying on the gravel A scatter of human bones was noted below the surface soil surface c 0.2m below the ground surface. Orientation and above Pit 3. No bones have been identified amongst the unknown. No trace of a grave could be identified. The extant finds. bones are now missing. Grave 9 (Box A1-B1) Grave 3 (Box B4-C4/C4-D4) Scatter of human bone found just below the surface soil. No A sub-rectangular grave orientated NE-SW with the head further information. to the NE end. The plough had apparently removed the head and lower limbs and the remaining parts of the Grave 10 (Box A3-B3) skeleton were in fragmented condition. The surviving burial was 1.5m long although would have originally been Oblong grave orientated NNE-SSW with the head to the at least 2m; 2.1m wide and 0.2m below the topsoil. The SSW. The grave cut measured 1.25m long by O.Sm wide and body was in extended supine position. The left hand was was c 0.3m deep. The surviving bones were very frag resting on the pelvis. The position of the right arm is mentary. The body was placed in extended supine position unclear. No coffin nails were noted in the grave fill. The and was that of a child, sex unknown, aged c 7 years. Iron burial is probably that of a mature adult male. nails were found around the periphery indicating a coffined burial. At the foot of the grave were six copper-alloy and two bone bracelets (now missing). The fill produced two Grave 4 (Box B2-C2) sherds of pottery, one black and one red (missing). A scatter of bones were noted on plan to the S of BC2 Pit 11, Animal bones (cow, horse and sheep) were found in the presumably from a disturbed burial. The bones are missing. same bag as the human bone although it is unclear whether these were associated with the grave. Grave 5 (Box B3-C3) Grave 11 (Box A4-B4) A sub-rectangular grave approximately orientated N-S with the head to the N. The skeleton was found in extended A grave cut parallel to the earlier gully on a NE-SW supine position with the left arm resting on the pelvis and alignment. The sub-rectangular cut measured 2.2m by O.Sm the right arm lying parallel to the right side. The grave cuts and was cut to a depth of 0.35m into the brown clay. The an earlier pit and gully. Nails noted around the periphery of body was lying in ?prone extended position with the upper the cut indicated a coffined burial. Three postholes were body to the NE. It had been decapitated and the head noted to the west of the grave which may or may not be placed between the lower legs. The arms were parallel to connected. The identification of the bones from this burial the sides. have been slightly problematical due to mixing of material Several coffin nails were found around the edge of the subsequent to its removal from the ground. If correctly grave, 16 pointing upwards, seven pointing downwards. A 318 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire coin was found between the upper femurs with a sherd of Miscellaneous Oxfordshire pottery immediately above. Animal bones, Amongst the bone was that of an unknown infant/neo apparently from the grave, include sheep and cattle tooth. natal burial mixed in with material from Graves 3 and 5. It A fragment of ?infant long bone was also present. is unclear whether this belongs with one of the burials already noted above or comes from another unrecorded Grave 12 (Box X2/3-A2/3-B2/3) burial. An oblong grave cut orientated NE-SW lying parallel to the main gully. Measuring 2m by O.Sm and with a semi-circular profile, 0.3m deep, the grave was apparently empty.
