Bourton-on-the-Water 377
Site No: 1018 I Date of Recog: 1914-18 I Site Name: Lower City Mus I Description: RB pottery found under a house Slaughter I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Cheltenham extension at the NW end of the village./ Sources: RCHME Mus G.1921:259 I Description: Male inhumation, with 1976, Wyck Rissington, 135a. hobnailed footwear, Jound in stone coffin, on hill-slope close to Buckle Street. I Sources: Buxton 1921, 340-1; RCHME 1976, Lower Slaughter, 78b; Glos SMR 6859. UNRECORDED STRAY FINDS (SITE TYPE: USF) Site No: 1019 I NGR: SP 163227 A I Site Name: Lower Site No: 1025 I Date of Recog: 1769 I Site Name: Lower Slaughter I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Royce Slaughter I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Gloucester Collection, Bristol City Mus I Description: Pit containing 2 City Mus I Description: Votive relief portraying Minerva iron knives, Roman pottery (C4 rosette-stamped pot) from estate of General Whitmore, almost certainly the uncovered in a gravel pit, N of the R Dikler. Nearby short Chessels. I Sources: Camden's Britannia (ed Cough, 1806), length of wall, possibly contemporary. I Sources: Rhodes II, pl 17, fig 3 op. p 344; O'Neil and Toynbee 1958, 55; 1964, 12, no 2; RCHME 1976, Lower Slaughter, 79b; Glos RCHME 1976, Lower Slaughter (1); Henig 1993, 88, pl24. SMR2627. Site No: 1026 I Date of ).\.ecog: 1895 I Site Name: Lower Site No: 1020 I Date of Recog: 1960-4 I NGR: SP 174194 A Slaughter I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Cheltenham I Periods Rep: RB I Description: Settlement suggested. Mus P 1937.187. I Description: RB lamp found at Lower Observation and limited excavation, sporadic during Slaughter. I Sources: RCHME MS Notes. period of gravel extraction, undertaken by H O'Neil at Tweenbrooks marking the confluence of the rivers Site No: 1027 I NGR: SP 1622 A I Site Name: Lower Windrush and Dikler. Five areas examined with remains of Slaughter village I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: gullies and ditches with scattered stones and finds. Area 1: Royce Collection I Description: Coin of Constantine I, AD stone rubble wall foundations, tile, oyster shells, pot, 335-7. I Sources: Rhodes 1964, 12, no 1. painted plaster, tesserae, stone channel. Area 2: drainage Site No: 1028 I NGR: SP 164235 (?) I Site Name: Upper ditch and associated gullies, with black silt, decayed wood Slaughter I Periods Rep: IA-RB I Finds Location: Royce and pot infill. Area 3: rectangular area defined by shallow Collection I Description: A variety of finds, from Copse trench, with areas of pitched stone footings suggesting Hill: coins of Constantine I and II; stone spindle whorl; Iron building outlines, with associated paved stone channels. Age pottery; bone comb, and bone 'points'. I Sources: Area 4: series of superimposed gullies. Area 5: shallow oval Rhodes 1964, 12, no 3; RCHME 1976, Upper Slaughter, 123a. well, set within a square enclosure, with gullies sloping towards it. Finds included pottery, 2 copper-alloy fish Site No: 1029 I NGR: SP 163227 A I Site Name: Lower hooks and an iron gaff. I Sources: Dunning 1932, 286-93; Slaughter I Periods Rep: RB I Description: Roman pottery O'Neil1961, 29; 1977, 28-30; RCHME 1976, Bourton-on-the was exposed when a trench was cut across the field. I Water (4). Sources: Glos SMR 6671. Site No: 1021 I NGR: SP 163234 I Site Name: Upper Site No: 1030 I NGR: SP 1584 2255 I Site Name: Spring Hill, Slaughter I Description: A contracted burial found in a Lower Slaughter I Periods Rep: RB I Description: Finds circular stone-cut pit SW of Copse Hill. I Sources: Royce recorded comprise C4 pottery and building debris. I 1883, 77-80; RCHME 1976, Upper Slaughter, 123a. Sources: RCHME 1976, Lower Slaughter (3); Glos SMR 2626. Site No: 1022 I Date ofRecog: 1985 I NGR: SP 173232 I Site Name: Lower Slaughter I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Site No: 1031 I Date of Recog: pre-1881 I Site Name: The Location: Corinium Mus 1989/74/1-3 I Description: Finds Chestles, Lower Slaughter I Periods Rep: RB I Description: recorded from Thames Water Pipeline by B and B Rawes Moore records the discovery of 'c 1500 minimi found in the include pottery and a coin of Valens (364-78). I Sources: Chestles at Lower Slaughter, in an earthen pot which Corinium Museum. also contained a silver coin of Valens and a 3rd brass of Decentius'. I Sources: Royce 1882-3, 72; Dr J Moore, Notebook, July 1884, 23-4, GRO; O'Neil 1934, 133-9; Glos SMR346. RECORDED STRAY FINDS (SITE TYPE: RSF) Site No: 1032 I Site Name: Lower Slaughter I Periods Rep: Site No: 1023 I NGR: SP 1710 2215 A I Site Name: Lower RB I Finds Location: Gloucester City Mus I Description: Slaughter I Periods Rep: AS I Description: Silver penny of Roman pottery and ironwork, found by P E Gascoigne I King Egbert (AD 802-39) recovered from Slaughter Brook Sources: Gloucester City Museum Report 1968-70. during bridge work. I Sources: Glos SMR 6672; BGAS Excavation and Building Committee Minute Book, 1947-63, WATCHING BRIEF (SITE TYPE: WB) 149. Site No: 1024 I NGR: SP 1878 2181 I Site Name: Wyck Site No: 1033 I Date of Recog: 1989 I NGR: SP 1555 2327 I Rissington I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Gloucester Site Name: Castle Mound, Upper Slaughter I Periods Rep: 378 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire
RB I Description: Construction work at Home Farm James 1988). The building, originally c 24m by 6.8m revealed the ditch around the W side of the motte. An and divided into six rooms, was apparently unstratified La Tene Ill brooch of Claudio-Neronian date constructed in the first century AD. After various was found. I Sources: Wills 1989, 198. modifications, including the addition of a cellar and two wings, it was demolished and abandoned in the third century (Trow and James 1988, 84). Post conquest occupation is also attested at Bagendon BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER: (Clifford 1961; Trow and James 1988, 85). Occupation GENERAL DISCUSSION immediately outside the Salmonsbury defences also shows both Iron Age and Roman activity (Dunning Location 1976, 113). The presence of Iron Age occupation Bourton-on-the-Water is located on a major Roman immediately beyond the defences is perhaps a little routeway, the Fosse Way linking Cirencester to unusual, and might argue that Salmonsbury did not Leicester, at a point where it meets two other roads, have an important defensive role at this time. Indeed Buckle Street and Ryknild Street and where it crosses the earthworks may have been fulfilling a completely the River Windrush (Fig 141). This places the settle different role. It has been suggested that Salmonsbury ment in an important nodal point in the Roman should be classified as an oppidum (Millett 1990, 25, communications system. Lying approximately mid fig 6). Evidence to date does not place it into the same way between Cirencester and the defended Roman class as the large oppida from south-east England, settlement at Dorn, it has been seen as an ideal nor has it produced evidence of a mint, or pre location for a posting station, and enigmatic remains conquest trade in exotic goods comparable to found near Bourton Bridge have been interpreted as Bagendon. On the other hand there are a small such a building (O'Neil1968). number of post-conquest but pre-Flavian imported Water supply would have been plentiful, for, in finewares, for example, samian, Lyons ware and addition to the adjacent rivers, at least five, possibly Central Gaulish colour-coat. Such wares would six, wells have been encountered within the settle typically be associated with a military presence ment area. Other raw materials such as stone were perhaps not out of place within an Iron Age centre. locally available and gravel could be obtained from Further work will undoubtedly change our under underlying deposits. standing. Whatever its status, it was undoubtedly an important local centre in the Iron Age. Settlement focused around Bourton Bridge could Origins and development be attributable to a number of possible factors: the Present evidence suggests that the Roman settlement presence of an official or higher-status building at this is concentrated in two areas; around Bourton Bridge point, pre-Roman occupation close to the river, or the and the Lansdown district, and at Salmonsbury road junction for routes north and south. Material Camp (Fig 142a, b), although this may in part be a recovered from the earliest features in the adjacent reflection of the archaeological record. Traces of field suggest that settlement was already established further settlement have been identified from the here by the late first/ early second century. There may immediate neighbourhood at Spring Hill and Santhill have been a period of temporary abandonment in (S1003, S1006). Finds of apparent Iron Age date from areas immediately adjacent to the river in the later Copse Hill may suggest another smaller settlement second and third centuries, but the area was certainly on higher ground (S1028). The use of the latter area reoccupied in the fourth century. Odd finds of Saxon for burial in the Iron Age and Roman periods might pottery from Lansdown suggest continued use into indicate Roman occupation is also to be found nearby. the sub-Roman period. Saxon occupation has also The origins of the Roman settlement appear to been attested to the immediate north of Salmonsbury stem from the large bivallate Iron Age fortification at at Slaughter Bridge (Dunning 1932). Salmonsbury, and occupation in the hillfort continues Although two foci have been identified for the through into the first century AD. The Salmonsbury settlement at Bourton, the general impression for the defences do not appear to have been maintained in overall pattern suggests a linear, straggling develop the Roman period, with evidence of slighting of the ment extending from Salmonsbury across to the river ramparts in places. Roman occupation has been crossing, and then beyond up Whiteshoots Hill. At identified both within and immediately outside the least three roadways have been observed branching camp continuing through to the later fourth century. off the Fosse to the south (Fig 145); one recorded by Such apparent civilian continuity of occupation Moore below the railway and heading for Bourton within a defended Iron Age encampment is unusual, Mill, one by Mrs O'Neil to the south of the railway, but not unique. Similar continuity is also attested at and one by Renfrew in River Ground on the other The Ditches, near Bagendon, where a villa was found side of the river. The distance between these overlying Iron Age occupation (Trow 1988; Trow and three roads is approximately 40-50m. The possible Bourton-on-the-Water 379 boundary ditch on the south side of River Ground is are sited alongside the Fosse. The diameters range approximately 75m away from the road on this side from just 5m up to llm. Further possible examples of the river, but is roughly parallel to it. Finds and were noted at Santhill (O'Neil 1977). excavations indicate occupation along and between Two timber round huts dating to the second these roads, either side of the Windrush. Further century were excavated at Brockworth, Glos (Rawes settlement has been shown to extend along the Fosse 1981, fig 3). These had approximate internal as it runs up Whiteshoots Hill to the south-west. diameters of 8m and 10.5m. Roman round structures Recent excavation suggests a limited rectilinear have also been excavated at Marshfield, Avon, where lay-out, south of the Fosse, and immediately south a timber roundhouse was rebuilt using masonry, of the old railway embankment (Catchpole pers and then later replaced in the fourth century by a comm). The distribution of Roman material along the rectangular building (Blockley 1985). Further afield, Lansdown Road into the present village and towards examples have been documented at Gorhambury, Salmonsbury would suggest that at least one road Herts (Neal et al 1990, 67, building 42), with a way connected the Fosse and the Camp with the diameter of approximately 12m, and containing bordering settlement. It has also been suggested that two ovens, and in use in the second century; at Pockhill Lane follows a similar route south of the Godmanchester, Cambs (H M J Green 1975), and River. Surprisingly the area between the Fosse and StanwicK Northants (Neal1989). Stanwick produced the railway embankment beyond the Buckle Street at least 16 ci'icUlar structures, predominantly dating junction, currently open fields, has not produced to the secoficl>
Ditch ',, -~-- 0 -N-t Oven Road
' ' ' ' ' Ditch ' ' ' b A Ditch
''''
a c d
f
...... - -- -. ' j .... ~ D. oo,.. rwa~Y /· .• .. .. Doorway -v
0 10m e 9
Fig 146 Plans of building structures at Bourton-on-the-Water Bourton-on-the-Water 381
The so called Bourton Bridge villa, depicted probably had thatched or turfed roofs. There was also diagrammatically by Witts (1883) as three sides of a no evidence that the these buildings had wall-plaster building facing south-east, was interpreted as a (Catchpole pers comm). The remains found at possible posting house by Mrs O'Neil. The building, Leadenwell'villa' indicate a small enclosed yard with occupying an area of at least 1.6 ha, is bordered to the a welt presumably set at the rear of a property facing south-west by the River Windrush and on the south north. The well found in Renfrew's excavations may east by the Fosse. A length of wall found in road similarly have been set within a private yard. Such an widening (O'Neil 1968, site 12) (S157) may define its arrangement reflects evidence found elsewhere, south-eastern edge, thus defining an area approxi where simple rectangular domestic dwellings have mately 73m by 42m. Finds from the locality suggest yard areas with wells and ovens. Such building types occupation from the first to fourth centuries. Archi form the bulk of domestic and workshop accom tectural debris included the base of a column 0.23m modation in Roman small towns (Burnham 1988, 40). across, and much roofing tile, indicating a building Part of a very substantial wall was identified of some merit. In comparison with other known during road widening (O'Neil1968, Site 8) (S173), on mansiones, the projected area enclosed at Bourton is the south side of the Fosse and set obliquely to it. A smaller than, for example: Godmanchester (H M J column base was found nearby, perhaps suggesting a Green 1975, fig 11) which, including the bath-block, slightly grander building in this area. The remains of covers at least 95m by 50m; the projected mansio a hypocaust system were noted by Moore below enclosure at Neatham, Hants (Millett and Graham Lansdown Inn (S55), indicating the existence of 1986, fig 101); the buildings at Wall, Staffs (Webster additional sophisticated buildings, perhaps signifi 1985) and Chelmsford, Essex (Drury 1975, fig 8). Few cantly further away from the river. Another hypo comparative data are available for the mutationes caust or drain is recorded from below the church which are generally acknowledged to be smaller (S48) (Donovan 1935, 242). establishments. At a lower scale are the praetoria and tabernae whose functions are less certain and which Specialist functions have yet to be identified archaeologically. These may have provided resthouses or inns, perhaps to provide Other than the putative posting station, there have accommodation, or light refreshment for officials been no buildings or finds to date from Bourton to (Smith 1987). The sketch plan provided by Witts suggest a specialist role in terms of a religious or (1883) only shows one long wall with two perpen industrial centre. As a roadside settlement it might be dicular short walls, one at either end, interpreted as reasonable to assume that there were various services wings by O'Neil (1968, 30). They could equally be available to travellers, but the buildings identified by part of a walled enclosure or compound, or the gable Mrs O'Neil as a bakehouse and 'transport cafe' do not end walls of a rectangular building. Since the identifi distinguish themselves in any particular way for such cation of the building is so tenuous it was excluded roles, and may equally be domestic. by Smith (1987) as a possible mansio in his review of The round ·or horseshoe-shaped building inter roadside settlements. The large quantity of coins from preted as a shrine is equally enigmatic. Wait (1985) the area may indicate a building used in an official also cites it as shrine although the reference confuses capacity, perhaps a tax collecting point for the district. the O'Neil structure with the round structures found Excavations north of the conjectured limits of the by Renfrew south of the river. There is no real posting station in 1966 revealed part of a later third evidence to support this interpretation and the century rectangular stone building (Fig 146f), inter discovery of subsequent circular structures reduces preted as a smithy, or stable, fronting onto the Fosse further the likelihood that this was a wayside shrine, (O'Neil 1968). Tile suggests a building with a stone although undoubtedly such structures existed. root and stacks of tiles were found on the stable yard In the last century it was a local belief that Bourton floor. Similar stacks were noted in the same general church was erected on ground where a heathen area during the building of the railway in the temple once stood (Anon 1893). Certainly during nineteenth century. restoration and excavation Roman remains were Other evidence of buildings is limited, with found~ confirming that the church was over a Roman no complete plans being recovered. Rectangular building of some nature (S48). The hypocaust argues structures have been found in River Ground (Fig against a temple but it is not unknown for later 146e), possibly at Leadenwell (Fig 146aL between churches to have been built over Roman foundations. Lansdown and the railway, and by the Fosse opposite It has been observed that several small towns boast a the Buckle Street junction (Fig 146g). In all cases the detached bath-house (Burnham 1989, 49). Alterna buildings appear to be fairly functional establish tively the Bourton remains may be part of a private ments with few architectural embellishments. No house. mosaic or tessellated flooring has been found and The only objects of religious significance recorded the recently excavated structures from Lansdown to date are a carved stone relief and two lead tanks 382 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire
