COLLEGE DWY Y FELIN ROAD

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

For

JAMES AND NICHOLAS

on behalf of

NEATH PORT TALBOT COLLEGE

CA PROJECT: 2447 CA REPORT: 07145

OCTOBER 2007

NEATH PORT TALBOT COLLEGE DWR Y FELIN ROAD NEATH PORT TALBOT

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

CA PROJECT: 2447 CA REPORT: 07145

prepared by Alistair Barber, Senior Project Officer

date 28th October 2007

checked by Cliff Bateman, Project Manager

date 31 October 2007

approved by Mark Collard, Head of Contracts

signed

date 26 November 2007

issue

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission.

© Cotswold Archaeology Building 11, Kemble Enterprise Park, Kemble, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail: [email protected] © Cotswold Archaeology Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot: Archaeological Evaluation

CONTENTS SUMMARY...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

The site ...... 3 Archaeological background...... 4 Archaeological objectives ...... 5 Methodology ...... 5

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-8) ...... 6

Trench 1 (Figs 2, 3 & 5) ...... 6 Trench 2 (Figs 2, 3 & 6) ...... 6 Trench 3 (Figs 2, 4 & 7) ...... 7 Trench 4 (Figs 2, 4 & 8) ...... 7 The Finds ...... 8

3. DISCUSSION...... 8

4. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 8

5. REFERENCES ...... 9

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 11

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ...... 13

APPENDIX C: LEVELS OF PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS AND STRUCTURES ...... 14

APPENDIX D: OASIS REPORT FORM...... 15

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:50000) Fig. 2 Trench location plan, showing archaeological features (1: 500) Fig. 3 Trenches 1 and 2: plans (1:100), and sections (1:50) Fig. 4 Trenches 3 and 4: plans (1:100) and sections (1:50) Fig. 5 Photograph. Trench 1, looking north-east, showing ditch 110 and wall footing 106 Fig. 6 Photograph. Trench 2, looking south-east, showing ditch 206 and metalling 205 Fig. 7 Photograph. Trench 3, looking north-west, showing road surface 306 Fig. 8 Photograph. Trench 4, looking north-east, showing footings 406, 409 and 405

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot: Archaeological Evaluation

SUMMARY

Project Name: Neath Port Talbot College Location: Dwr y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot NGR: SS 7485 9790 Type: Evaluation Date: 22-25 October 2007 Planning Reference: P/2007/1174 Location of Archive: Neath Museum and Art Gallery Site Code: DFN 07

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in October 2007 at the request of James and Nicholas, on behalf of Neath Port Talbot College, within the existing college campus. Four trenches were excavated within the proposed development area.

Well-preserved metalled surfaces, with flanking drainage ditches, were recorded within trenches 2 and 3, confirming the conjectured line of a section of Roman road leading from the northeast gate of the fort at Neath (Nidum) to the fort at Coelbren. In addition, structural remains noted within trenches 1, 2 and 4 appear to represent remnant wall-footings set perpendicular to, and to the west of, the identified Roman road. These remains suggest that Roman buildings associated with the vicus, or attached civilian settlement, survive within the proposed development area.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot: Archaeological Evaluation

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In October 2007 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation for James and Nicholas, on behalf of Neath Port Talbot College, within the existing college campus (centred on NGR: SS 7485 9790; Fig. 1). The evaluation was undertaken to accompany a planning application (ref. P/2007/1174) for the construction of a Performing Arts facility on the site.

1.2 The current archaeological works were carried out in accordance with a requirement for archaeological evaluation set out within a letter dated 9th October 2007 from Neil Maylan, Gwent Archaeological Trust Curatorial Division (GGAT Curatorial), the archaeological advisor to Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, and with a subsequent detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2007) that was approved by Mr Maylan. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluation issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (2001), and the Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991). The fieldwork was monitored by Mr Maylan, including a site visit on 23rd October 2007.

The site

1.3 The site lies within the eastern part of the college campus, within a triangle of land bound to the west by Dwr y Felin Road, to the south and east by Cadoxton Road, and to the north by the railway track (Fig. 2). The site lies at approximately 13m AOD, with ground levels dropping away on all sides.

1.4 The site is approximately 0.09ha and comprises a lawned area adjacent to existing college buildings, with an outlying area of tarmaced path.