Grave 13 (Box X3-A3) Oblong grave cut into the top of an earlier pit orientated approximately N-S. Measuring c 2.1m long by 0.95m wide, the grave was apparently empty. 13. SYREFORD MILL: THE FINDS
EXTANT OBJECTS COPPER ALLOY AND BONE BY LINDA VINER COPPER ALLOY OBJECTS RECORDED (not available for study) 9 Bracelet. Solid penannular loop of D-section, with plain A collection of bracelets, two bone and six copper alloy, undecorated upper surface, expanding from 3mm width at were recovered from the foot of an infant burial (Grave 10). terminal to 6mm at point of fracture. Roman. Unstratified. The following brief assessment is based on a collection of 10 Two-strand cable bracelet. Fractured, surviving length colour slides. The group of bracelets taken as a whole is 40mm, 3mm diameter. Roman. A2X, level1, Gully 1. comparable with bracelets recorded in inhumation graves of third/fourth century date from Lankhills (Clarke 1979) 11 Fig 134.1 Finger ring. Oval (18mm by 16mm), thin and Colchester (Crummy 1983). metal band, expanding to oval bezel decorated with a raised diamond outline embodying diagonal lines of raised dots. Maximum width of band 4mm, narrowing to 1mm. A3, Gully 1, depth 0.7m. COPPER ALLOY 12 Fig 134.2 Toilet spoon, with small round-cupped scoop 1 Penannular, complete. D-shaped cross-section with and suspension loop. Length SOmm, maximum width of outer face decorated with diagonal bands either side of shaft 3mm. Roman. Unstratified. plain rectangular panel. 13 Ten links of fine copper-alloy wire chain. Each link 2 Penannular, complete. Similar to no 1 above, but with formed from thin wire of circular section, of oval outline one terminal at least pierced. (6mm by 3mm, 1mm diameter). AS, depth 0.15m. 3 Expandable wire bracelet, with ends twisted around 14 Fig 134.3 Buckle frame of copper alloy. Rectangular opposite terminal to provide expansion. Circular cross frame, length 54mm, width 32mm, with fractured bar. section, narrowing towards terminals. Moulded and incised decoration on upper surface. A 4 Penannular, complete? Rectangular cross-section with similar buckle from Verulamium was found with late third alternating bands of grooves and plain sections around century coins (Wheeler and Wheeler 1936, fig 47, 70). broad edge. Hook-and-eye style terminals. Unlabelled. 5 Penannular, complete. Indeterminate definition to 15 Tube of sheet metal, formed into open cylinder. Length terminals-possibly snakehead to one? 16mm, diameter 4mm. A2X, level 1, Gully 1. 6 Penannular, complete, with hook-and-eye terminals? 16 Fig 134.4 Bridle bit fragment. Of cast copper alloy, the Circular cross-section with incised lines around circumfer fragment is from a two link bit which when complete ence in imitation of twisted cable design. would have consisted of a pair of centrally interlocked bars, through the ends of which the cheek-rings pass for attachment to the leather harness. Length SOmm. Such bits have been recorded on late Iron Age/ early Roman sites BONE with a strong contextual emphasis in the mid first century 7-8 No illustrations or photographs extant to indicate AD. MacGregor has noted that they are the ancestor to the form or design. normal form of Romano-British bit, usually in iron, with a time span from the mid first to fourth century AD (MacGregor 1976, 30-1). Unlabelled. 320 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire
THE GLASS BY JOHN SHEPHERD 22 Two fragments of blown colourless glass from the bodies of indeterminate forms. Roman. B5, Pit 3; A2, level 1. 17 Small biconical glass bead, in opaque green glass. Width 5mm, 3mm thick. Roman. A1, level1, surface. JET BY LINDA VINER 18 Fragment from the side of a pillar-moulded bowl (!sings 1957, form 3). Cast and sagged; natural greenish 23 Fragment of a piano-convex spacer bead, with two blue glass. Mid to late first century. Unstratified. longitudinal perforations. Length 20mm, surviving width 19 Fragment from the side of a bulbous, or conical-bodied 10mm, 3mm thick. Cf similar example from Colchester jug (!sings 1957, form 52b/55). Blown; blue glass. Body from a grave dated c AD 320-450 at the latest (Crummy decorated with vertical ribs. Late first/ early second century. 1983, fig 36.1447). A1, topsoil, depth 0.3m. Unstratified. 20 Small fragment from the rim of a beaker or bowl of LEAD BY LINDA VINER indeterminate form. Blown; greenish colourless glass. Outsplayed, fire-rounded rim. Roman, probably late third/ 24 Fig 134.5 Flat rectangular plate of lead with raised fourth century. A2, level 1. circular boss on one face. Length 35mm, width 3mm; 3mm 21 Fragment from the side of a square-sectioned prismatic thick, extending to 15mm overall at centre of boss. Plug or bottle (!sings 1957, form 50). Mould-blown; natural greenish repair plate? Unstratified. blue glass. Late first/ second century. B5, level 1.