from Leadenwell. A carved figure from the recent several Iron Age examples at Salmonsbury to indicate excavations (Catchpole 1993b), is crudely executed in some flour production but probably on a domestic local stone and may be a single representation of a dea scale. Small querns were probably part of the equip mater, a fairly well-known Celtic figure in the ment of every household. Cultivation is indicated by Cotswolds, often found in tripicate (M Green 1976,14) the recovery of at least two spade irons, socketed (see also Lower Slaughter below). blades and a socketed scythe. The settlement at Santhills could possibly be seen The cheek piece of a horse bridle was recovered in a religious context, particularly the well arrange from the possible smithy (O'Neil 1972, fig 11.7). This ment and its close proximity to the river in an area along with other finds of cart lynch pins, iron harness clearly prone to flooding. There is strong evidence for fittings, an iron stirrup (River Ground) and horse some form of cult connected with water from Lower shoes (posting house, River Ground), indicate the Slaughter and this may be a further example of similar presence of horses for transport. practices although no votive objects were found. Over the years Bourton has produced considerable Minor industrial activity is present at Bourton but quantities of coins, suggestive of commercial activity. there has been no evidence to date to suggest any Located at an important nodal point in the communi thing other than the small-scale smithing, smelting cations network, it is more than likely that Bourton and forging to be expected at most Roman settle was the local market for the surrounding district. Dr ments. The 'stables' excavated by O'Neil (1968; 1972) Moore alone records 674 coins, although it is unclear produced a forge, or smith's hearth, and an oven. from how wide an area these were recovered (St J Analysis of slag from the hearth indicated that it was O'Neil 1935, 247). The Moore coin sequence begins not smelting slag but from smithing. Various iron with ten republican issues and five of Tiberius which nails and other objects such as hooks and hinges may come from Salmonsbury. The group then support the theory that the building was used as a shows a few late first-century examples, an increased possible smithy. Deposits of molten lead were also number in the Antonine period and a particular recovered from the stable floor (O'Neil1972, 104). abundance of third- and fourth-century issues (St J Iron slag was present below an ash layer, on a floor O'Neil1935, 249). Several iron and, to a lesser extent, surface at the 'transport cafe' (O'Neil 1968, 41), and copper-alloy styli from River Ground indicate some further pieces were recovered from River Ground. level of literacy. Analysis of the latter has shown it to be mainly fuel The Iron Age pottery from Salmonsbury Camp ash slag and iron-working slag. The former is the includes a range of highly decorated pieces which result of a high-temperature process, the precise seem to represent a fusion of traditions from the nature of which could not be determined (Mortimer Thames Valley and regions to the south. The presence 1994b). Further evidence of small-scale iron-working of a few pre-Flavian imported finewares may be the has also been identified during recent work at result of trade or may have arrived through some Lansdown (Catchpole pers comm). other mechanism (Dunning 1976, fig 20). The second Miscellaneous tools from the town include an iron century assemblages recovered variously by O'Neil mason's trowel and iron sheathing for a spade from (1972, 97) and Renfrew (1976, 16ff) show a high Leadenwell, and knives and cleavers from River percentage of local decorated wares in orange, grey Ground. Fish hooks from the river and lead weights and white fabrics with white, grey or red barbotine suggest some subsidiary fishing activity. Cloth painted designs. Some of the forms imitate samian manufacture is evidenced from the presence of shears types and a few carry illiterate potter's stamps. The for cutting wool, a loom weight, spindle whorls and origin of these wares is unknown, but comparable needles from River Ground. types were produced by the early Oxfordshire indus Most of the excavations at Bourton have reported tries (Young 1977). The vessels occur widely in the the presence of animal bone but unfortunately none north Glos, north Wilts and south Oxon regions, was identified to species. Renfrew reports finding indicating a source relatively nearby. Savernake jars 102lbs of bone between 1971 and 1974, most of which and Wilts greywares are also well represented at this was subsequently disposed of. A small extant group time, indicating strong links to the south. when analysed showed sheep I goat to be dominant Imported wares reaching Bourton include Dressel (50%), accompanied by cattle, pig and horse (Maltby 20 olive oil amphorae, North Gaulish mortaria and p 421 below). Finds indicative of animal husbandry samian tableware. Particularly large amounts of include three ox goads from River Ground and chains samian came from the 'posting house' site, Dr Moore ?for tethering. Items possibly connected with the alone having collected sherds from some fifty vessels processing of animal products include butchery (O'Neil 1972, 94). Regional imports include flagons knives, cleavers, flesh hooks and whetstones for from Verulamium (Brockley Hill). The later pottery sharpening tools. includes several local types, for example greywares A small number of quernstones have been found, and Severn Valley ware, as well as the more ubiquit two from Leadenwell, one from the stables and ous regional imports of Oxfordshire colour-coated Bourton-on-the-Water 383
wares and mortaria, Nene Valley colour-coated ware, part to link Cirencester with Leicester, has all the Dorset black-burnished ware and late fourth century hallmarks of a classic roadside settlement in terms of shell-tempered ware. Imported wares include North its position and morphology. Whether the presence of and East Gaulish colour-coated wares. Other an Iron Age settlement at this point influenced the evidence of traded goods is restricted to oyster shell positioning of the Fosse or whether it was simply found in quantities in the excavations by Renfrew at coincidental is unknown, but it presumably provided River Ground. an important impetus for the perpetuation of the settlement into the Roman period. The Roman settle ment was not defended, nor do any buildings identi Later history fied suggest public use. The settlement appears to There is abundant evidence for post-Roman have developed organically with two foci, one at occupation in the Bourton area, in terms of at least Bourton Bridge, the other at Salmonsbury, and the one building at Slaughter Bridge (51001), numerous various traces of occupation between the two are burials (553, 554, 51013) and scattered finds of suggestive of a pre-Roman route linking the areas. pottery. Grass-tempered pottery has been found from The later appearance of the Fosse may have encour River Ground, from the Lansdown area (5174) and aged some infilling between the two routes, which from the grubenhaus excavated by Dunning (1932) may explain the lack of settlement north-west of the (51001). An unusual sub-Roman stamp-decorated Fosse beyond the Buckle Street junction. Although vessel, possibly an Oxfordshire colour-coat, was details are sparse a variety of building types have found at the Leadenwell site (Donovan 1934, fig 6). been hinted at, ranging from native roundhouses, There is insufficient evidence available at present to simple functional rectangular (?strip) buildings and, determine whether there was direct continuity of slightly more elusively, houses of more Romanised occupation, or reoccupation at a later date; the former character, perhaps private dwellings, some of which seems most likely. Most Roman wares current in the may have been set within walled compounds. The late fourth century undoubtedly lasted well into the finds from the settlement are not unusual, most pieces fifth century. In the West Country grass- or organic fitting well into a domestic context with a range of tempered pottery is more likely to date to the sixth/ personal and household items such as a shale platter, seventh centuries. Dunning (1932) also suggested that whetstones, spoons, knives and an iron tripod his sunken structure dated to cAD 700. A small candlestick (Renfrew 1978b, 28). Leisure activities are cemetery of eight burials cut into the Fosse Way suggested by various pottery and glass gaming thought to date to the fifth/ sixth centuries is of counters. particular interest since it implies the road had fallen There is little evidence at present to substantiate out of use at this time. the theory of a posting station at the bridging point, The manor of Bourton was among those which and if the distances between other posting stations Evesham Abbey claimed to have been granted in the are considered, it would seem more likely that such early eighth century. However, as the estate was th~ facilities existed at Dorn and Cirencester (seep 428 for subject of royal grants to laymen it may not have been further discussion). On current evidence, therefore, acquired by the Abbey until the eleventh century Bourton fits into the model of a native town (Millett (Elrington and O'Neil1965, 39). A document dated AD 1976), developing out of a pre-Roman nucleus, rather 779 records a gift by King Offa of land in Bourton to than a planned Roman small town. There is no thane Duddon giving the boundaries of the parish evidence to date of any major industry at the site, which are identical to the present ones (Clifford 1916; although those documented in the medieval period, 32). The Domesday survey assessed Bourton as ten such as weaving and leather-working, would leave hides. It was recorded as having sixteen villagers, little trace. The continuance of settlement throughout eight small holders and two freemen with seven the Roman period may havebeen greatly influenced ploughs (Morris 1982). In the medieval period by the Fosse, and Bourton would have been well Bourton is documented as supporting a wide variety placed as a local market for the surrounding area. of trades and minor industries including weavers, a Bourton is also one of the few known Cotswold cobbler and a smithy. Roman settlements to show later Saxon occupation. Perhaps unusually, the Saxon evidence indicates continuity within the already defined settlement Conclusions areas. The Iron Age, Roman, Saxon sequence sets Bourton-on-the-Water located on a major Roman Bourton apart from many other Roman small towns. cross-country routeway, the Fosse Way, serving in 18. LOWER SLAUGHTER
badly disturbed by ridge and furrow cultivation, THE SITE earlier robbing and mechanical stripping (S1005, S1015) (Fig 147). Location Aerial photographs reveal an extensive area of Lower Slaughter is a small rural parish located settlement, defined on the north-east by a continuous immediately north of Bourton-on-the-Water (Fig 141). ditch, and on the south-east by a broad-way defined The Slaughter, or Ey, brook runs through the middle by two ditches 30m apart. Other cropmarks show of the parish, and between it and the River Dikler to further enclosures beyond the broadway (RCHME the north-east, the land is comparatively flat. The 1976, 79, pl53) (Fig 147). soils are alluvial with beds of limestone gravel in the In 1769 a votive relief portraying Minerva probably centre of the parish. On the higher ground are succes came from the Chessels (S1025), (Camden 1789, 279). sive layers of Lower, Middle and Upper Lias clays. Carved from oolitic limestone, Minerva stands under The Roman settlement located approximately 2km a shell canopy within an aedicula (Henig 1993b, from Bourton is situated on a gravel spread north 29-30, CSIR 88). Or Moore records the discovery of a west of the Fosse Way. The area is known as the hoard of c 1500 minimi in a pottery vessel in the Chessels, and appears to be completely divorced Chessels, Heath Hill, in the nineteenth century (S1031) from the settlement at Bourton. At least three roads (Royce 1883). Also present was a silver coin of Valens passed through the parish in the Roman period; the (AD 364-83) and a bronze of Decentius. The coins are Fosse Way, Buckle Street and Ryknild Street (also interpreted by St J O'Neil (1934) as likely to be largely referred to as Condicote Lane). Ryknild Street joins Theodosian issues commonly found in hoard contexts. the Fosse Way at Slaughter Bridge. It extends to the Other stray finds from the locality include a lamp north across Bourton Downs into Snowshill and on to (S1026), a coin of Constantine I (AD 335-7) from Worcester, where it forms part of the county boun Lower Slaughter village (S1027), Roman pottery dary. On the ground faint traces of the road are visible (S1029, S1022), a coin of Valens (AD 364-78) (S1022), for most of its length as a low agger, with possible and a silver penny of King Egbert (AD 802-39) from suggestions of former side ditches in places. In the the bed of Slaughter Brook found during bridge work north Cotswolds the route seems to have been aban (S1023). doned at an early post-Roman date. On the south side of the Fosse, Roman coins were found in the garden of Heath Hill Farm (S1017). In addition several small tumps were noted, possibly tumuli, in the adjacent field (Royce 1883). Archaeological background On the Farnworth gravel spread, finds date back to The settlement at Chessels, occasionally referred to the Bronze Age, with the discovery of a large ring as the Farnworth settlement (O'Neil 1961), covers at ditch and cinerary urns. Early Iron Age pottery has least 10ha on the north-west side of the Fosse Way. also been found. In 1938, a burial in a stone cist was Extensive observations and excavations were carried discovered at the George Young gravel pit placed c out by Mrs O'Neil over a period of some thirty years, 120m north-west of the Fosse. The burial, an extended as the area was progressively quarried out for gravel. adult female, 40-50 years old, was orientated east The quarrying extended over three fields: Great west. The cist was built from stone slabs, three on Chessels (Field 1) (Farnworth gravel pit), Little each side with one at each end, and capped by four Chessels (Field 2) (Farnworth gravel pit), and Field 3, overlapping slabs. Pottery from the backfill within the George Young gravel pit. The archaeology was the cist was mainly of fourth-century date. Also Lower Slaughter 385 present was a small decorated bronze tab and a coin showing the earthworks and the locations of some of Magnentius, AD 350-3 (Donovan 1939). features (O'Neil 1961; RCHME 1976, op 79), many of The Roman settlement (Fig 147) comprises recti the features listed in notes prepared by Mrs O'Neil linear ditched enclosures, with various pits, wells and (unpub notes; 1961) are not planned. Within Fields structures. Although plans have been published 1 and 2 (Great and Little Chessels), at least two
:::: ....
W5 .~~~ •••'''
'--I walls earthworks ... corndrier 0 oven • well pit lliJ* coin hoard .... ;~: 0 -N-+ 83 burial ....0 pottery W2~ I •0 coin ~ votive tablet 0 other finds altar -• paved area 0C===----====---- lOOm· • statuette
Fig 147 Detail of known archaeology at Lower Slaughter. Based on plan by RCHME (1976) with additions. 386 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire
rectangular buildings, round houses, a corn drier, minimissimi. Pottery from Site 83 suggests later eleven wells, paved areas and three burials, two of fourth-century occupation, with examples of conical infants, were recorded. The finds recovered during Banged BB1 bowls, Midlands grog-tempered ware, the observations have not been published. SVW, OXCC and a marked quantity of Midlands One of the circular paved areas, with a diameter of shell-tempered ware including bowls, flanged dishes just 3.7m, lay under the south end of a rectangular and jars. A large quantity of ironwork appears to be structure (Fig 142, Site 47). The rectangular building, associated with Site 83, or from nearby pits. Recog with dressed and coursed stone footings and internal nisable tools include a sickle blade, several knives, dimensions of 13m by 7m, was thought to have been chisels, iron rings, an item described as an amplex divided into six rooms. The internal floors were and numerous nails along with many other items. paved with stone and there was a central fireplace. Another pitched stone floor (Site 31) (not identified Three other hearths were noted in the north, south on plan) sealed two hearths with associated large and east corners. A doorway opened out onto the lumps of iron slag, bolts, nails and an iron 'sootrake'. west side. A pitched stone courtyard extended out In a nearby pit were two large flat iron bars, approxi from the north and east sides. A small annexe mately 0.4m long, 35-40mm wide. Another pit, also adjoined the house on the south side. Local stone possibly associated with this site, produced an iron slates, nails, fragments of columns and traces of razor. It was interpreted as a forge (O'Neil unpub painted wall-plaster indicate a building of some notes, Site 31). Another possible forge (O'Neil, Site 73) architectural merit constructed in the mid-fourth (not planned) was suggested from a second burnt century (O'Neil1961, 30ff, fig 2.2). Finds from Site 47 area with associated finds of iron, including an iron include part of a stone lamp and pottery, including pig weighing 17.4kg (24 lb). Large paving slabs, one Oxfordshire (OXCC) and Nene Valley (NVCC) with small holes, may have been the foundation for colour-coated wares and mortaria, grog-tempered an anvil. A hearth or oven and a pit containing burnt Midlands storage jar, and late Roman shell-tempered material were also located nearby. ware suggesting occupation in the last quarter of the fourth century. The building also produced a frag ment of a votive tablet, and nine late fourth-century WELLS glass vessels. Just west of Site 47 was a horse-shoe Of particular note are the eleven wells from the site shaped structure (Site 53) opening to the south-east although unfortunately not all are individually and built into a natural brickearth deposit. The area, numbered on the plan. Most, if not all, of the wells subsequently used as a rubbish dump, is thought to were stone-lined, built with thin slabs of stone. The be a latrine. The pottery from the structure ranged in majority had circular heads, diameter 0.5-0.7m across, date from the third to later fourth century with an with tapering shafts, to a depth of around 6m. Well 4 example of a Rhenish motto beaker, samian, Severn is described as lozenge-shaped (O'Neil1961, 34). Valley ware (SVW) and Dorset black-burnished ware (BB1), alongside material comparable to that from Well I Building 47. Approximately 80m north-west of Building 47 By process of elimination, this well is likely to be that were the remains of another building, (O'Neil site 67), located approximately llOm north of Building 47. The fill fronted by a courtyard of pitched stones and with produced a dog skeleton and many bones of young cattle, stone paved floors. A line of postholes along the along with much broken stone debris. The joining sherds of south-east frontage suggested a verandah. Below the a colour-coated flagon were found at depths of 3.3m and flagstones at the west end an infant burial was found. 4.5m, suggesting deliberate backfilling. The house had been built over two very large rubbish We112 pits. A disturbed hoard of 134 coins, dating from AD 260-75, came from a bronze-studded chest with iron Located to the south of the area, with a diameter of corner brackets, buried in a rectangular pit below the 0.6-0.68m and intact from a depth of 0.9m below ground courtyard paving. The small quantity of pottery level. Many small Roman pottery sherds came from the retained from Site 67 is probably of second- to filling above the well. A coin of Constantine (AD 330-7) was perhaps early third-century date. recovered from a depth of 2.8m. Other pottery from the well Other structures are inferred from paved areas, included OXCC, a SVW colander, BBI and greywares of some within enclosures. The absence of walling fourth-century currency. A wedge-shaped jet bead was suggests timber construction, for example Site 83. found 0.4m below the top of the well. The bead, with a This comprised a roughly paved stone floor with a decorated outer face and two perforations, is likely to date central hearth. Quern fragments were recovered to the late third/fourth century (Crummy 1983, 35). Two from the floor. Immediately to the west a deep joining coping stones from the well-head were also ditch produced a disturbed hoard, comprising some recovered, along with part of one from a second well, one 1170 mid/late fourth-century coins, including 482 stone came from the bottom, the other mid-way up. Lower Slaughter 387