1 2 ~ 0-~ • • •
f
0 --=====---====--50 mm Fig 134 Recorded finds. Scale 1:1 Syreford Mill: The Finds 321
FIRED CLAY BY LINDA VINER this showing, and adopting the published dating, all date between 1 and 60, and adjusting to a start date of 15 BC, all 25 Perforated disc of fired clay. Probable function: spindle would be earlier than 45. As the type, overall, had ceased to whorl. Diameter 30mm, 14mm thick. A2, level 2, brown be made c 40, late examples had also passed out of soil, 0.65m depth. manufacture, and therefore part of the period of survival in-use should also be included in the adjusted end-date of Phase 4. If so, perhaps only ten more years need be allowed STONE BY LINDA VINER for other examples to reach the end of their useful life. The same almost certainly applies to Brooch no 2: there is 26 Fig 134.6 Fragment of stone, with one complete and a nothing in its general proportions or detailing to suggest further two, possibly three, circular depressions in the that it ought be counted as a late example. upper surface. Two edges fractured, with domed upper surface. Surviving length 60mm. Depression is flat Colchester Derivatives bottomed, of 12mm diameter, with slightly sloping sides. 3 Fig 135 The spring, now missing, was held as that in Possibly part of a stone mould, such as might have been Brooch 5. Each wing has a sunken moulding at the end, and used to cast blanks from which to make coins (Darvill1987, next to that a pair joined by a flute. The bow is plain and 161, pl). Three fragments of coin moulds in baked clay have tapers to a pointed foot. The brooch is very small, being been recorded as field-walking finds from Ditches, North only 22.5mm long. Cerney, with a fourth example excavated within the inner enclosure ditch (Trow 1988, 55, fig 27.6). No provenance. For discussion, see after Kingscote Brooch 6. SF58 bis. 4 Fig 135 The spring was held as that on Brooch 9. Each IRONWORK By Ian Scott wing has a pair of mouldings at its end. The plate behind the bow is run over the head and down the upper half of 27 Large knife with a solid handle of circular cross the bow as a diagonally cross-cut ridge. The sides of the section. The blade has a gently curved back and a triangular upper bow undulate giving the impression of four cross-section. The edge is much eroded. Length 157mm. imprecise projections. The foot has a pair of projecting Unstratified. mouldings divided by a flute. The catch-plate has a pin groove. W L Cox Collection, no 28 Although discussion on the spring-fixing arrangement THE BROOCHES FROM SYREFORD MILL AND will be found after Kingscote Brooch 14, this particular ANDOVERSFORD BYPASS BY DONALD MACKRETH variety is reminiscent of a small group represented at the moment by four examples whose distribution suggests that Colchesters (For the spring system, see above Brooch 1, the Oxon-Glos-Wilts area is its homeland. Only one is really p 114) dated: Nettleton, dated by coins to AD 69-117 (Wedlake 1982, 125, fig 52.43). 1 Fig 135 The hook is long and the wings are plain. The Brooches 5-13 have or had their springs mounted in the bow has an octagonal section. The catch-plate has three Polden Hill manner (see above Kingscote Brooch 8). piercings divided by a fretted bar. Syreford Mill, B4, SF59, surface (present above gravel-scoop). 5 Fig 135 Each wing has a pair of mouldings at its end. There is a beaded skeuomorph of the hook of the 2 Fig 135 The hook is broken and half the spring is Colchester. The bow is narrow and tapers to a pointed foot. missing. The wings bear traces of mouldings. The bow has The catch-plate has two basically triangular piercings a rounded section and the catch-plate has remains of two divided by a dog-leg bar. Andoversford Bypass, Box 4, (2) piercings. W L Cox collection, no 29. (Pit), no 3. The discussion after Kingscote Brooch 4 (see above p 114) 6 Fig 135 Each wing has a pair of mouldings at the end. has dealt with the argument about the ending of manu The junction of the wings with the bow is masked by a facture of the Colchester and, by implication, the earliest curved moulding. There is a skeuomorph of the hook of a date for the introduction of its descendants. Much turns on Colchester on the otherwise plain bow which tapers to a the dating of the phases of the King Harry Lane (KHL) small projection at the foot. The catch-plate has a basically cemetery and the discussion has pointed out that, apart triangular piercing. Andoversford Bypass, no 22, Layer (1), from Kingscote Brooch 1 itself, the other three were late. surface, black soil Tr 3, AN-Y (1). Brooch 1 however, with its curved profile, relatively long For discussion of the general style of these two items, see hook and simply fretted catch-plate, is an example of the after Kingscote Brooch 20. For comment on the use of ordinary British Colchester and therefore it is worth looking mouldings clasping the sides of the head of the bow, see at similar examples from KHL cemetery (Stead and Rigby after Kingscote Brooch 30 etc. 1989) which are equally plain: one came from Phase 1 (G242), 4 from Phase 2 (G13, G58, G143, G339), 6 from Phase 7 Fig 135 As Kingscote Brooch 22, but with three punched 3 (G39, G47, G59, G112, G117, G448), none from Phase 4. On dots at the end of the beading on the bow. For discussion, 322 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire
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see after Kingscote Brooch 29. Andoversford Bypass, no 7, shown, but this is still a possibility. The brooch is probably Pit B. first century, but could have survived in use into the earlier second. No 15, Cheltenham Museum 8 Fig 135 The surviving wing has a beaded moulding at its end. The junction with the bow is masked by a curved 13 The upper part of a brooch exactly like Kingscote moulding. The bow has a sunken bead-row down the Brooch 44. For discussion, see after Kingscote Brooch 46. upper part stopped at the bottom by a pair of lenticular Andoversford Bypass, no 23, AN-U2. bosses lying across the bow. The foot has a two-part foot 14 Fig 136 The pin was hinged. The thin wings are plain. knob. For discussion, see after Kingscote Brooch 40. The bow has an arris down its upper part and tapers to a 1912:126:5, W L Cox Collection, no 26. pointed foot. The catch-plate has a circular hole. 9 Fig 135 The chord passes through a pierced crest which Utterly plain brooches are uncommon, and the only is a skeuomorph of the hook of the Colchester. Each wing feature of interest here, the median arris, is no help in has a pair of mouldings at its end. The upper bow is clasped defining any school or group. Although there are parallels, by an additional moulding which dies away into the main none is dated and there are not enough to provide a body. The foot has two projections divided by a flute. The significant distribution. The plain foot and the pierced catch-plate has two triangular piercings divided by a dog catch-plate would suit a first-century date, the piece leg bar. For discussion, see after Kingscote Brooch 43. possibly surviving into the early second century. Andoversford Bypass, no 17, An-6A. Andoversford Bypass, (Wycomb 69), No 5, Pit AN-F. 10 Fig 136 Each wing has a pair of ridges at the end and a 15 Fig 136 The head is lost. The bow has a beaded ridge flute between them and the bow. This has a wide flute down most of the middle and a step on either side of that. down the middle between pairs of bordering mouldings. The foot is blunt and the catch-plate has a large almost The crest on the head dies away into the flute leaving a triangular hole and a pin-groove. Without the head, little slight arris in the bottom for most of its length. There is a can be said. The pierced catch-plate again suggests a date roughly triangular hole in the catch-plate. range like that of the last. W L Cox Collection, no 32. The bow section is distinctive and is usually combined Late La Tene, British with fairly elaborate wings which recall styles used in Icenian lands and the area to the west of those, although the 16 Fig 136 Iron. Two coils and chord of a four-coil distribution does not favour a close connection with the internal-chord spring system. The bow is a rod hardly east: the brooch group runs mainly from the Midlands wider than the wire of the spring. Andoversford Bypass, no down to Glos and Wilts. Dating is sparse: Tewkesbury, 25,AN-7. 