Well3 reel, a type common in the fourth century (C~mmy 1983, type 5). Situated within a ditched enclosure, possibly that 40m south-east of Building 47. Some large paving stones were Well6 connected with the top of the well which had a diameter of O.Sm. The fill comprised earth, rubble stone and many Located just 20m away from Well 9, Well 6 had a diameter animal bones, including two dogs. A coin of Constantine of 0.67m, and was constructed with large blocks of (AD 330-7) was recovered from a depth of 2m. Other finds masonry, The fill consisted of dirty gravel contaip.ing some included a small quantity of slag, a fragment of ceramic tile, pottery and animal bones. Pottery included fourth-century an iron joiner's dog, iron hobnails, and pottery, OXCC, waref?. NVCC, and Midlands shelly ware, indicating that it was backfilled during, or after the fourth century. Well7 Found within an enclosure and with a diameter bf O.Sm, but Well4 not described further. Location uncertain. Well 4, with a diameter of 0.7m, was associated with two enclosures, probably those to the south-west of Building 47. WellS This is thought to be one of the earliest wells, having a Located within a rectangular enclosure to the north of the cruder construction. The fill consisted of a dark compact area, but not described further. homogenous silt. Finds include eight coins of AD 260-70 (Gallienus (2), Tetricll.S (2), Claudius II (2), Quintillus and a Well9 Barbarous Radiate), one from beneath the neck bones of a dog skeleton. A samian vessel stamped IVLIANVS.F, of late Associated with a complicated set of enclosures in the Antonine date, came from the upper fill. Several greyware north-east of the area, the well was filled with dusty gravel sherds from an everte9.-rim large jar were also present. which yielded 473 small, abraded pottery sherds. Other pottery supports a late second- to third-century date, for example SVW, BB1 and samian, including forms Well10 Dragendodf 31, 38 and Curie 11. The surface soil over the Located in the north-east corner of the investigated area, top of the well produced two coins, Constantine and adjacent to a large ditch, possibly a boundary ditch, with a Crispus. series of pits and postholes to the north. The small quantity of pottery recovered, including samian, oxidized ware and WellS BB1, would suggest that the abandonment of this well may date to the later third/ early fourth century. Of particular Located approximately 30m north-west of Building 47. The note are some fragments of antler from the well. top had a diameter of O.Sm, and the shaft was filled in at the top with dark earth below which was broken stone. Two Wellll large flat stones were placed at the top, sealing the well. Hobnails from a shoe were found in the packing behind the Not described or shown on plan. shaft. Below the top layer of broken stone was a void between 2.7m and 4m caused by the stone wedging against Other structures of note encountered by Mrs O'Neil the shaft. A sculpture was recovered from around 4m lying include a stone-built T-shaped corn drier facing east, in stone debris, with a broken fragment from the same piece located in the south-west corner. It contained copious recovered from further down. Six further sculptures were amounts of soot and ash and the stonework was found at 5.5-S.Sm, and finally a large altar lying in water at highly calcined from use. A coin of Constantius the bottom (cf Henig 1993b, CSIR, nos 76, 86-8, 95, 98, 131): (AD 337-61) came from the nearby ground surface. Other finds included pottery, animal bone and oyster shell. Apart from a single posthole there was no surviving Sherds of fourth-century pottery were recovered from the evidence to indicate whe_ther a structure once existed upper filling behind the wall of the well, and a sherd of here. calcite gritted ware, presumably late Roman shell-tempered Of the numerous rubbish pits, of particular ware, came from the bottom, suggesting the backfilling significance is pit (20), 45m south of well3, which was occurred at the end of the fourth century, or later. The filled with masonry, including the base of a broken votive objects, all damaged and well weathered, comprise column, and a fragment of a votive tablet. The base of two small uninscribed portable altars, a similar altar with the pit was filled with burnt earth and ash. Numerous very crude sculpture, three votive plaques of Mars and of pottery sherds, bones, an iron chisel, a handle and a genii cucullati, and two small statuettes of seated headless coin were also found. Another pit, described as being figures. The heads had been decapitated, either deliberately, lined with large flat stones· set on edge at the base, or accidentally during demolition works, and were not contained many pottery sherds, bones, including a present in the well fill. Other finds from the well include a bird, a Kimmeridge shale bracelet and a coin, ·in broken bone pin with a slightly conical head above a single amongst grey ash. 388 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire
A second infant burial in a stone-lined grave was remaining. These are noted as being both circular and found, cut into the fill of one of the ditches associated rectangular. The circular forms are not unexpected in with the double-ditched enclosure (Site 38). To the the light of the round buildings already witnessed at east side of the same complex was an inhumation Bourton-on-the-Water, and indicate the survival of burial. Site 38 also yielded a number of finds, Iron Age vernacular building traditions. Unfortun including half a pair of iron shears, an iron handle, a ately little further detail of the plans survived. The bucket handle with an iron collar (?grip), a lead 'bun' stone structure, Building 47, comprising six rooms, approximately llOmm diameter, an iron lock, keys, appears to date to the fourth century. Part of a stone nails, iron stylus, shale bracelet, an iron brooch and column from nearby, if from this building, indicates a pottery. The latter included the base of a Gauloise structure with some Roman architectural influence. amphora (Peacock and Williams 1986, class 27), SVW, BB1, OXCC and Midlands shelly ware. An iron finger Specialist functions ring with an intaglio showing a female bust facing to the left was also found. The votive items from Lower Slaughter have been Three large rubbish pits (Site 84), immediately regarded as indicative of the existence of a nearby south of the enclosure and structure 83, produced a rural shrine or small temple. Although the group good collection of later second- to fourth-century from Well 5 appears to have been buried in the late pottery amongst which was a stamped Mancetter fourth or early fifth century, the suggested chrono Hartshill mortarium, SVW, including a tankard with logy of the sculptures is between the early second and a lead rivet repair and a colander, several samian mid-third century (O'Neil and Toynbee 1958, 51). The vessels, OXCC and Midlands shelly ware. A large fact that they were found in weathered condition may iron ?meathook with a scoop at one end came from suggest that they were not protected, at least in their the same area. later history. At least two portrayals of Minerva, the Previously the pottery from the site has been dated patroness of arts and crafts and all forms of wisdom, first to fourth century (RCHME 1976, 79). A recent are associated with the site. She was invoked by all brief assessment of material currently in Gloucester those who wished to do well in teaching, painting, Museum, suggests a second- to fourth-century potting, spinning, weaving and similar, and guided currency, with particular emphasis on the second half men wisely in the strategy of war. Her association of the fourth century. One exception was a small with springs and healing is also well attested, the group of unfeatured handmade sherds from Site 35 baths at Bath being dedicated to Sulis as Minerva in (location uncertain), which are likely to be of middle her therapeutic aspect (Ross 1974, 228). Mars and Iron Age date. Of the 117 coins recorded by 1961, 93 Mercury were similarly worshipped in rural areas not were fourth century, the latest being Theodosian as deities of war but as givers of victory over death (RCHME 1976, 19). Other finds recorded include a and evil. Mercury is often connected with genii miniature bronze bird, probably from a pin (RCHME cucullati and in Caul is frequently found associated 1976, 79), a bronze spoon, a bronze brooch, a rectan with Mars. gular fine-grained whetstone, and fragments of The importance of shafts and wells as contexts for bronze and shale bracelets. ritual deposits has been discussed by Ross (1974) and Wait (1985). A statistical analysis by Wait (1985) to look for recurring traits that might distinguish ritual contexts from more mundane use showed that in LOWER SLAUGHTER: GENERAL DISCUSSION southern Britain, during the Iron Age, the fills of such contexts tend to contain deliberate layers, cattle, Origins and development human, dog and bird bones, pottery vessels and ash. The settlement at Lower Slaughter, sited on relatively Such deposits reflected the Celtic ritual emphasis on well-drained land, has a long history of use dating fertility and the natural world. In the Roman period, back to prehistoric times. It is located alongside an deliberate deposition in shafts and wells became important Roman road, the Fosse Way, with access to more widespread with an increase in the variety the north via the Ryknild Way. Finds indicate a of items, and a decrease in human bone and ash Roman presence from at least the second century AD (Woodward 1992, 53). The altars recovered from the and abandonment during or shortly after the later Farnworth well are noted as having native signifi fourth century. cance (Ross 1974, 56). The portrayal of Minerva is In plan the settlement comprises a haphazard particularly Celtic in style, a comparable example arrangement of ditched enclosures, several overlap coming from Bisley, Glos (M J Green 1976, 22). It ping. Some contain houses, others are presumably might be suggested, therefore, that at Lower Slaughter stock enclosures or cultivation plots. With the excep there was a rural shrine in which a perpetuation of tion of one stone building, the buildings appear to be Celtic practices and beliefs existed alongside the later of timber construction with only the paved floors Roman deities of Minerva and Mars. It has been Lower Slaughter 389 noted that the Celtic and Roman aquatic cults had Conclusions much in common, and that in this sphere the two Present evidence points to a small agricultural settle traditions could easily be united (Ross 1974, 57).1t has ment at Lower Slaughter, established in the second been suggested that the whole collec~ion was buried century. There are, however, a number of c~rious in a well by Christians anxious to dispose of pagan elements. First, there is an apparent concentration of objects. To this end the heads of the.two seat~d f~gures iron-working activity in a relatively small area. may have been deliberately decapitated (0 Netl and Second, there are the wells, many of which appear Toynbee 1958, 51). . to have been deliberately backfilled in a manner In addition to the wells numerous ptts were noted that could be construed as ritual. The votive objects scattered around the settlement, some of which may recovered are indicative of a rural shrine or temple also have been connected with ritual rather than nearby. The two elements could be related. In t~e domestic practices. Other examples of apparent fourth century there appears to be a resurgence ~n concealment of pagan items have been no~ed else south-central England of a practice first observed m where in Gloucestershire, Roman altars havmg been the late Iron Age and early Roman period of a c~lt found hidden in barrows at Bisley and Tidenham of making votive deposits of worked metals,. m (Clifford 1938). Examples of possible ritual use of particular ironwork, either in pits or water (Mannmg wells or pits have been highlighted at Asthall, Oxon, 1972a). one of which included five complete dog skeletons A quick appraisal of the pottery from the site (Cook 1955). Votive objects have also been recovered shows a relatively rich assemblage, perhaps .not from wells elsewhere, for example Dunstable and typical of an average modest agricultural establish Biddenham, Beds and Coventina, Carrawbrough, ment. For example,. there are not many large storag~ Northumbs (Ross 1974, 45ff). jars, but there appears to be qui~e a hig? proportion of The Cotswold region is well known for its drinking and serving vessels, m particular ,tankards sculptures of genii cucullati ~nd d~ae. matr~s, th~ only and jugs. Mortaria and cola_nders ~~e fatrly we~l other such concentration m Bntam bemg m the represented. Samian is also qmte pr~hftc (~!though tt military Hadrian's Wall area (Green ~976, 2!). is possible that there was a collectmg btas). Apart Findspots of genii cucullati are often assoCiated wtth from the ironwork and coin hoards, the loose fmds healing and general wellbeing. The example from are relatively poor with few personal item~. The role Lower Slaughter featuring two birds and a rosette of Building 47 is difficult to place. In plan tt does not symbolises death and afterlife. The tem~le at L~dney, conform to what might be expected of a temple or dedicated to the god Nodens, commandmg a vtew of shrine and it fits better into a domestic context as a the Severn estuary, similarly produced a number small dwelling. · of cult objects connected with water imagery (Ross ~ulti-roomed It is possible, therefore, that at Lower Slaug?ter 1974, 50). there is a perpetuation of Celtic rit1.~.al behaviOur The burials at Lower Slaughter could be construed where pits and wells serve as focal pomts for super as connected with a religious use of the site. Altern natural occurrences. Although there are no recog atively, the two infants, one in a st~ne-lined ~rave, nisable stone foundations suggestive of a temple, and the adult inhumation may be simple bunals of such a building may have existed in timber, .as ~any residents close to their homes, as was rural practice. of the other structures on site. The pottery mdtcates The same may be true of the fourth-century cist burial activity from the second century, with an emphasis on in Field Ill. It would seem that there was no formal later Roman wares, in particular the second half of cemetery area linked with the site. the fourth century. This coincides with the period for The scanty evidence available for the Lower which there is abundant evidence for the resurgence Slaughter settlement does not pe~mit much discus of pagan cults (Manning 1972a, 248~. Alternati~ely, sion of its role. The presence of dttched compounds there may be a much more prosatc explan~twn: and enclosures indicates agricultural activity, perhaps Lower Slaughter was s"imply a small commumty of connected with stock management and crop growing. local craftsmen also involved in agriculture. For some Quem stones and a corn drier suggest grain pro~ess reason the site was abandoned in the later fourth/ ing. Amongst the iron tools recovered are vanous early fifth century, the area levelled and the. wells knives and a sickle. filled with household debris along with all evtdence At least three areas (Sites 31, 73 and 83) appear to of old religious practices. be the sites of iron-working or smithing. There are numerous finds of iron debris, assorted tools and fittings. In addition to iron pigs and bars, coal was present. 19. DORN
recovery of two altars. One, measuring 1.07m in THE SITE height and 0.4-0.45m in width, was a panel recog nisable as depicting a veiled genius with a tunic Location reaching his knees, carrying a cornucopia and a patera Darn, a hamlet in the parish of Blockley, is located on (Taylor 1962, 194; Henig 1993, no 39). The other, the north side of the Fosse Way, approximately l.Skm slightly larger in size (1.2m), is more elaborate, with a north of the medieval market town of Moreton-on relief of a genius wearing a mural crown, short tunic the-Marsh (Fig 148). Immediately south of Darn the and boots and also carrying a cornucopia and patera Fosse is crossed by a track designated a 'Sealt straet' (Henig 1993, no 38) (515). in a Saxon charter, suggesting the existence of a In the early twentieth century, pottery was being metalled secondary road, which could date back collected in arable fields west of the railway cutting. earlier, the West Midlands salt springs being particu Haverfield reported being shown 170 coins including larly exploited in the Roman period (RCHME 1976, examples of Nerva, Julia Maesa, Septimius Severus, xlvi). The site is situated at around 130m above sea Antoninus Pius and many bronzes and minims level. The underlying geology is boulder clay and the (Haverfield 1901) (520). In 1960 the site was photo ground slopes gently westwards to the floor of the graphed from the air by Or St Joseph. A rectangular valley of the River Evenlode. enclosure with a system of parallel streets could be discerned on the west side of the Fosse Way (St Joseph 1961, pl XI.2) (SS). The photograph also shows Archaeological background the Fosse to the west of the modern road, but passing The presence of a Roman site at Darn has been immediately east of the enclosure and at a point recognised from at least the early seventeenth century where it changes direction through twelve degrees to where note of its former importance was made by cross the Evenlode valley. Curiously the enclosure Thomas Habington (58). In 1695, Erasmus Saunders, was erroneously portrayed as a parallelogram on the then curate of Moreton-on-the-Marsh, reported the OS 1:2400 map (sheet 2033-2133), suggesting that it acquisition of some coins and a Roman brick appar had perhaps been drawn from an oblique photograph ently with a vitrified deposit on one face (59). In the (52). eighteenth century it was local tradition that Darn Finds recorded at various times from the locality was formerly a city and that many old foundations include limestone and other building stone, frag had been revealed. Metalling from the street grid was ments of rotary quem, pottery including samian, visible and reference is made to the large quantity of Oxfordshire colour-coated ware and various coarse coins (510) (Cox 1731). Nash (1781) reported that wares, copper-alloy brooches, slag and fired clay Darn was considered to be a Roman station, with (516-18, 521-6). many finds of coins (Sll). Further coins were referred Between 1937 and 1939, a small excavation was to in 1789 (512). carried out by Lt-Col R K Morcom within the south The railway line was constructed during the west area of the defences (51) (Fig 149). A brief nineteenth century immediately west of the visible summary of the results was published by Oswald defences. An account of various archaeological (1963). The excavations uncovered a stone-built discoveries was made by Soden (1875) who noted the rectangular building measuring approximately 10.4m presence of foundations, pits and wells (513). Numer by 4.9m, although it is unclear whether or not it ous finds of pottery and coins, mainly of the reign of extended further to the north-west. Internally the Constantine, are recorded. Of particular note was the building was divided into four rooms, one of which Darn 391
(D) yielded a quantity of painted wall-plaster. The To the east of the building was a paved area, building was constructed on pitched stone footings possibly a road or courtyard. At the north end of the and had a tiled roof. It was floored with rough site a small oven was found. Fourth-century pottery cobbling but some coarse tesserae indicated the was recovered from the upper levels. Trenching south presence of a pavement somewhere nearby. of the building exposed at least three other walls,
0 100 150 200 250 300m
-N-+
0 10km
30
15
Fig 148 Topographic map of Dorn area: 392 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire indicating further buildings, although the date and Apparently also belonging to this phase of relationship of these cannot be determined. occupation were two wells, one immediately outside Below the later levels a 0.6m layer of yellow soil the west wall of the later stone building, and one c 3m sealed an earlier floor of clay and gravel, covered from the south-east corner. The first was 1.7m in with pink ash, thought to be associated with a timber diameter and 4m deep. At 2m a large quantity of building. Finds from this level, including two iron charcoal was encountered and at 0.9m a band of steelyards, an ornamental iron turnspit, coins and pinkish ash. The second well was partly stone-lined pottery, date from the later second/ early third and produced several complete pottery vessels and century (Oswald 1963, 20). glass.
-N-t
Iron Age: • potte ry
Roman : pottery •0 coin l8l votive find 0 other finds
0 AE A - eo -·-IMU 'l} RO
1 ...-.~--...-lllillllli • RSF 11111 TSU iL 0 uscu l:~~;l -~ ~~~- j 0 5m
0 500m
Fig 149 Plot of known archaeology for Dorn. Darn 393
Amongst the finds from the excavation were a pasture and a derelict orchard). Much of the northern number of iron objects, including a plain snaffle bit, and eastern lines of the defences were also recorded. bronze items, including two brooches and spoons, The most significant discovery was along the line of and fragments of an octagonal pewter dish. Some 25 the western defences. Although overlain by medieval coins were recovered, ranging in date from Hadrian ridge and furrow, the ditch is well preserved, 20m (AD 117-38) to issues of the House of Theodosius. The wide and 1m deep. One to two metres beyond the pottery mainly dates from cAD 150 through to the late inner lip of the ditch the survey recorded an irregular fourth century. Odd sherds of samian (forms Drag 29, trench, up to 5m wide and 0.2m deep, from which 15/17,24/5,35 and 37) and a sherd from an imported protruded small pieces of oolitic limestone. There is a butt beaker (terra rubra 3) indicate first-century 7m wide gap in the trench at a point 85m north of the activity in the area. An appraisal of the pottery by V south-west angle of the defences (Fig 150 a). The Rigby (unpub notes Cirencester Mus) indicates the trench continues north beyond the break for a further presence of a range of Oxfordshire products, Nene 30m before disappearing. It is perhaps significant that Valley colour-coats, Severn Valley wares, Dorset the gap in the trench is in the centre of the western black-burnished wares, late Midlands shelly ware, side of the defensive circuit and also marks a slight and Mancetter-Harts hill mortaria, alongside more change in its alignment. It is suggested that the trench local products. Amongst the later imports are sherds may result from the robbing of the defensive stone of Central and East Gaulish samian and East Gaulist wall. A similar feature, proven by excavations to be colour-coated ware beakers, and a dramique al' eponge the robber trench for a wall of Roman date, was ware flanged bowl. recorded during a recent survey of the enclosed 'villa' Apart from casual field-walking, no further at Gatcombe, Soms (Branigan 1977) (unpub RCHME archaeological investigation had taken place at Dorn survey). The break in the trench is on the exact line of until the topographic survey and aerial photographic one of the east-west streets recorded on the air transcription discussed below. photographs and it is suggested that the gap may mark the position of a gate. Thirty metres to the east of the postulated gate, A SURVEY OF THE SETTLEMENT AT DORN By Mark Corney and David McOmish (RCHME) with two shallow rectangular depressions were recorded 150 b) and identified as the position of the Pam Grace and Philip Sinton (Fig 1937-9 excavations undertaken by Morcom (Oswald A survey was commissioned from the RCHME 1963). combining an analytical earthwork survey with a The remainder of the western defences are transcription of all the available air photographic represented by a single scarp marking the inner edge evidence. This survey has added a number of import of the ditch. Only at the south-west corner was the ant points of detail concerning the morphology of the outer edge of the ditch noted, giving a width of site and demonstrated that the settlement area approximately 25m. The presence of ridge and extends beyond the western limits of the defended furrow precluded the identification of any other enclosure. During the course of the earthwork survey detail associated with the defences. it was noted that considerable damage is being caused to the archaeological deposits by continued The air photographic survey cultivation of the settlement. The nature of the sub-soil at Dorn is not conducive to The survey the formation of well-defined crop or soilmarks. Within the defended area air photograph transcrip Until the recent survey the settlement at Dorn was tion has added further detail of the street system thought to be largely within a roughly rectangular and defences. The streets are metalled, approximately ditched circuit with rounded corners enclosing an 5m wide, and share a common alignment with the area of 4.12ha (10.2 acres). Within this enclosure air defended enclosure and the Fosse Way. The settle photographs had revealed a regular grid of metalled ment is divided into six rectangular insulae averaging streets and a suggestion of a defensive wall. The latter 0.7ha. In the eastern third of the settlement there are feature had only shown as a convincing mark along hints of further irregular north-south subdivisions by the northern side of the circuit. Much of the defensive narrow streets or lanes. The line of the northernmost circuit has been severely reduced by ploughing, the east-west street can also be seen beyond the eastern ditch now being little more than a broad depression defences making a 'T' junction with the Fosse Way varying in width from 30m to 50m and up to 1.5m (Fig 150 c). There is no indication of the street system deep. No causeways across the ditch have been extending eastwards beyond the Fosse Way although recognised. the latter shows clearly as a band of metalling The 1994 earthwork survey concentrated on the between 8m and 10m in width with intermittent westernmost quarter of the enclosure (now under traces of flanking side ditches. VJ \0 *"'
!t,
" i I . '.' '/.t I I 4 ~~~C~~r; , ''~'~:'' ~~,ft''t r.~,,,.~,,, ..,:·'' ,,,,, _,,,: '.1,~, 339 -... I I I/:; / '·'.', ------~1(\J ' ':--1-l t"rJ ~ 2 g 337 ~~~t1M / ;:::6· VJ ,;<"'(_ Ditch ;;:,,..,_ Metalled surface I I ~ .;;,~; Ill defined cut feature ~· (I 8 100 200 Metres ;; ;;:, --- ;::: ------207 /i ;;::,... 202 203 204 206 208 I Crown Copyright ~ Fig 150 Topographic and aerial photographic transcription. (© RCHME) a '"';:;t ~ Cl s:;:: '"'~ ;:;; "';::;-- ~· Dorn 395 The defensive ditch· surrounding the settlement is enclosing 2.2ha and Brough-on-Fosse, Notts enclosing visible as a dark linear strip reflecting the greater 2.2ha. retention of moisture in its fill. Along the inner edge Air photographic transcription suggests that the of the northern part of the circuit a broad band of settlement is considerably larger than the area compact material (up to 15m wide) may reflect the enclosed within the defences and the site may extend base of a rampart or spread of rubble from a wall. over 15ha. Dorn is slightly unusual in terms of the This line becomes darker at the north-east corner, and enclosed settlement being set to one side of the Fosse along the east side appears as a ditch or trench Way, the defended area not incorporating this major approximately 5m wide. There is a break and offset through-route within its circuit. At Chesterton-on gap approximately 8m wide at the point where the Fosse and Thorpe the defences incorporate a narrow central east-west street is met (Fig 150 d). The ditch or strip of Fosse Way frontage whilst at Margidunum the trench can be traced for a further 40m towards the main road bisects the defended area. south-east angle. This complex juxtaposition of The combination of air and ground survey has ditches or trenches and the street system is discussed made a significant contribution to the greater under in greater detail below. Other marks plotted from the standing of the settlement morphology and raised a air photographs include a variety of linear features, series of interesting points concerning the nature of probably ditches. Some are on, or close to, the align the defences. There is no trace of metalled streets ment of the street grid and may represent boundaries beyond the defences although the common alignment within the settlement. However, the overall picture of the cropmarks to the west of the railway line concerning the finer detail is too fragmentary for and the enclosed street system hint at a planned meaningful comment. It is worth noting that although development. no indication of stone structures could be discerned Although no causeways across the enclosing ditch from the air photographs, the excavations by Morcom are known, three possible entrances have been and the concentrations of rubble noted in the plough identified. On the west, a gap in the postulated robber soil during the RCHME survey leave little doubt of trench for the curtain wall matches the alignment of their presence. In the light of continuing cultivation of an east-west street (Fig 150 a), and is suggestive of a the majority of the defended settlement further narrow, single span opening. Along the eastern side investigative methods such as intensive field-walking a more complex development is visible. Crop and and geophysical survey would be likely to enhance soilmarks suggest that at least one metalled street the detailed record of the site. may pre-date the construction of the defences (see Cropmarks of ditched enclosures integrated with above p 393, Fig 150 c). The position of an eastern broad tracks or lanes were noted over an area of 4.5 entrance may be postulated at 'd' on Fig 150. Here the ha 200m west of the defences. The north-south track central east-west street makes a right-angled turn to is roughly parallel to the course of the Fosse Way and the north and runs parallel to the defensive ditch for can be traced for a distance of 275m. There are a distance of 15m. At the point of this turn the street ditched enclosures on either side of it which are passes between the cropmarks of an offset ditch or associated with further east-west tracks. None of the trench. As was noted above, this feature is approxi tracks appear to be metalled, although this could mately 5m wide-a dimension which is shared with have been removed by subsequent ploughing. The the postulated robber trench. It is suggested that the cropmarks suggest a lengthy period of occupation, cropmark may represent the course of the robbed out with many intersecting ditches suggestive of episodes wall and the offset indicate the position of the east of recutting and realignment. The area has produced gate. If this hypothesis is correct, the form of the gate sherds of Romano-British pottery and coins. No can be paralleled in late Roman defensive architec traces of activity were noted between the cropmark ture in Britain, the closest arrangement being the east complex and the defended site (owing to the presence gate at Brough-on-Humber. At Brough the gate is of modern orchards, buildings and the railway line), afforded flanking protection by a 'dog-leg' in the although it is probable that the settlement extended course of the wall and the provision of a projecting across the whole area. The finds made during the tower. (There is no evidence at present for flanking construction of the railway cutting reinforce this towers at Dorn.) The first phase of stone defences at assertion. Brough-on-Humber are dated to c AD 270-90 with further modifications in the fourth century (Wacher 1969). The line of the south wall at Dorn was not Discussion observed on the air photographs but its approximate Dorn is the largest of the five 'small towns' position can be inferred in relation to the associated with proven defences on the line of the Fosse Way ditch which still survives as a plough-damaged earth between Cirencester and Lincoln, the other four work. A further gate in the circuit may be present at being Chesterton-on-Fosse, Warks, enclosing 3.2ha, the midway point on this side. This is suggested by a Margidunum, Notts, enclosing 2.8ha, Thorpe, Notts short length of metalled street which makes a right- 396 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire angled turn to follow the inner edge of the ditch for ramparts, with the Fosse just outside the E ramparts I approximately 10m (Fig 150 e). It is tempting to Sources: St Joseph 1961, 132-3; MSS Notes by HE M Icely. suggest that this may indicate a gate of the clavicula Site No: 6 I Date of Recog: 1976 I NGR: NE from SP 205 328 type, normally associated with a tower, and paral (linear) I Site Name: Fosse Way I Description: Roman road, leled at the West Gate, Brough-on-Humber and the largely destroyed but visible in places as low spread ridge north and south postern gates at Richborough (cf or cropmarks. Agger 7.5m across, 1ft high, with contiguous Johnson 1976, 124, fig 69 for this and other examples). side ditches preserved for 68.5m before destruction by The configuration of the street at 'e' on Fig 150 is railway cutting at SP 2057 3297 I Sources: RCHME 1976, commensurate with this type of gate. Naturally only Batsford (3), pi 48; CUAP, OAP ABV 31-41, ABW 78, AHU excavation or geophysics can confirm or refute these 7, AIJ 41-4, YT47. observations. It is, however, noteworthy that all of the postulated gate forms are of a consistent, later Roman Site No: 7 I Date of Recog: 1994 I Periods Rep: Undated I type, and can be paralleled in defensive constructions Description: Cropmarks showing a series of house of the late third and fourth centuries AD. The broad platforms and roadways I Sources: RCHME 1994 (seep 00). ditch surrounding the walled circuit at Dorn is also typical of the late Roman period, and in the absence of evidence to the contrary it is to this period that the INDIRECT REFERENCE (SITE TYPE: IR) defended site should be assigned. Site No: 8 I Date of Recog: c 1620 I Description: A note by Thomas Habington, following a visit to Dorn: 'this Dome, a DORN GAZETTEER (Fig 149) place some tyme of especiall note, is now obscur' d'. I Sources: Habington, nd ii, 33; MSS notes by H E M Icely. ANTIQUARIAN EXCAVATION (SITE TYPE: AE) Site No: 9 I Date of Recog: 17th century I Description: In Site No: 1 I Date of Recog: 1937-9 I NGR: SP 2054 3383 I 1695, Erasmus Saunders, then curate of Moreton Henmarsh Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Birmingham Mus I (Moreton-on-Marsh), reported to the Keeper of the Description: Excavation by Lt Col R K Morcom, uncovered Ashmolean Mus his recent acquisition of '10 or 11 more a stone 4-roomed building with corridor, tiled roof, Roman coins found at Dorn and I also had a Roman brick plastered walls, tesserae and 2 wells. Artefacts recovered which I was the more inclined to take because it is filletted spanned Cl to early CS and included 2 steelyards, an about with a sparkling substance about a halfe inch thick ornamental spit, and pottery I Sources: Oswald 1963, which is perhaps an adhesion of ashes vitrify'd in the 18_24; RCHME 1976, Batsford (1); Glos SMR 361. furnacing of them. Many of them are ordinarily dug by the Gardener.' I Sources: Bodleian Library, MSS Ashmolean 1817 A; RCHME 1976, Batsford (1); Oswald 1963, 18. CARTOGRAPHIC DEPICTION (SITE TYPE: CD) Site No: 10 I Date of Recog: 1731 I Description: 'The country people have a tradition that Dorn was formerly a Site No: 2 I Date of Recog: 1975 I NGR: SP 2064 3385 C I city, and many old foundations that have been dug up there Periods Rep: RB I Description: Roman settlement (site of) with an abundance of Roman and British coins commonly shown as trapezoidal outline I Sources: OS 1:2500, sheet SP found by the husbandmen, and the lines in which the 2033-2133. streets ran being still very discernible ... show that a colony Site No: 3 I Date of Recog: 1975 I NGR: SP 2058 3306-2097 of Romans must have resided here.' I Sources: Cox 1731, vi, 3420 linear I Site Name: Fosse Way I Description: 'Foss 240; RCHME 1976, Batsford (1). Way-Roman road (course of)' I Sources: OS 1:2500. Site No: 11 I Date of Recog: 1781 I Periods Rep: RB I Site No: 4 I Date of Recog: 1976 I NGR: SP 2000 3358-2110 Description: 'Dorn is supposed to have been a Roman 3320 linear I Description: Recorded as 'line of old road' to station, many small coins of base metal have been found E of its intersection with the Fosse; and 'probable line of old there; one of Carausius was lately in the possession of the road' to the W of its intersection at SP 2065 3340 I Sources: Rev Mr Selwyn the vicar, to whom I am obliged for much RCHME 1976, Batsford (1). information concerning this parish. The Foss Road is carried through Dorn, Aston and Ditchford, to Stretton upon-Fosse, in Warwickshire.' I Sources: Nash 1781, 101. INTERPRETATION AND MAPPING UNIT Site No: 12 I Date of Recog: 1789 I Description: 'An (SITE TYPE: IMU) attorney at Stretton [-on-the-Fosse] was reported in 1789 to have many more [coins].' I Sources: MSS notes by H E M Site No: 5 I Date of Recog: 1961 I Description: Aerial Icely. photography and ground reconnaissance by St Joseph showed the site to be a town c 10 acres in area with a Site No: 13 I Date of Recog: 1875 I Description: Soden's parallel street system, enclosed within rectangular account of site at time of construction of railway. 