50-140 (Hannan 1993, 64, fig 18.2); Baginton, Warks, c 17 Fig 136 Iron. The spring is complete and the bow has a 64-70/5 (Hobley 1967, 111, fig 19.10); Nettleton, with first more robust, roughly circular, section than that of the last. and second-century pottery (Wedlake 1982, 123, fig 52.35). The catch-plate is small. Wycomb 69, no 4. The item from The Lunt, Baginton, should show that the Both of these may be described as being Drahtfibeln group had come into being well before the end of the first Derivatives: the bows are rod-like, and the catch-plate of century, in which case, it is unlikely to have survived as late Brooch 17 is not framed as it should be in the parent. The as the middle of the second. Andoversford Bypass, no 8. loss of the catch-plate of Brooch 16 leaves that brooch in 11 Fig 136 Brutally conserved, very little of the ornament limbo. In general, there are more iron brooches like these has survived. There seems to have been a moulding at the with four-coil-internal-chord springs than similar iron ones end of one wing and there appears to have been some with rectangular-sectioned bows. Also, in general, iron moulding down the front of the lozenge-sectioned bow. So brooches are more a mark of pre-conquest times than of the badly stripped during conservation that only the most full Roman period. The dating is: Ower, Corfe Castle, two general date-range can be offered: later first century to c examples, before 35/50 (Woodward 1987a, 97, fig 52.217, 150/75, the time when British bow brooches were ceasing 219); Bagendon, 20/5-43/5 (Clifford 1961, 168, fig 29.5); to be made. SF58, surface find. Puckeridge, Herts, two examples, c 25-Claudian? (Mackreth 1979, 35, fig 6.1-2); Bishopstone, before 50 (Bell 1977, 131, 12 Fig 136 The surviving wing has two mouldings at its fig 63.30); Bagendon, 50-60 (Clifford 1961, 167, fig 29.4); end and another next to the bow, there is a series of cross North Cerney, two examples, Claudius-Nero (Trow 1988, cuts between. The top of the bow is damaged by corrosion; 46, fig 22.13-14). Examples later than 100 have been the rest has a step down each side, then a line of cross-cuts omitted. There is a remarkable concentration in the mid on the sides of the swollen middle which has a sunken first century AD and this must mark the time when such ridge down it. brooches were passing out of use. The design of the bow is, again, mainly to be found on brooches made in or near the territory of the Iceni, Late La Tene, Continental especially when married to wings such as these. This does 18 Fig 136 A repeat of Brooch 98 in almost every detail, save not mean, however, that this brooch must have been made for the lines defining a panel on the spring-case and for in the east of England, as comments after Brooch 11 have what seems to be tinning or silvering in the three main 324 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire
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I I 0--==:::::::::.--=====-- 50 mm Fig 137 Brooches. Scale 1:1 326 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire flutes. For discussion, see after Kingscote Brooch 98. See after Kingscote Brooch 112 for discussion of these two Andoversford Bypass, no 9, Pit, Box 7, e. items. W L Cox Collection, no 16, surface find. Trumpets 23 Fig 137 The spring is mounted like that of Kingscote 19 Fig 137 A repeat of Kingscote Brooch 105. For Brooch 117. On the head is a cast-on pedestal, the loop is discussion, see after Brooch 107. Andoversford Bypass, no missing. The trumpet has a groove around its upper edge, 24, ANY(l), in dark earth,level1 above ditch 3 with pot and a strip down the centre and traces of an eye on either side. charcoal. The knop is, in this case, a disc, once with four projections on its diagonal axes, from which rises a platform with 20 Fig 137 The spring is mounted on a pierced lug behind chamfered sides and in whose main face are set two the head of the bow. The trumpet here has been reduced to concentric recessed annuli for enamel, now discoloured. an almost straight-sided feature with a lozenge section The lower bow has broad chamfers down each side, each rising from the centre of a dished head-plate. The bearing the traces of four white metal circles. The foot is chamfered outer border of this is heavily cross-cut. The formed into a pseudo-penannular ring. For discussion, see knop is the same as that on Brooch 101. The lower bow