'On the Dorn 397 farm at Dorn lately in the occupation of Mr William TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY UNIT (SITE TYPE: TSU) Phillips, and in other places many antiquities have been at times discovered, such as foundations, wells, coins (chiefly Site No: 19 I Date of Recog: 1994 I NGR: SP 206 338 C I of the reign of Constantine), pottery, sculpture etc and more Periods Rep: RB I Description: Earthwork survey by especially when the line of the Oxford, Worcester and RCHME. See p 000. I Sources: Corney and McOmish 1994. Wolverhampton Railway was in progress of being formed. In a field E of the railway and farm house, two fine specimens of sculpture (about 3ft square) were discovered UNRECORDED STRAY FIND (SITE TYPE: USF) by Mr Phillips' men while ploughing'. In a field E of the railway a considerable quantity of human bones have been Site No: 20 I Date of Recog: 1901 I Periods Rep: RB I Finds discovered. There can be little doubt that these are the Location: Dorn Farm I Description: Haverfield reported remains of the slain in a great battle fought in this some 170 coins at Dorn Farm. Exact provenance unknown. neighbourhood in 1016, between the forces of the Saxons Haverfield, in default of excavation, could only guess that under Edmund, and the Danes under Canute. The fact that the site might have been a villa or a wayside village these remains were found close to the surface, with connected with the Fosse. I Sources: Haverfield 1901, 221; apparently no traces of regular entombment seems to MSS notes by H E M Icely. favour this supposition. This great battle took place near the Four Shire Stone, which is only about two and half Site No: 21 I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: miles from Dorn.' I Sources: Soden 1875, 115-18. Birmingham I Description: rosette-stamped sherd, with chocolate brown slip, on display in Blakesley Hall, Yardley (ref 86.62) I Sources: RCHME MS Notes (1976). PLACENAME EVIDENCE (SITE TYPE: PN) Site No: 22 I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Corinium Mus I Description: Finds from Dorn, originally part of the Site No: 14 I Description: The placename 'Dorn' probably Royce Collection: (1) Base of samian Drag 31, stamped means 'fort' or 'gate.' I Sources: A H Smith 1965, I, 235; CARANTINI M (AD 80-200); (2) Base of samian Drag 31, RCHME 1976, Batsford (1). stamped MASO FECI (AD 100-20); (3) Female mask from pottery flask; (4) Coin of Constans (AD 341-6); (5) Six copper-alloy brooches (AD 60-300) I Sources: Grinsell 1964, RECORDED OBSERVATION (SITE TYPE: RO) 13. Site No: 15 I Date of Recog: 1851 I NGR: SP 2045 3390 A I Site No: 23 I Periods Rep: Roman I Finds Location: private Finds Location: Royal Ontario Mus, Toronto I Description: collection I Description: 95 Roman coins collected by Mr S The construction of the railway exposed a 'score of pits and Righton, with identifications by Dr R Reece. Records two stone blocks with carved panels, both now lost; one deposited in the Corinium Mus. I Sources: Price 1985, panel recognisable as depicting a Genius' (Taylor 1962, 229. 194-5). By 1924 the stones had been acquired by the Royal Ontario Mus, Toronto. See Henig 1993, no 38: an elaborate altar with a relief of a Genius, wearing a mural crown, UNSYSTEMATIC SURFACE COLLECTION UNIT mantle, short tunic and boots, and holding a cornucopia (SITE TYPE: USCU) and a patera; no 39: of a veiled Genius with a tunic reaching his knees, carrying a cornucopia and a patera. I Sources: Site No: 24 I Date of Recog: 13 Nov 1955 I Periods Rep: RB RCHME 1976, Batsford (1); Soden 1875, 115; Haverfield I Finds Location: Corinium Mus I Description: Collection 1901, 221; Taylor 1962, 194-5; Henig 1993, pl13. of pottery including samian and stamped imitations, recovered from black earth area in field OS 1159 on the line of the Fosse by Cmdr Dudley-Smith. Unstratified, surface RECORDED STRAY FINDS (SITE TYPE: RSF) finds. I Sources: Corinium Museum. Site No: 25 I Date of Recog: 1978 I NGR: SP 207339 I Site No: 16 I Date of Recog: 1976 I NGR: SP 2062 3368 I Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Corinium Mus Periods Rep: RB I Description: Pottery reported by RCHME 198312711-2 I Description: Field-walking finds comprising 'found outside the enclosure on the south'. I Sources: sherds of Oxfordshire red-coated ware and grey burnished RCHME 1976, Batsford (1). coarse ware. I Sources: Clews 1983, 189. Site No: 17 I Date of Recog: 1976 I NGR: SP 2040 3385 I Site No: 26 I Date of Recog: 1982 I NGR: SP 207339 I Periods Rep: RB I Description: Pottery noted by RCHME in Periods Rep: RB I Finds Location: Corinium Mus field W of the railway cutting. I Sources: RCHME 1976, 198312611-18 I Description: Field-walking finds including Batsford (1). sherds of samian, Oxford colour-coat, and numerous other Site No: 18 I Date of Recog: 1994 I Periods Rep: RB I Descrip coarse wares. Also included a bronze pin, tweezer arm, slag tion: Coin of Theodosius I Sources: M Corney pers comm. and fired clay. I Sources: Clews 1983, 189. 398 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire Wacher 1990, 252). Surface finds across the area of DORN: GENERAL DISCUSSION Dorn indicate a strong fourth-century presence. At present there is no evidence for much refurbishment Origins and development to the defences in the mid-fourth century with, The placename Dorn is thought to derive from the for example, the addition of towers although there British Dura meaning gate, or a town with gateways may have been some modifications to the entrance (A H Smith 1965, 235). Finberg (1957) regards the arrangements. name as a survival of a Celtic-speaking community The Fosse Way was established early on in the under Saxon lordship. conquest of Britain, but there is currently no evidence, Unfortunately there is little information available from either the cropmark evidence or finds, to to determine the origins and development of the site, suggest that Dorn was an early military base. If the although a few points can be made. First, there is line of the Fosse Way at this point is exclusively no evidence for any pre-Roman activity from the Roman in origin, then it might presuppose that the immediate locality, in the form of either earthworks recently identified extra-mural settlement post-dates or casual finds. An early Roman presence in the area the founding of the Fosse Way on the basis that it lies however, is suggested by the first-century pottery on the same alignment. The cropmarks suggest a finds, in particular several early samian forms and the small agricultural settlement set along one street. imported Gallo-Belgic terra rubra beaker. This latter is Conversely, if the Fosse was based in part on a pre a relatively unusual find on post-conquest sites existing routeway the settlement may have already although it may be significant that other sites on the been in existence, and thus have native origins. Fosse Way have also yielded Gallo-Belgic imports, Evidence is accumulating from elsewhere, notably notably Leicester to the north-east (Timby 1983). The Dere Street, between Aldborough and Corbridge Fosse Way frontier effectively forms the limit to the (Bishop unpub) to suggest that elements of the distribution of this imported ware which is better Roman roads used initially by the army were already documented from the south and east, notably, but not in existence in the pre-Roman period. Possibly the exclusively, from sites with pre-conquest origins. It roadway showing on the cropmarks was the line of may represent a chance find here, or may hint at an earlier route later resurveyed to the south by specific early activity in the locality. Roman engineers. Only excavation could address The aerial survey work has shown the presence such issues. An alternative scenario might be an of two components to Dorn. First, there is the extensive unenclosed settlement north of the Fosse of rectangular defended enclosure adjacent to the Fosse which only a small part became enclosed at a later Way; second, there is a small settlement comprising a date. broad north-south roadway running approximately The fortified settlement shows elements of a parallel to and 560m away from the Fosse Way. This planned street grid which appears to extend out at road has a number of smaller branch roads appar one point underneath the east defences to join the ently defining blocks of land. It must be stressed that Fosse. The streets within the defences appear to be at present this complex of cropmarks remains metalled whereas those beyond appear to be ditched undated, but the proximity to the walled settlement but not metalled. The coin evidence available (Reece and the layout parallel to the Fosse Way strongly hint pp 400-21) suggests a concentration of late activity at a possible Roman origin. The current field-names within the defended area, although clearly any do not suggest previous occupation. The construction surface collections would be heavily biased towards of the railway showed there to be various pits later occupation where it exists. and wells outside the south-western corner of the defences and it may be that settlement once existed Later history under the present farm. Present evidence would suggest that the existing Dorn was originally in the parish of Blockley but line of defences is likely to date to the fourth century, became annexed to Batsford when the boundaries although the excavations by Morcom suggested that were altered in the nineteenth century. A manuscript the area within the defences was occupied from at at Corpus Christi College, Oxford contains a sum least the later second century. This may be the point mary record of early benefactions to the church at at which fortifications were first established, follow Worcester. Ceonwulf, King of Mercia (AD 796-821), ing the more widespread provincial practice of endowed the church with 'the minister at Kemeseg providing defences at this time. The defences at and the village called Dorene' (Finberg 1957). In nearby Chesterton-on-Fosse may also date to this 1016 a powerful magnate, Eadric Streona, robbed period. Although excavations failed to produce the church of Batsford and two other manors, any conclusive dating evidence from the latter, which accounts for the fact that Batsford had a earlier possible timber buildings were replaced by separate manorial and parochial identity from stone structures in the fourth century (Burnham and Blockley. Henceforth it remained in Gloucestershire Darn 399 whilst Blockley and several hamlets, including between 24-32km (15-20 miles). The nearest known Dorn, remained under ecclesiastical lordship in settlements to Dorn are Lower Slaughter to the Worcestershire. At the time of the Domesday survey south, which has no known military connections, and the manor of Dorn was assessed at five hides (Morris Bourton-on-the-Water, approximately 15km away, 1982). which may have had a posting station although evidence is extremely slight. Beyond this a further 15km is Cirencester and access to Ermin Street. To the Conclusions north is Chesterton-on-Fosse, also approximately Our knowledge of the history of Dorn is extremely 30km away. It may be significant, therefore, that poor although recent work has served to add a Chesterton is itself approximately 30km away from number of new dimensions worthy of further field High Cross (Venonae), another settlement to the north investigation. It has been demonstrated that with sited at an important junction where the Fosse Way out doubt the settlement extended out beyond the crosses Watling Street. Recent aerial photographs of defences. It also seems clear that the defended settle High Cross suggest a small double-ditched enclosure ment visible from the present topographic survey around the road junction (Liddle 1995, 83, fig dates to the fourth century. Several new details have 8.3a). There is, therefore, some locational symmetry been added to the form of the defences and the between these four sites, namely Cirencester, Dorn, arrangement of possible entrances, in particular the Chesterton and High Cross, which may have some identification of possible architectural features, in significance for their existence. common with other similar late fortifications. The The provision of defences could be seen as a broad ditch surrounding the walled circuit is also reflection of the function of the settlement at Dorn. typical of the later Roman period. Evidence from The presence of metalled streets within the defences the 1937-9 excavations and from the street system may indicate an administrative presence whose suggests both occupation dating back to the second authority did not necessarily extend to the extra century and that at least one street existed prior to the mural settlement. Webster (1975) has pointed out that construction of the defences. most of the known fortified sites are distributed along Dorn is slightly unusual as a roadside settlement in three main routes of which the Fosse is one. It has that it is set to one side of the Fosse, although it long been suggested that there was a series of fortified should be noted that Droitwich Bays Meadow is posts (burgi) set along Watling Street from Uxacona similarly offset (Burnham and Wacher 1990, fig 67). If (Red Hill) to Bannaventa. These were possibly Dorn had some official or military role, for example established by Constantius Chlorus as part of his an official stopping place such as a mansio or posting campaign for the recovery of the province in AD 296 station, it might be expected to be placed approxi (Webster 1975). It is quite possible that the Fosse Way mately one day's travel away from neighbouring was also provided with similar posts of which Dorn examples. Frere (1975) suggests this should be is one example. 20. DISCUSSION THE ROMAN COINS By Richard Reece superv1s10n by Nick Cooke in the summer of 1993. Although all these coins have been included in the full list The coins from Kingscote form five main lists. of references one deposit which the excavator thought Together with these the opportunity has been taken to might have contained a hoard has been kept separate in the list, or re-examine, the coins from the other Cotswold summary tables and has not been used in the numerical settlements of Coln St Aldwyns, Dorn and Wycomb. analysis. It is listed in Table 12 as Kings 2 H. The ten main lists are as follows (numbered columns 7 Kingscote 1976. Three hundred and thirty-eight coins 1-10, Table 12): came from the 1976 season of excavations at Site 2, 1 Coin St Aldwyns. Some 1400 coins found on the identified and listed at the time. They are not contaminated Williamstrip Estate were listed in the early 1970s thanks to by the possible Kingscote 2 Hoard. They have been kept as the interest of the present, and permission of the late, Lord a separate group because they were examined at totally St Aldwyns. Apart from one Greek coin listed separately, different times by different people, but the results have they form a very useful, but worn and corroded sample been integrated into the excavation report by context. from the area around Akeman Street. Nick Balaam worked 8 Kingscote Various. Eighty-one coins were listed in the with me on the coins around 1973-4. Stroud Museum at the suggestion of the then curator, 2 Dorn. Ninety-five coins in the possession of the farmer, Lionel Walrond, in the late 1960s. Mr Righton, were shown to me by Eddie Price and a list 9 Kingscote 1. Five hundred and twenty-four coins from was made around 1988. Four of the coins were listed the Kingscote Site 1 were examined and written up soon separately because they form very unusual additions to a after the excavations finished in the mid-1970s. Hoard S Cotswold coin list. Their patinas are also highly untypical belongs to this group. of that produced by the alkaline limestone soil of the area. 10 Kingscote site finds. Ted Swain very kindly entrusted 3 Syreford Mill. Fifty-eight coins were passed to Cotswold me with 1185 coins from his field-walking. These were Archaeological Trust to help in writing up the site. One examined and identified during the time of the second further coin was passed to me from Mrs Wilf Cox, the excavation in the late 1970s. excavator's widow. 4 Wycomb 2. A total of 265 coins were published in Rawes It will be clear from the very different histories of (1980). These have been summarised here to complete the the ten lists that they form disparate groups of record. variable reliability. I would like to claim that the coins which I identified and listed completely by myself are 5 Wycomb 1. Two hundred and forty-one coins were the most accurate, but a glance at the lists will show described in a manuscript list by R Box and D Butler. J J that Nick Balaam (in 1973) and Nick Cooke (in 1993) These have been summarised here as they have not been used far more reference numbers than I did. This previously published. The 186 coins listed only as fourth means that they took more trouble to trace worn coins century and mostly of the House of Constantine have been to the nearest reference number in the catalogues. But split up in proportion to the coins fully described. They even this does not guarantee greater accuracy, simply have been included in the summary lists in the appropriate greater discrimination of what could be read on the periods. worn and corroded coins. Where I have interpreted 6 Kingscote 2. Fifteen hundred coins came from the the published or written lists of others, each one a Kingscote Site 2 after the 1976 season. Most of the initial different type of identification, there is further room work of listing and organising these was done under my for discrepancy. In the last resort I feel confident that tJ Table 12 Coin List Table 12----£ontinued 308 1 I 181 1 as 653 1! 