is after Kingscote Brooch 117. No 13, Cheltenham Museum. plain with a circular section. The two-part foot-knob is separated from two cross-mouldings under the catch-plate Unclassified by a flute, and its base is hollowed. The dished head of this brooch from which the trumpet 24 Fig 137 The spring is mounted on a pierced lug behind rises is its chief feature and occurs on one other with a the head-plate which is a simplified form of that on Brooch petalled knop from Alcester (excavations C Mahany). One 121. The upper bow is plain, straight-sided and stopped at other brooch, however, raises the question of what, the bottom by a shield-shaped and cross-cut raised area. precisely, defines a variety of any brooch. In general, The lower bow has a rounded front and ends in a triple makers of brooches had a repertoire of ornamental tricks to moulded foot-knob. For discussion, see after Kingscote draw on and, once these have been recognised, the Brooch 121. No 14, Cheltenham Museum. coherence of a major group suddenly becomes apparent. When, however, only three brooches have been associated Aucissas-Hod Hills because of a particular trick, and one has a major difference Brooches 25-31 have or had the axis bars of their hinged from the other two, it is less easy to be sure that a single pins mounted in the rolled-over head of their bows. All workshop tradition is indicated. The exception item is the normally have foot-knobs with a thin cross-moulding one from Alcester. It has a plain moulded knop, and also above. Only variants will be mentioned. has cells for enamel in the trumpet; these could have been cut and so are arbitrary, but the knop is a decision made 25 Fig 137 The head-plate has two sunken ridges divided before the object is cast. None is dated. The Alcester item by a flute. The upper bow has four thin cross-cut ridges has a decorated catch-plate return and, as has been divided by flutes and is stopped below by a repeat of the mentioned under Kingscote Brooch 110, the date-range is head-plate. The lower bow is narrow, plain and tapers to likely to be later first/ early second century. Andoversford the separately made foot-knob. For discussion, see after Bypass, no 20, AN-U3. Kingscote Brooch 125. Andoversford Bypass, no 19, AN W-2. 21 Fig 137 The spring is mounted between two pierced lugs. On the head is a loop and pedestal which has one 26 Fig 137 The upper bow has a triple cross-moulding groove across it. The trumpet has a flat back, a groove above and below in which the central element is large. round its upper edge, a central arris and a pair of elongated Between these there is a broad beaded ridge separated from lenticular bosses across it half-way down. The knop has a a thin bordering ridge on each side by a flute. The lower flat back but is otherwise the standard petalled design with bow has a central arris and the foot-knob has a wide cross paired mouldings top and bottom. The lower bow has a moulding. Andoversford Bypass, no 18, AN-RN. median arris and a triple moulded foot-knob. Syreford Mill, 27 Fig 137 The upper bow has a triple cross-moulded B2, (1), SF 64, immediately above infill of Gully 3. element above and below. Between, the section has a 22 Fig 137 The spring is mounted as that in Kingscote rounded front with a broad median flute. The lower bow is Brooch 113. There is a cast-on loop on a pedestal. The short and plain. There is an extra moulding above the foot trumpet is attenuated and rises from a head-plate, and its knob. Andoversford Bypass no 10, AN-H, overfill of trench decoration is separated from that by a plain zone with a in yard. cross-arris. Down the middle runs a sunken ridge and half 28 Fig 137 The upper bow has three vertical flutes with way down there is a small elongated boss on each side. The cross-cut ridges between. The lower bow has a cross-flute knop is a plain block with a groove down the middle and and moulding at its top; the foot is lost. W L Cox Collection, another top and bottom separating it from a pair of small no 31. bosses. The lower bow is a repetition of the trumpet, but without the ridge down the middle. The foot-knob is a pair 29 Fig 138 The upper bow has been reduced to a panel of mouldings. with five vertical flutes with cross-cut edges. Above is a