182 1 JULIADOMNA (SS) as 556 1 I 192.a. 1 (Sept Sev) 577 1 as 203 1 840 1 207 1 1 1 CARACALLA as 29 121 1 208 1 as 29.A. 131 1 213 I 1 267 1 1 229 2 Hybrid 141 1 230 1 1 ELAGABALUS as 3 151 1 232 1 131 1 233 I 236 1 Period 11 243 1 t"r1 SEVER US ALEXANDER 50 1 244 1 "8 as 244 Cj as 51 1 1 l::) copy as 74 161 1 249 1 6· 253 ;:-: JULIA MAMMAEA as 360 1 1 [f) as 255 1 ,..,..l::) 256 1 ?;;: Period 12 I 260 1 ~- GORDIAN lii as 87 1 267 1 2 [f) 337.b. (") 1 270 1 0 OTACJLIA SEVERA as 209 1 (:6 280 1 l::) VALERIAN I 14 1 ;:-: 282 1 1 1 1 27 ~ 1 as 282 1 46 1 283 1 1 ~ as 72 1 (") 285 1 0 :::l as 79 1 287 1 3 TOTAL EARLY COINS 13 5 5 5 3 13 11 6 5 76 ~ 483 1 CJ 507 1 :;::a Period 13 539 1 (") GALLIENUS 157 2 1 rev illeg 1 1 1 ~ 159 1 1 2 SALONINA as 11 171 1 ""V\ 160 2 1 76 1 ;::;-< ~· Table 12-continued ti Table 12-continued t;;· ("") 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ;;:: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 V> V> CLAUDIUSII 12 1 131 1 s· ;::i 14 1 150 191 1 15 2 316 1 16 1 317 1 18 1 1 2 318 1 1 1 27 1 VICTORINUS 45 3 31 1 55 3 34 1 1 57 1 40 1 58 1 45 1 1 61 1 1 1 3 52 1 67 3 1 53 1 71 1 3 54 1 1 78 1 1 8 56 1 114 4 1 5 65 1 116 2 1 79 1 118 1 1 85 4 122 1 91 2 2 illegible 4 96 1 TETRICUSI 56 2 1 3 98 1 68 5 104 1 1 1 2 as 68 1 105 1 1 71 3 109 2 1 1 as 76 1 157 1 1 82 1 162 1 86 1 193 1 87 1 1 8 259 1 88 10 261 9 1 2 11 90 2 266 12 1 1 2 2 as 90 1 279 1 100 10 1 3 6 8 rev illeg 5 1 103 1 hybrid 181 1 106 1 QUINTILLUS 9 1 108 1 62 1 109 1 AURELIAN 56 1 114 1 64 1 118 1 134 2 121 5 1 3 152 1 124 1 SEVERINA 8 1 127 1 9 1 130 1 POSTUMUS 64 1 1 132 3 75 1 134 1 77 1 136 5 85 1 as 138 1 87 1 146 2 93 2 147 1 0 - (.;.)*"" Tnble 12-continued Tnble 12-continued I 0*"' I *"' 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 148 4 rev 021 1 rev 1101 1 rev uncert 2 1 rev illegible 9 1 ALLECTUS 22 1 TETRICUS 11 247 1 28 1 as 247 1 55 1 254 2 5 79 1 1 267 1 85 1 2 270 9 1 124 1 as 270 1 1 128 1 271 1 128 (13l 1 2 272 130 1 DIOCLETIAN (Car) 5 1141 1 RADIATES !legible 50 1 RIC V 28 1 RIC V 53 1 Period 14 BARBAROUS RADIATES TACITUS 14 2 reverses from: 27 1 Gallienus 193 1 30 1 Victorinus 114 1 163 1 Tetricus I 79 1 PROBUS 38 1 Tetricus I! 270 1 38 but bust G 1 altar 5 28 1 8 112 1 antelope 5 rev uncertain 1 1 1 candelabrum 1 CARAUS!US as 49 1 eagle 3 1 98 6 emperor globe + spear 1 t"r:l ~ as 98 2 Felicitas 1 £; 101 1 1 1 Fides 7 ~ as 101 3 Fortuna 1 3 1 c;· as 108 1 ;:: Hilaritas 3 2 V> as 118 1 flowers 1151 3 ,..,.:;::. 125 1 lnvictus 6 .'i 2 5 7;: as 161 1 Jove 2 ~· 300 1 Laetitia 5 10 302 1 Libertas 1 "~ as 339 1 panther 1 345 1 "':;::. Pax 13 2 1 139 8 6 22 ;:: 437 1 ;::... Pegasus 1 456 1 as 747 1 Pi etas 6 3 2 ~ Princ luvent 1 "a 836 1 ~ as 855 1 Providentia 2 ,c::r- as 878 1 4 sacrificial implements 1 17 2 1 2 GJ Sal us 5 11 7 2 10 880 1 a:;::: as 880 1 Sol 5 " 883 1 1 Spes 5 2 1 9 2 5 16 ~ as 893 1 stag 1 ;;;"' as 1047 ml 1 Victoria 1 5 1 5 ;:s-" - ~- t:J Table 12----£ontinued Table 12----£ontinued (i)• 1 2 3 4 5 '"'l>:: 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C/) C/) Virtus 20 2 1 22 120 1 C)• ;::: illegible 107 2 5 428 10 4 11 85 as 120 1 Trier 121 2 TOTAL RADIATES 354 13 9 15 11 719 61 18 85 367 Thessalonika 102 1 LICINIUS ll Trier 256 1 Period 15 RIC 6 Nicomedia 49 1 DIOCLETIAN Trier 576.a. 1 CONSTANTINE I as 5 1 Siscia 85.a. 1 London 6 2 MAXIMIAN London 1.b. 1 8 1 6 Lyon 219 0 l 1 10 1 GALERIUS London 43 2 32 2 Trier as 145 1 68 1 CONSTANTIUS I London 52.a. 1 90 1 Lyon 187 .a. 1 91 3 MAXIMINUS ll London 209.b. 1 92 2 1 Trier 845.a. 1 138 1 1 LICINIUS I Trier 845.b. 1 154 2 1 1 CONSTANTINE I London as 113 1 as 154 2 London 12l.a. 1 1 2 as 156 1 as 12l.a. 07l 157 1 124 1 158 as 125 2 1 161 213 1 1 1 as 161 280 1 1 281 1 1 1 copy as 166 1 282 1 1 171 1 Trier 719.b. 1 185 1 Trier 862 1 as 185 1 865 1 191 1 2 866.a. 1 199 1 870 1 2 as 206 1 872 1 207 1 875 1 as 222 1 890 1 225 1 1 897 1 as 225 1 898 1 as 267 1 899 1 2 as 271 1 900 3 289 1 989 2 as 289 1 Lyon 287 1 Trier 53 1 Lyon 307 1 74 1 309 1 Trier 208.A. 1 1 Rome348.a. 1 209 1 209 (lS) 1 Period 16 RIC 7 213 1 LICINIUS I London 3 3 258 1 Trier 58 1 279 1 0 (Jl*"" >1'- Table 12-continued Table 12-cmztinued 0 0\ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 303 1 1 1 2 214 1 as 303 1 218 1 341 1 229 1 342 3 230 1 copy of 342 1 247 1 343 1 248 1 345 1 275 1 1 368 1 1 2 as 291 1 1 as 371 1 Trier 150 1 389 1 Trier 231 1 390 1 269 2 429 1 1 307 1 435 1 1 1 308 1 1 439 1 321 1 449 1 1 347 1 1 461 1 372 1 475 1 3 431 1 1 504 3 440 1 1 p.205 as HK 13 1 488 1 Lyon 1 1 Lyon 74 1 16 1 Lyon 83 bust 84 1 63 1 as 109 1 Lyon 128 1 1 132 1 129 1 1 133 1 153 1 166 1 t"r:l ~ 199 1 Ticinum as 135 1 2 214 1 1 Thessalonika 125 1 ,...g 225 1 CONSTANTINE I! London 145 1 :::;· ;::s Arles 56 1 190 1 Vl 72 1 London 198 1 ,...;:::, 252 1 1 1 198 (1 9) 1 7:; Aries 307 1 London 237 2 :::;· Ticinum82 3 1 255 oa 1 1 ('") 130 1 286 1 ~ 140 1 as 286 1 "';:::, ;::s as 140 1 292 1 1 3 :::... 167 1 as 292 1 SISCIA as 3 1 296 1 1 1 1 ~('") 127 1 Trier 253 1 Q ~ Thessalonika 153 1 Trier 275 1 5"' CRISPUS London 143 1 353 1 1 GJ London 174 1 368 2 a:;:: 183 1 433 1 ('") 187 1 441 1 3 ~ 209 1 1 454 1 "';;5 211 1 479 1 ;:s"" ------~- t:J Table 12----continued Table 12----continued &;· 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "';::: "' Lyon 143 1 as 114 1 3 "'c;· Lyon 148 1 1 180 1 ~ Rome289 2 as 180 1 Siscia as 163 1 copy of 180 1 CONSTANTIUS I! Trier 464 1 copy of 186 1 1 Trier 480 1 197 1 HELENA Trier 481 1 as 197 1 514 1 222 1 2 Trier 206 DIVO CONSTANTIO 1 as 222 1 1 HOUSE OF 228 1 CONSTANTINE copy as Lon 154 2 1 231 1 copy as 157 1 1 as 231 1 as 185 1 352 1 as 199 3 as 352 as London 267 1 1 London as 291 1 362 1 copy as Lon 291 1 367 1 2 as 293 1 373 1 1 copies as 293 3 398 1 Trier copy as 215 2 as 398 1 copy of 301 1 copy of 398 1 as 440 2 as 405 1 Ticinum as 134 1 as 433 1 period illeg 2 531 1 537 1 TOTAL 296-330 51 3 2 5 9 60 18 19 26 100 898 1 909 1 Period 17 HK as 1116 1 CONSTANTINE I 48 3 1125 1 as 48 1 1 3 illegible 1 as 48.a. 3 CONSTANTINE I! 49 1 copies as 48 4 as 49 6 5 6 53 1 copies as 49 1 55 1 1 1 56 5 1 1 1 1 60 2 1 1 as 56 1 1 61 2 63 5 1 1 1 1 21 62 1 1 3 2 68 1 1 2 67 1 1 73 1 1 72 1 81 il 87 3 2 82 1 as 87 5 2 as 82 1 copies as 87 1 88 2 1 1 4 92 1 4 as 88 3 copy of 92 1 93 7 1 3 106 1 as 99 1 1 3 as 106 1 1 as 107 4 114 1 1 124 1 1 *"'0 "-.J Table 12-continued Tnble 12--continued 0 (X>*"' 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 125 1 1 l 355 1 1 181 2 1 376 1 copies of 181 5 5 389 1 as 187 1 copy of 540 1 198 2 1 654 cut down 1 203 1 745 1 as 208 1 907 2 as 226 1 5 1008 1 229 1 1 1120 1 232 1 1 CONSTANTINOPOUS as 52 27 2 3 1 1 4 239 5 copies as 52 9 2 1 30 10 8 17 as 239 5 1 59 4 1 1 2 1 5 3 240 4 copies of 59 2 3 241 2 2 66 1 1 2 2 1 1 353 1 copies of 66 1 368 2 71 1 3 2 411 1 1 copy of 71 1 1 419 1 86 2 as 538 1 185 1 1 590 1 copies of 185 4 1 1 3 3 651 1 191 1 1 2 1 as 670 3 copies of 191 4 3 854 1 201 1 1 as 899 copy of 206 1 2 1 URBSROMA as 51 1 1 1 2 3 1 356 1 m >< copies as 51 7 2 3 33 16 5 11 366 1 £; as 58 1 1 372 1 1 1 g,..... 58 3 6 2 1 3 390 1 c:;· 65 2 1 1 2 1 2 5 547 1 ;:: "' copy of 65 1 1 1 1 1121 1 ~ 70 1 2 POPULUS ROMANUS 1061i 1 c: 70120) 1 1067 1 3 ;:: copy of 70 1 HELENA 104 1 va 76 5 2 1 3 4 as 104 1 10 "~ copies of 76 1 2 1 2 112 1 3 2 2 "';:::, ;:: 85 2 1 as 112 11 1 1 1 :;::,.. copy of 85 1 119 7 2 3 184 3 2 1 128 2 1 ~ copy of 184 4 1 2 1 1 THEODORA 105 1 1 "a 190 :::1 3 2 as 105 2 1 ~ copies of 190 1 3 2 copy of 105 1 CJ 195 1 113 1 1 1 1 a;;:: 200 5 2 1 as 113 4 1 1 " copy of 200 1 1 120 8 4 "',..... 205 1 1 2 as 120 2 ;:;"' copy of 205 1 copy of 120 1 ~ '------·-- ~· Table 12-continued t:J Table 12-continued c;;· 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 :;:: "(2 129 1 2 as 243 1 4 c;· ;::: as 1046 1 251 1 1 1 CONSTANS 84 2 as 257 2 1 copy of 87 1 258 4 copy of 89 1 as 261 1 90 2 262 1 as 90 1 1 1 270 1 95 2 274 1 as 102 1 2 401 1 110 1 1 1 418 1 117 1 421 1 118 1 443 1 127 1 1 1 as 445 1 131 1 1 449 1 as 131 2 1 2 457 1 133 6 2 1 3 4 459 1 as 133 1 592 2 134 1 1 1 645 1 copy of 134 4 1 672 1 138 2 1 2 1 as 672 1 as 138 7 1 5 3 2 2 14 757 1 140 13 2 1 3 3 4 784 1 140.a. 1 3 791 1 copy of 140.a. 1 793 1 142 1 2 1399 1 as 142 1 CONSTANTIUS I! 50 1 2 143.a. 1 as 50 3 1 144 1 2 copies as 50 2 145 2 57 2 1 1 1 146 2 as 57 2 148 14 3 4 6 64 2 1 1 1 1 1 149 3 69 1 1 2 150 4 3 1 74 1 152 1 83 1 1 153 1 89 2 1 1 1 as 153 1 3 as 89 20 5 7 154 1 2 1 copy as 89 1 155 4 1 1 6 94 1 1 1 1 156 1 as 94 1 1 158 9 1 1 1 as 99 <21 > 1 159 2 1 as 100 2 4 160 4 1 2 3 copy as 100 1 1 161 2 108 1 162 1 1 116 1 163 1 2 2 126 2 1 3 2 5 164 1 as 126 2 *'"0 -'------\.0 Tnb/e 1.2-continued Tnb/e 12-continued *"'...... 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 130 1 3 637 1 as 130 1 as 684 1 132 3 1 1 3 744 1 as 132 1 756 1 135 1 792 1 137 3 3 as 963 1 as 137 1 1 HOUSE OF 139 1 1 CONSTANTINE as 48 1 2 2 1 141 1 copy of 48 19 1 3 1 143 1 copies as 48 3 3 23 15 6 4 145 3 1 2 copy of 49 1 as 145 4 copy as 49 1 147 1 1 copy as 50 1 148 1 copy of 52 2 149 1 as 60 1 150 8 copy of 60 1 152 1 copy of 62 1 as 161 1 2 copies of 63 3 copies of 182 2 2 as 87 29 4 3 2 1 5 188 2 copies as 87 8 1 2 31 12 16 20 copy of 188 1 as 88 8 1 189 2 copy as 88 8 1 1 199 1 2 as 92 1 204 1 copy as 92 1 t"r:l 234 1 copy of 93 1 >< 242 2 1 2 2 4 as 99 1 2 252 1 as 107 1 g as 252 1 as 132 1 g. ;:: 256 2 as 137 30 2 6 18 1 1 10 'Jl as 259 1 copies as 137 4 ~ 260 1 as 145 1 ~ as 273 1 copy of 158 1 ~- 'Jl as 354 1 1 1 copy of 187 1 ("") 22 a copy of 354 ( J 1 copy of 222 1 1 M" 370 1 as 227 1 ;:: 400 1 as 239 2 1 :::..."" 407 1 copy of 249 1 412 1 as 252 1 ~ a("") 413 1 copy of 352 1 2! 441 1 as 398 2 ~ as 444 1 as 400 1 Cl 447 as 405 1 1 a:;:: 455 1 as 411 1 ("") 591 1 as 542 1 ~ as 609 1 as 577 3 "';;\ 614 1 as 674 1 ~ _L - ~- t:J Table 12-continued Table 12-continued (j)· (') 1 2 4 7 .:: 3 5 6 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 <:n <:n obv 49 I rev 52 1 as 249 1 a· ;::: obv 51/rev 48 1 252 1 obv 51/rev 52 1 as 253 1 2 obv 51/rev 59 1 256 2 obv 52/ rev 51 2 265 4 obv 52/ rev 87 1 400 1 obv 134/ rev 87 1 455 1 illeg copies 1 7 100 11 457 1 460 1 TOTAL 330-48 471 15 20 63 115 316 163 26 173 340 591 1 CONSTANTIUS Period 18 CALLUS 74.a. 1 CONSTANS as 30.a. 1 as 931 1 33 1 2 3 1 1 3 as 2830 1 as 33 2 2 2 HOUSE OF 35 3 3 1 1 CONSTANTINE as 25 3 2 2 2 as 35 2 1 1 1 copies as 25 70 40 45 16 50 37 copy of 35 1 as 27 3 36 1 1 as 40 3 37 1 copy as 40 1 37.b. 1 copies as 47 27 4 39 1 copies of 72 2 41 1 copies of 196 3 179 1 copy of 253 1 180 1 as 256 1 185 1 illegible copies 1 13 50 2 3 188 1 MAGNENTIUS 4 2 604 1 copy of 4 1 as 1117 1 5 1 CONSTANTIUS I! AR RIC Aries 261 1 as 25 1 1 copy of 5 3 9 1 as 28 1 1 as 8 1 1 1 2 30 1 1 copy of 8 6 1 32 2 1 3 copy as 8 3 1 as 32 3 1 11 1 34 1 3 1 as 12 1 1 1 as 34 2 1 13 1 37.a. 1 15 1 40 1 19 2 23 as 40 2 copy as 19 < > 1 67 1 20 1 as 70 1 as 49 1 1 24 copies as 72 4 3 as 49 < > 1 76 1 copy of 49 1 as 76 2 50 2 197 1 53 1 249 1 copy of 53 1 *"'...... Table 12-continued Table 12-continued *"'...... N 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 as 56 2 1 1 479 3 1 2 copies of 56 1 2 2 as 479 4 2 58 1 1 481 1 1 1 as 58 1 2 as 481 1 1 copy iiS 58 1 482 1 copy of 210 1 as 487 1 211 1 490 3 213 2 1 as 496 1 as 214 1 as 498 1 214 (2S) 1 501 2 2 215 1 508 1 2 244 1 509 1 416 1 512 3 1 1 4 2 iiS 431 1 514 1 433 1 as 514 2 iiS 435 1 519 1 DECENT IUS iiS 6 1 521 1 14 1 I 525 5 2 18 1 as 525 1 as 230 1 527 2 2 lsis token 1 as 527 1 5 as 704 1 Period 19 721 1 VALENTINTAN I AR RIC 9 Rome IO.a. 1 724 1 92 1 969 1 L"rJ i-< as 96 1 1 3 986 1 1 ";::, 99 1 994 1 ~ 109 1 1011 2 2 5· ! ;::: 275 1 1014 1 Vl ' as 275 8 2 4 1 3 1028 1 ;::,,..,. 279 8 1030 1 ?<:: as 279 1 1 3 1035 1 ;::-1• Oq 284 2 1315 1 Vl as 284 1 1408 1 ";:;_ 286 2 2 as 1412 1 ;::, "';::: 293 1 2 1414 1 1 1 ;:::,... as 296 1 3 as 1415 but SISCP 1 300 2 1420 1 ~ 311 4 1 1424 1 a ";::1 317 5 1760 1 ,c:r 321 4 1 illegible 1 c;J 330 2 VALENS 82 1 0 ;:: 334 1 as 82 8 338 4 1 as 93 1 ""'Vl,..,. 342 2 as 97 1 1 3 1 3 3 3 "'~ as 477 1 as 110 1 ;:::;< ~· t:J Table 12----continued Table 12----continued <;;· 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 :;::'"' "' 274 1 725 2 1 "'c;· ;::: as 276 1 730 1 278 1 966 2 as 278 1 968 1 1 2 as 280 12 1 as 968 1 as 282 8 6 3 6 976 1 285 1 979 1 as 285 1 991 1 289 2 995 1 as 289 1 1012 1 1 as 298 1 9 1015 1 303 1 1018 1 as 303 1 4 1021 1 1 305 1 1031 1 3 309 1 1 1 as 1031 1 319 1 1280 1 as 319 1 as 1318 1 322 1 as 1363 1 as 322 1 1416 1 332 2 2 1417 1 2 340 1 1 2 1427 1 344 1 1933 1 348 1 2664 1 359 1 GRATIAN 98 1 363 1 as 98 1 480 2 1 1 1 as 297 1 1 3 as 480 2 as 299 1 483 4 1 302 2 as 483 2 1 304 1 486 1 316 1 as 486 1 339 2 1 1 489 1 1 341 1 492 1 360 1 as 497 1 364 1 502 1 1 503 1 1 504 1 as 503 1 510 1 1 517 1 2 513 1 2 as 517 7 516 1 2 1 523.a. 3 1 3 as 516 6 529 10 3 10 11 519 1 1 as 529 4 523 1 1 533 1 1 1 526 1 2 1 1 536 1 528 1 2 2 3 534 1 as528 6 726 1 532 2 1016 1 ...... ·-- *'"w Table 12 -continued Table 12 -continued ""'>-' 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ""' as 1312 1 790 1 1412 1 as 797 2 1 1413 2 uncertain 1 1423 2 ARCADIUS as 164 1 2 1 HOUSE OF 167 1 VALENTINIAN AR as RIC9 Trier 27 1 392 2 as 96 16 2 2 2 1 1 14 17 566 1 as 275 14 2 7 8 3 as 566 1 as 280 1 798 1 as 286 1 i as 798 4 1 as 296 5 uncertain 1 as 328 1 HONORIUS as 174 1 as 479 1 1 as 806 2 as 481 I as 810 1 as 489 1 1 HOUSE OF as 514 3 THEODOSIUS as 162 10 5 1 2 1 6 14 as 527 2 as 562 1 1 ' illegible 30 1 1 as 796 29 5 2 5 7 illegible 1 2 6 5 I Period 20 GRATIAN as 153 4 TOTAL 348--402 514 56 23 177 103 397 85 14 280 307 371 3 as 371 1 Notes 377 1 (1) Obv as ISH./ Rev as Republican C Pi so Frugi; plated. t'T":1 378 1 (2) Rev FELICITAS CVBLICAS >< THEODOSIUS I 149 1 (3) as in RIC but PONT TRP II COS ";:::, MA GNUS (4) Obv asl92/Rev as Sept Sev 21 Cj ...... ;:::, MAXIMUS AR RIC9 Trier 84.b. 1 (5) but type as RIC 27 without eagle c;· (6) Rev is a mirror image of that described in RIC ;:s as 156 2 1 1 3 (7) Peacock at foot C/l 560 1 ;:::, (8) Obv Diva Clavdio as 261/Rev as Gallienus 179 with mm. reversed ...... ARCADIUS as 1565 1 (9) Regular, but with Obv bust 3 ?<; HOUSE OF Si' (10) Rev is incuse of Obv ()q THEODOSIUS as 144 1 (11) as RIC but Mars holds a branch V> as 767 1 (12) Two soldiers, standards and shields with altar between them 8 ~ as 782 1 (13) as RIC but an odd style ;:::, ;:s (14) RIC V Carausius, p 551, no 5 ;:::,.. Period 21 (15) Flowers like entwined Lotus flowers (16) as RIC but without T /F in the field VALENTINIAN 11 as 162 1 ~ (17) as RIC but TF /*missing 562 1 1 "a (18) as RIC but Obv legend I.e. ::::1 796 1 (19) as 198 but portrait of Constantine I ,""'" as 796 3 (20) Obv has incuse of Rev GJ 1105 1 (21) Rev has incuse of Obv a;;:: THEODOSIUS I as 162 1 (22) Doublestruck 391 1 (23) Overstruck on HK as 137 ""'.....C/l (24) Overstruck on Providentia Augg 2l 565 1 CJi 568 1 (25) Overstruck on Providentia Augg ;::,- ~· Discussion 415 very few coins listed by a simple reference number and in each of the 21 chronological periods: Tables (eg HK 87) are inaccurately described. The doubt 13-14list the numbers of coins which have been fully belongs to the coins described as 'As HK 87', which identified, together with the less legible examples, means that we thought it could be that reference but and Table 15 gives these figures of legible coins as could not be sure. If the coin was described as 'copy coins per thousand identifiable coins in each group. of HK 87' then the copier seemed to be copying a Even without further work the basic characteristics particular coin but did not get it quite right; a 'copy as of the sites, and their similarities, are clear. There are HK 87' means that it is only possible to guess that few coins in any site group before AD 260 (periods 1 to the copier was aiming for that particular type. Differ 12). After that, the number of coins in the later third ent workers have totally legitimate, but different, and fourth centuries varies. It is that variability which standards for judging copies of fourth-century coins, needs examining. and the same person working in 1970 and 1990 again All the site groups belong to the category of rural has different standards. In the last resort the settlements in the west of Britain. Each site is more archaeological implications of this uncertainty are extensive than the conventional villa, but has not the small, for in very few cases has the coin been regular street grid of the formal town. The distri attributed to the wrong chronological period or put in bution of coins on this class of site has been examined the wrong date bracket. and compared with other classes of site in a recent publication (Reece 1993). The characteristics of the western settlement are different from villas and COINS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FULL CATALOGUE towns, and even from similar settlements in the east Coln St Aldwyns. One Greek coin of Apollonia was of Britain. While the method used in that publication included with the site finds. It is listed in the British work well for large numbers of coins, it is not so Museum Catalogue of Greek Coins, vol vi, Apollonia, useful for site totals such as those from the Cotswold as number 1. It might be a perfectly good local find, small towns. The method which will be used here but since it is so unusual attention needs to be drawn was first used to compare 140 sites in Britain (Reece to it. 1995), which included some of the smaller towns Dorn. Four coins stand out from this small collection under discussion. both physically and numismatically. A diagram can be produced by showing how the site accumulates coinage up to the total of a thousand 1 Trajan: bronze, smaller than an As, possibly eastern coins per thousand. Fig 151a shows the cumulative but with Latin legend. curve for an average of all types of site in Britain. 2 Third-century Sestertius reverse illegible with an Clearly every site starts at 0 coins per thousand before odd patina. the coins of period 1 have been added on, then the total accumulates until the last coin in period 21 has 3 Elagabalus: well-preserved Dupondius RIC 301. been added. The result, by definition, must be a total 4 Honorius: CK 828, very clear reverse, no patina. of 1000 coins per thousand. The interest lies in the way that the site 'fills up' with coin. The British Kingscote 1: Hoard S. The catalogue for this hoard average shows a slow start so that while half the time will be found on p 91. · of the Roman occupation has elapsed (period 12, 238 The full catalogue is given in a composite list with the to 260), less than 200 coins per thousand have entered reference down the left-hand margin, and the number the site. Radiate coins boost the total (260 to 296), and of coins for each reference number in each group in the fourth century is always a period of abundant the appropriate column. The reference books used are coin loss. listed at the head of each section, and the coins are Figure 151b shows the British mean again listed by the periods described in Reece 1991. with Kingscote 2 added. It can easily be seen that Kingscote lags far behind the British mean until it catches up in the radiate period. It shadows the mean Discussion exactly from 296 to 330, then runs ahead, to pull back The full factual information available is in the at the end of the fourth century. This story can extended lists to be found in the dating summaries be shown in even clearer fashion in Fig 151c by within the stratigraphic section. What follows here is subtracting the difference between the two lines on rearrangement of those lists to make the information Fig 151b. Kingscote is below the mean until275, then more comprehensible or approachable; it is interpre catches up, marches with the mean, then shoots tation rather than further basic information. ahead, and comes back to normal. One rearrangement which makes the lists more Figure 152a-c shows the ten site groups under manageable is to group the coins into the periods examination set out according to this method. Coln St of issue already marked in the lists. Tables 13-15 Aldwyns recovers from the low coin loss typical of summarise the numbers of coins in each site group, this class of site in period 17 (AD 330-48) at which 416 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire Table 13 Coins by sites and period fully identified Syrf Kings Kings Kings King King King period C StA Dorn Mill Wyc 2 Wyc 1 2 2H 76 Var 1 SF 1 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 8 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 9 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 11 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 10 7 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 1 1 1 9 8 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 3 0 0 4 9 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 10 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 5 1 0 7 11 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 5 12 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 13 193 8 3 9 7 6 9 20 11 40 143 14 161 5 6 6 4 363 341 41 7 45 224 15 2 0 0 0 1 7 1 2 3 2 20 16 46 3 2 5 8 48 0 16 14 24 76 17 471 15 20 63 115 315 1 163 26 173 340 18 93 6 0 63 55 122 0 65 7 61 98 19 219 17 8 49 41 12 0 7 160 100 20 8 1 1 0 0 0 0 7 5 21 53 13 7 26 6 2 0 0 0 8 26 Total 1254 72 52 227 241 880 357 318 81 524 1106 Table 14 Coins by sites and period not fully identified Syrf Kings Kings Kings King King King period C StA Dorn Mill Wyc 2 Wyc 1 2 2H 76 Var 1 SF 1st-2nd C Denarius illegible As illegible 4 Dupondius illegible 1 Second century As illegible 1 2nd-3rd C Denarius illegible 1 1 3rd-4th C 4 3 212 38 13 33 73 4th c 132 15 7 37 4 6 11 4 Medieval 1 17th C token 5 1 George III 1 Oddments 6 Total illegible 146 20 7 38 0 225 38 20 0 44 79 Final total 1400 92 59 265 241 1105 395 338 81 568 1185 Discussion 417 point Dorn goes even further against the trend. majority of the coins have been separated out the Dorn's recovery comes as late as period 19 (AD effect on the graphs is less overwhelming. The main 364-78). Kingscote characteristic is a move above the mean Figure 152b shows the sites at Wycomb and they line after 317 or 330. Only Kingscote 1 fails to show group in an interesting way. Wycomb 2 represents a this strongly, and that site does show a large represen series of coins from an excavated area fully published tation of coins of period 19 (364-78). Kingscote 1, in the excavation report. Wycomb 1 represents a therefore, marches with Wycomb and Dorn in making series of surface finds which have been attributed to a strong return in the late fourth century after a their detailed chronological periods well after the first period of unusually low coin loss. examination. The coins excavated from Syreford Mill If the ten groups are put together into their four are clearly closer in origin and history to Wycomb respective separate sites, Coln St Aldwyns, Dorn, 2, yet they show a quite different pattern. Despite Wycomb and Kingscote, an interesting sequence can different forms of collection, identification, publi be seen (Fig 153). The four sites hang together well cation, and the size of group, the two Wycomb groups until period 12 (AD 260). This closeness is simply the hang remarkably closely together, while the Syreford absence of early coins which are more common on Mill coins look closer to those from Coln St Aldwyns. other types of site and other areas of Britain. After AD The Wycomb characteristic is a dearth of the usually 260 Coln St Aldwyns moves upwards against the common coins of 260 to 296 and scarcity of 296 mean and stays parallel with it until period 16 (AD to 330. Then in period 17 (AD 330-48) there is a 330). The other three sites continue to fall below the surprising surge which brings the site back towards mean from AD 260 to 275, but then Kingscote sharply normality. recovers. The rise in coin loss here, mainly barbarous The five Kingscote groups hold moderately well radiates, outstrips Coln St Aldwyns, which is merely together, though Kingscote 2 shows an abnormally moving with the mean. Kingscote continues to move sharp rise from a very low position with the addition more strongly than the mean till AD 364 and then of the coins of period 14 (AD 275-96). These are gradually moves back. Wycomb continues to drop mainly the barbarous radiates, and are the same coins against the mean until AD 330 and then there is very which form the majority of the possible hoard which strong movement well above the general trend in coin has been separated out (King 2 H on Tables 13 and loss. Dorn is the last site to come out of decline, and 14). It seems as if this possible hoard has in fact that not until after AD 364. The general picture is contaminated other deposits, but at least now that the therefore one of sites which have a higher than Table 15 Total coins per thousand fully identified Syrf Kings Kings King King King period C StA Dorn Mill Wyc2 Wyc 1 2 76 Var 1 SF 1 0.00 0.00 19.23 13.22 0.00 0.00 0.00 12.35 0.00 7.23 2 1.59 0.00 0.00 4.41 0.00 0.00 0.00 12.35 0.00 8.14 3 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.71 4 0.00 27.78 19.23 4.41 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.82 9.95 5 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.62 6 0.00 13.89 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 12.35 1.91 9.04 7 0.80 13.89 38.46 0.00 8.30 0.00 3.14 12.35 1.91 8.14 8 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.15 1.14 9.43 0.00 0.00 3.62 9 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.27 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.62 10 2.39 0.00 19.23 0.00 0.00 0.00 15.72 12.35 0.00 6.33 11 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.27 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.52 12 1.59 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.14 12.35 0.00 0.00 13 153.91 111.11 57.69 39.65 29.05 6.82 62.89 135.80 76.34 129.29 14 128.39 69.44 115.38 26.43 16.60 412.50 128.93 86.42 85.88 202.53 16 36.68 41.67 38.46 22.03 33.20 54.55 50.31 172.84 45.80 68.72 17 375.60 208.33 384.62 277.53 477.18 357.95 512.58 320.99 330.15 307.41 18 74.16 83.33 0.00 277.53 228.22 138.64 204.40 86.42 116.41 88.61 19 174.64 236.11 153.85 215.86 170.12 13.64 3.14 86.42 305.34 90.42 20 6.38 13.89 19.23 4.41 4.15 0.00 0.00 0.00 13.36 4.52 21 42.26 180.56 134.62 114.54 24.90 2.27 0.00 0.00 15.27 23.51 418 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire Discussion 419 50.00 0.00 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 -50.00 -100.00 -150.00 -200.00 -+-est A -D-Dorn -250.00 I -300.00 50.00 0.00 13 14 15 16 -50.00 -100.00 -150.00 -200.00 -+-SyrfMill -250.00 -D-Wyc2 -300.00 -lr-Wyc 1 -350.00 -400.00 200.00 150.00 -+-Kingsll -D-King76 100.00 -lr-King Var '"'"*"'" King 1 50.00 -King SF 0.00 7 8 9 10 11 12 -50.00 -100.00 -150.00 -200.00 -250.00 -300.00 Fig 152 Coin loss from Coln St Aldwyns, Dorn, Wycomb and Kingscote. N 0""" 100~------, 50 0 k-+---+- l I -50 -100 -+-est A ~Dorn -150 --.tr-wycomb --*""" Kingscote -200 t"rJ H (") :;::, g -250 5· ;:: Vl :;::,,..,_ -300 ~ :::1" oa (") ,..,_a -350 "':;::, ;:: ;::,.. -~0~------~ ~ a(") :::1 ~ Fig .153 Coin loss from Kingscote, Coln St Aldwyns, Darn and Wycomb. CJ a:;;::: (") la ;:,;"' ~ ~- Discussion 421 average coin loss in the fourth century, though each King (1978; 1984) has demonstrated that species site has its own characteristics. representation on Romano-British sites tends to vary So far, I would hold that everything that has been according to the status of the site. Cattle, for example, plotted in the diagrams is simple manipulation of the are generally better represented on military and numbers and percentages of coins; everything that major urban sites. Native rural settlements tend to has been said is simple commentary on the pictures. have higher percentages of sheep, and pigs are better It might be appropriate to draw a very firm line in the represented on 'Romanised' sites. Maltby (1995) has text at this point to mark the change to speculation. shown that horse bones are usually found in smaller There is a small amount of information from coin numbers in urban samples than in rural assemblages loss that suggests that the 'strength of finish' is of Romano-British date in southern England. inversely related to the social status of the site. Most of the major Romano-British towns that have London falls in coin use much earlier than most of the produced large faunal assemblages have provided civitas capitals, and most of the civitas capitals fall in evidence for large-scale processing of cattle carcasses coin use before the smaller settlements (Reece 1991). (Maltby 1979; 1984; 1993). This includes evidence Peter Woodward, in the Ower region of Dorset, has from both Cirencester and Gloucester (Maltby 1984, shown with a flash of inspiration, and very small 130-3). In addition, studies of butchery marks have numbers of coins, that industrial huts continued to indicated that specialist butchering and processing of lose coins after well-appointed houses (Woodward cattle carcasses was commonly taking place on these 1980). If these pointers mean anything then the status urban sites (Maltby 1989). Such processing activities of our sites descends from Kingscote to Coln St have been encountered only rarely on rural sites Aldwyns to Wycomb to Dorn. (Maltby 1995). Alternatively, and much more simply, there may be Analysis of metrical data for domestic animals has some inbuilt span of coin using, like the human three indicated that there were variations in the size of the score years and ten, which is seldom exceeded. Sites major domestic species during the Romano-British in the east of Britain seem to start their span soon period and in different regions. Sheep, for example, after the conquest of AD 43, but decline after 290 were generally smaller in Exeter than in the Midlands (Reece 1991; 1993). This would give a span of roughly (Maltby 1979, 51) and Noddle (1984) noted that sheep 250 years. The western sites to which our ten groups from Cotswold sites tended to be larger than those and four sites belong are clearly getting going after from Dinorben in North Wales. Variations in the size 260 and never finish their allotted span. On this of stock have also been noted within a region. Maltby model, brought down to local scale, Kingscote is over (1995) has demonstrated that more larger pigs and the hill by about 360, Coln St Aldwyns starts off later sheep were represented in assemblages from the and continues later, and Wycomb and Dorn are cut town and suburbs of Winchester than in the off in their prime. contemporary neighbouring rural settlement at Both these ideas, however tenuous, are consistent Owslebury. with the evidence. The requirement from future Mortality profiles of domestic stock and the assemblages is to add detail to the picture, and by relative proportion of male and female animals have increasing the information available to cut down on also shown variations on Roman sites both chrono the speculative theories allowed by the evidence. logically and regionally (Maltby 1981; 1995). With such work in the future it might be possible to The reasons for these variations reflect changes in dissect out from the ideas thrown out here elements the exploitation of domestic stock, related in part to which could be firmly based in economic and variations in the relative importance of secondary archaeological theory. products such as wool, dairy produce and traction power in their husbandry. They reflect trends in dietary preference and in the spread of larger types of stock and innovative husbandry methods. They are THE ANIMAL BONES FROM ROMAN 'SMALL also beginning to provide evidence for patterning in TOWNS' IN THE COTSWOLDS faunal assemblages between settlements dependent By Mark Maltby on their social and economic status. Introduction Such studies are handicapped by the haphazard distribution of published excavations that have It is generally recognised that studies of animal bones provided large samples of bones analysed in suffi not only have the potential to provide evidence about cient detail. There is as yet no region that has a the animal husbandry practised by inhabitants of satisfactory range of good samples taken from a wide individual settlements and their meat consumption, range of settlement types. Several areas, however, do but can also furnish information about broader have potential for such intersite comparisons and regional trends in animal exploitation and the these include the Cotswolds where a number of organisation of the distribution of animal products. samples from urban, rural and ritual sites have 422 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire already been studied (Noddle 1984; Maltby 1983; limits the value of the assemblage. Nevertheless, 1984; Thawley 1982; Levitan 1993). since all the assemblage can be dated broadly to the The Cotswold 'small towns' post-excavation later Roman period, it can provide general infor programme has given the opportunity to review the mation about species representation, mortality rates fauna! evidence from these sites and to evaluate their and the size of the animals represented. value in the light of our present knowledge of animal exploitation in Roman Britain. BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER Animal bones from this site were scanned by the The faunal samples author. They consisted of 361 fragments from a variety of locations that were not well stratified and WYCOMB-ANDOVERSFORD not closely dated. The species identified were Small samples of bones were recovered from both the recorded for each location and the record is stored Syreford Mill and A40 Bypass sites. The former site with the site archive. produced just over 1000 fragments (Table 16). These were derived mainly from pits, although a number of gullies also produced small assemblages. Material DORN from all phases of occupation was represented, There are no fauna! samples from this site available including some of late prehistoric date. However, for study. because of problems of interpreting the labelling on the bone bags and the contexts on the site itself, it was The fauna! samples are not of high quality. The difficult to assign the bones to discrete phases. Kingscote sample is quite large but cannot be Therefore, the whole assemblage has to be treated as subjected to rigorous analysis because of deficiencies one group, which severely limits its value. in the extant archive. The samples from Bourton-on Assessment of the material was carried out by the the-Water and Wycomb, Syreford Mill also suffer author and the report is lodged with the site archive. from recording and phasing problems. The latter Preservation of animal bones from the site was sample is also quite poorly preserved. The Wycomb generally only moderate and, in places, quite poor. A40 By-pass material is better preserved and recorded Fragmentation of the bones was quite severe and 63% and can be studied contextually. However, the of the bone fragments could not be identified to relatively small sample appears to have been sub species (Table 16). There was a notable bias towards jected to selectivity of bones at some stage and is not loose teeth and more robust parts of the skeleton. a reliable sample to compare with other sites for this Preservation conditions were unfavourable for the reason. survival of bones of young mammals, birds and fish. The samples from the A40 Bypass produced a Species representation smaller assemblage of 422 bones but these were better preserved. A total of 278 fragments came from the fills Despite the problems with the assemblages, there are of a late Roman hollow-way and the remainder from some aspects which deserve brief discussion. Table a number of early Roman features (Table 16). Only 50 16 lists the fragments identified from the samples fragments were unidentified and this suggests that discussed above. The sample from the Wycomb A40 there has been some selectivity in the retention of By-pass site was divided into two groups for this animal bones since excavation. All identified bones purpose (Late Roman hollow-way; Other features). from this excavation have been individually recorded Other samples were not subdivided. by the author and their records form part of the site All the assemblages were dominated by bones of archive. cattle and sheep/ goat. These provided between 73% and 85% of the fragments of cattle, sheep I goat, pig, KINGSCOTE dog and horse in the samples investigated (Table The animal bones were identified and analysed by 17). There were, however, notable variations in the Barbara Noddle. A sample of about 5900 identified relative percentages of these species. Cattle fragments bones was recorded and the resulting report is were particularly dominant (64%) in the later Roman included in the site archive (Noddle nd). As no hollow-way fills at the Wycomb A40 By-pass site. In phasing information was available when the analysis contrast, the samples from Wycomb, Syreford Mill was originally carried out, the bones were considered site, and Bourton-on-the-Water were dominated by as one group. Since no individual records, nor a sum sheep/goat fragments (48% and 50% respectively). mary of bones found in each context, are stored in the The large sample from Kingscote included 41% cattle archive, and since the bones themselves have been and 38% sheep I goat (Table 16). thrown away, it is impossible to compare assem Species variability can be a complex phenomenon blages from different phases or feature types. This and the results here simply highlight how much these Discussion 423 Table 16 Species Represented in the Faunal Samples (Fragments) Wycomb Wycomb Wycomb A40 A40 Syreford Hollow way Other Kingscote Bourton Cattle 111 164 38 2377 86 Sheep/Goat 186 44 35 2167 111 Pig 34 39 26 828 19 Horse 38 10 2 239 14 Dog 3 143 2 Cat 20 Red Deer 2 85 Roe Deer 15 1 Badger 21 .1 Fox 1 Hare 1 1 Weasel 1 Water Vole 1 Rodent 3 Domestic Fowl 4 2 2 4 Duck 1 1 Raven 2 Passerine 1 Fish 1 Total Identified 374 267 105 5903 238 Unidentified 643 11 39 ? 123 Total 1017 278 144 ? 361 Syreford=Syreford Mill site A40=A40 By-Pass site Bourton = Bourton-on-the-Water Data from Kingscote from Noddle (nd); data from other sites from author Table 17 Percentages and Ratios of Major Domestic Species c s p H D C:H C:SP S:P Wycomb, Syreford 30 50 9 10 .8 .74 .34 .85 Wycomb, A40 Hollow-way 64 17 15 4 0 .94 .66 .53 Wycomb, A40 Other 38 35 26 2 0 .95 .38 .57 Kingscote 41 38 14 4 2 .91 .44 .72 Bourton-on-the-Water 37 48 8 6 .9 .86 .40 .85 C=% cattle; S=% sheep/goat; P=% pig; H=% horse; C:H=proportion of cattle of total cattle and horse fragments C:SP=proportion of cattle of total of cattle, sheep/goat and pig S:P=proportion of sheep/goat ot total of sheep/goat and pig totals can vary within a settlement (Wycomb) and becoming more important in the late Roman period between settlements. However, a whole series of represented particularly at Wycomb A40 By-pass. different factors could account for these variations. This would assume that the Syreford Mill and These include chronological variations with cattle Bourton-on-the-Water samples were principally of 424 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire early Roman date-a fact that cannot be substan the relative frequency of pig bones. The proportion of tiated. Depositional variation could account for the pig to sheep I goat at Wycomb A40 By-pass site is as high percentage of cattle in the Wycomb hollow-way, high as that encountered on some major urban sites which may have seen the deliberate deposition of such as Dorchester and Winchester (Maltby 1995) large bones of cattle. Variations could also reflect the and comparable to some samples from Cirencester dietary preferences and socio-economic status of the (Maltby 1984, 131). The ratio of sheep:pig at settlements or parts of the settlements involved. Kingscote is similar to that from most phases at However, sample sizes from all but Kingscote are too Frocester Court (Noddle 1984). As stated above, small to be very reliable. Romanised sites, particularly larger urban settle Therefore, it is fairly clear that cattle and sheep/ ments, tend to have higher percentages of pig bones goat were the principal species exploited but it is than native settlements. However, the sample from difficult to determine their relative importance. the other site excavated in Wycomb contains low Noddle (nd) draws attention to the fact that loose percentages of pig, comparable with figures obtained teeth formed only 12% of the cattle assemblage but from many Iron Age and native rural Roman sites in 45% of the sheep I goat assemblage at Kingscote. Since southern England (Maltby 1995; King 1984). This may higher percentages of loose teeth can indicate poorer be partly due to the poor preservation conditions at survival of other bones, this implies that sheep I goat the Syreford Mill site but the samples from all but could well be under-represented in this assemblage Kingscote are really too small to be reliable. in comparison with cattle. Estimates of minimum Horse bones were found in all the samples and numbers of individuals at this site produced higher provided between 2% and 10% of the identified numbers of sheep (258) than cattle (231) (Noddle nd). fragments of the major domestic animals (Tables This again may indicate that differential preservation 16-17). The assemblages with the higher proportions may have favoured the recovery of cattle fragments of sheep:pig also had higher proportions of horse: but the more robust bones of sheep I goat (from which cattle (Syreford Mill and Bourton-on-the-Water). The minimum number estimates would have been ratio of horse:cattle was below 0.10 at Kingscote and derived) survived in relatively greater numbers. in both samples from the Wycomb A40 By-pass site Sheep and goat bones can only be distinguished (Table 17). Horse bones have generally been found from certain elements. Sheep bones appear to have more commonly on Iron Age and Romano-British formed the majority of the ovicaprid bones at rural sites in Hampshire than in the towns of Kingscote, although 77 bones were identified specifi Winchester and Dorchester, Dorset (Maltby 1995). cally as goat (Noddle nd). Specific identifications of The reasons lie in the increasing importance of sheep are not provided, although it is assumed that providing cattle for the urban market and possibly in they formed the majority of the remaining 2090 sheep changes in attitude to horse as a food animal in or goat bones from the site. No goat bones were Roman Britain. specifically identified at the Syreford Mill nor the A40 Dog bones were not identified in the Wycomb A40 By-pass sites at Wycomb but 7 and 17 of the ovicaprid By-pass assemblage but formed a small percentage of bones respectively on these sites definitely belonged the identified bones in the other samples (Tables to sheep. One goat bone was included in the Bourton 16-17). Cat was only identified at Kingscote. on-the-Water material compared with 17 definitely Noddle (nd) identified 85 red deer bones from belonging to sheep. Ovicaprid samples dominated Kingscote and these, therefore, form a small (less than by sheep are normal on Roman settlement sites, 1% of the identified fragments) but interesting part of although the prevalence of goat bones at the nearby the assemblage, indicating that some hunting was Uley Temple site (Levitan 1993) should not be for practised and venison provided a supplement to the gotten. Pig fragments also varied in frequency in the meat diet for at least some of the inhabitants of the assemblages (Tables 16-17). They were much better settlement. Roe deer bones were also present in small represented at the Wycomb A40 By-pass site early numbers at Kingscote. Two bones of red deer were Roman features (26%) than elsewhere. The later identified in the Wycomb A40 By-pass hollow-way Roman samples at Kingscote and Wycomb A40 By fills and a roe deer bone was found at Bourton-on pass produced 15% and 14% pig fragments respec the-Water (Table 16). tively. Pig bones were poorly represented at the Other mammal bones were found only very rarely Wycomb, Syreford Mill and Bourton-on-the-Water (Table 16). Badger was represented at Kingscote and sites. Comparing sheep I goat and pig fragments only Bourton-on-the-Water and hare at Kingscote and (Table 17) produced similar trends although pigs Wycomb, Syreford Mill. Fox, weasel and water vole were comparatively well represented in the late were identified at Kingscote. Three rodent incisors Roman hollow-way as well as the earlier features at from a single context from Wycomb A40 Bypass the Wycomb A40 By-Pass site. probably also belonged to water vole. The lack of Again, it is difficult to determine which factors sieving would have precluded the recovery of most were the most important causes for the variability in small mammal and amphibian bones. Discussion 425 Bird bones may also be under-represented b.ecause Metrical data of retrieval biases. However, only two domeshc fowl The most valuable information available from these bones and one other bird bone were noted by Noddle collections is derived from the metrical data recorded (nd) at Kingscote. More bird bones were in fact found by Noddle for the Kingscote asse~blage. All ~he in the much smaller samples from Bourton-on-the measurements taken are available m the archive Water and Wycomb. This cannot simply be the result report for this site together with her observations of different retrieval practices. The large number about the results (Noddle nd). Discussion of the of loose teeth recorded at Kingscote, for example, results in relation to other Romano-British sites has indicates that fragments smaller than many domestic also been published (Noddle 1984). fowl bones were recovered. It is possible that bird The Kingscote data represent a later Roman a~sem bones were separated from the mammal bones at blage which can be used in such general compansons. some stage after excavation and have been sub- The data can be supplemented by the bones measu:;ed sequently lost. . by the author from t.he Wycon:b A40 Bypass site, Domestic fowl bones were found m small numbers which are also stored m the archive. at Bourton-on-the-Water and Wycomb A40 By-pass. Table 18 provides a summary of the most com~on Bones of duck were found at both the Wycomb sites measurements from Kingscote based on the archive and raven was represented on the A40 By-pass. site data. The results indicate that there is a lot of (Table 16). Domestic fowl and ducks of vanous variation in the size of the cattle represented. This, as species are the most common species of birds found Noddle (nd) argues, can be largely ascrib:d to sexual on Romano-British sites and ravens are also com dimorphism with the broader bones ma~nly.belong monly found at some sites. ing to males. Noddle also suggests that, If Kmgscote was largely a consumer site, cattle may have been Table 18 Summary of Measurements of Bones from Kingscote N Range Mean sd CV Cattle Metacarpal GL 21 158-217 186.0 13.4 7.2 Bp 52 40-63 51.7 5.3 10.3 Bdf 39 42-60 49.8 4.7 9.4 Metatarsal GL 9 182-225 208.6 14.8 7.1 Bp 32 37-57 43.2 3.7 8.6 Bdf 23 39-57 47.9 4.6 9.6 Tibia Bd 18 45-64 55.2 5.5 10.0 Withers Heights 31 96.7-132.9 113.9 7.9 6.9 Sheep Metatarsal GL 5 126-140 135.2 6.7 5.0 Bp 13 17-21 19.2 1.2 6.3 Tibia Bd 10 23-26 24.2 1.3 5.4 Withers Heights 7 57.2-63.6 61.0 2.7 8.0 Pig Third Molar L 12 29-40 33.6 2.7 8.0 Data adapted from Noddle (nd) All measurements in millimetres N =number of specimens; sd =standard deviation; cv=coefficient of variation CL= greatest length Bp= maximum proximal breadth Bdf=breadth at distal fusion point Bd=maximum distal breadth Withers height estimates after Fock (cattle) and Teichert (sheep) (von den Driesch and Boessneck (1974) 426 Excavations at Kingscote and Wycomb, Gloucestershire brought in from several sources which kept different two rams. Other evidence for the presence or absence types of cattle. of horn cores was not found at Wycomb or Bourton Withers height estimates indicate that the smallest on-the-Water. cattle at Kingscote stood less than a metre at the Measurements of pig bones at Kingscote were shoulder and were no larger than the diminutive limited by the fragmentary nature of the assemblage modern Dexter breed. The largest, however, stood at and the fact that many pigs were killed before they nearly 1.33m and the average estimate was 1.139m. attained full size. Length measurements of the lower The average height of the cattle was, therefore, third molar provided the largest sample (Table 18). slightly greater than that of the cattle in assemblages Noddle (nd) considered the largest of these speci from Roman Exeter, where the mean estimates mens as probably belonging to wild boar. She also ranged between 1.07 and l.llm in the different suggests that four other bones amongst the pig phases (Maltby 1979, 37) and slightly above that from assemblage were large enough also to belong to wild Dorchester, Greyhound Yard site (Maltby 1993, 320). boar. However, nearly all the pig bones represented The cattle from Kingscote were slightly smaller on probably belonged to the domesticated variety. average than those from later Roman Winchester Ten complete horse limb bones were measurable at (1.18m) and Owslebury, Hants (Maltby 1993, 320). Kingscote. The greatest lengths of these are given in The range in size of cattle was, however, similar. Such Table 18. Most are of the size of large ponies and are generalisations may disguise local variations and similar to animals found on other Roman sites. chronological trends in cattle sizes within the later Noddle (nd) suggests that mule and donkey may also Roman period in all these areas. be represented in small numbers. Some Romano-British urban assemblages appear The red deer at Kingscote were large animals and to contain more adult female cattle than males although Noddle (nd) suggests that the size reduction (Maltby 1979; 1995). The Kingscote cattle limb bones of red deer that took place in Roman or post-Roman have breadth measurements that are skewed towards times in England, perhaps due to environmental smaller animals, which suggests that females were in pressures, it had not taken place in this area by the the majority in that assemblage. However, variations late Roman period. in the type of cattle represented could also be a factor to be considered. Ageing data The sample of measured cattle bones from the Wycomb A40 By-pass site is too small to add much to Noddle (nd) combined the evidence for epiphysial the information obtained from Kingscote. Four fusion and tooth eruption at Kingscote to assign complete metapodials gave withers height estimates domestic species into four age categories (newborn; of 1.11, 1.13, 1.19 and 1.28m. These fall within the size juvenile; immature; mature). The results are set out in range of cattle at Kingscote (Table 18). Table 19. There are taphonomic and methodological There was less variation in the sheep measure problems with combining such data. Epiphysial ments from Kingscote with coefficients of variation fusion data can be heavily biased towards older ranging between 4% and 7% (Table 18). Withers animals in assemblages that have been subjected to height estimates ranged between 0.57m and 0.64m, carnivore scavenging and it is usually better to keep which is comparable with other sites in southern such data separate from the more reliable (although England. Noddle (nd) noted the presence of horned imperfect) tooth eruption data. Nevertheless, the and possibly hornless sheep in the assemblage and information can be used to give a general impression that most of the limb bones were of slender propor of the mortality rates of the different species, tions. She also argues, on the basis of measurements although comparisons with other sites using different on the scapula, that the sheep were of a fairly methods are difficult. primitive type with long tails. She suggests that there Cattle included the highest proportion of adult was a distinct type of sheep in the Cotswold area in animals, although immature animals were also well the Roman period perhaps derived from crossing represented. High proportions of adult cattle are native stock with imported animals. common on Roman sites, particularly from urban Changes in size of animals and the relative abund sites (Maltby 1981; 1995). Using Noddle's definition ance of horned and hornless (polled) sheep on Roman the immature stage could last between about 18 sites have been noted in Hampshire and Dorset months and four years, although she states that (Maltby 1995) and it can be suggested that a slightly maturation rates could have been slower than in larger type of hornless sheep was introduced in some modern breeds. It would be of interest to know at areas of southern England in the early Roman period what age most of the immature cattle died. The (or perhaps the late Iron Age). The spread of this type presence of a large proportion of adult animals and evidence for its cross-breeding with native stock indicates the use of cattle for draught purposes and requires further detailed investigation. The A40 By perhaps as dairy animals but it is impossible to be pass site at Wycomb produced the large horn cores of certain of their importance from this evidence.