1.5 The underlying drift geology of the area is mapped as fluvio-glacial gravels of Pleistocene and recent date (Geological Survey of Great Britain 1972). Natural sands and gravels were noted throughout the site during the course of the evaluation.

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot: Archaeological Evaluation

Archaeological background

1.6 The application area is located on the projected line of a Roman road running north- east from the 1st-century AD and later fort at Neath (Nidum) to the nearby fort at Coelbren (Sherman and Evans 2004, Pearson 2004). Neath fort, discovered in 1949 (Nash-Williams 1950a, 1950b), has statutory protection as a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM GM 215 (NEP)). Excavations, notably in the 1950s and 1980s, further explored the fort’s defences and revealed parts of its interior plan, establishing a basic occupation sequence with three discernible periods of use between c. 75-80 AD, c. 140-170 AD, and c. 275-320 AD (Pearson 2004). Recent geophysical survey has further elucidated the internal form of the fort (Young 2003).

1.7 The proposed development area was also thought to lie within the extensive Roman vicus, an area of associated civilian settlement identified during recent works to the north-east, north-west and south-west of the military fort (Pearson 2004). Remains of a substantial late 1st or early 2nd-century stone building outside the fort’s north- east gate were noted during works in the area of the comprehensive school playing fields (Maynard 1993). Well-preserved structural remains associated with the vicus have also been identified within the grounds of Neath College (for example Sell 1997, Sell 2000). These roadside buildings were interpreted as having an industrial function (Pearson 2004).

1.8 Previous archaeological fieldwork to the west of the application area, associated with construction of an Electronic Learning Centre, noted that archaeological deposits had previously been destroyed by the meandering course of a small stream (GGAT 2003). However, Mr Maylan noted that the current development proposal lies on higher sand and gravel deposits on which significant archaeological features have been found elsewhere, including significant features revealed during construction of a nursery building immediately north-west of the current application area (Howell 2001) (see Fig.2 for location).

1.9 It was therefore considered that significant archaeological features were likely to be present within the application area, and that apart from minor damage caused by the construction of the current hard standings and two small buildings (now demolished), these deposits were likely to be well preserved.

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot: Archaeological Evaluation

Archaeological objectives

1.10 The objectives of the evaluation were to provide data on the date, character, quality, survival and extent of the archaeological deposits within the application area in order to assist Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council in making an informed decision on their importance in a local, regional or national context. This information will clarify whether any remains are of sufficient importance to warrant consideration for preservation in situ, or alternatively form the basis of mitigation measures that may seek to limit damage to significant remains.

Methodology

1.11 Fieldwork initially comprised the excavation of three trenches, each approximately 10m in length by 1.6m in width, in the locations shown on the attached plan (Fig. 2). At an on-site meeting held on 23rd October 2007, an additional trench was requested by Mr Maylan to further aid clarification of the extent and depth of Roman structural remains within the site. The resultant trench, trench 4, measured 10m in length and 1.6m in width (see Fig. 2 for location).

1.12 All trenches were excavated by mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless grading bucket. All machine excavation was undertaken under constant archaeological supervision to the top of the first significant archaeological horizon or the natural substrate, whichever was encountered first. Where archaeological deposits were encountered they were excavated by hand in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2007).

1.13 Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential in accordance with CA Technical Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other Samples from Archaeological Sites (2003) but no deposits were identified that required sampling. All artefacts recovered were processed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 3: Treatment of Finds Immediately After Excavation (1995).

1.14 The archive and artefacts from the evaluation are currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the artefacts will be deposited with Neath Museum and Art Gallery along with the site archive. A summary of information from this project, set out within Appendix D, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot: Archaeological Evaluation

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-8)

2.1 This section provides an overview of the evaluation results; detailed summaries of the recorded contexts and finds are to be found in Appendices A and B respectively. Details of the relative heights of the principal deposits and features expressed as metres Above Ordnance Datum (m AOD) appear in Appendix C.

2.2 Well-preserved Roman remains were encountered within all four evaluation trenches, overlain by post-medieval/modern deposits.

Trench 1 (Figs 2, 3 & 5)

2.3 Natural sands and gravels 104, recorded throughout the trench at 0.7-0.8m below present ground level (bpgl), were cut by north-east/south-west aligned ditch 110 from which 1st to 2nd-century AD pottery was retrieved. A north-west/south-east aligned feature, 105, was partially revealed within the trench also cutting the natural gravels. Its steeply-sloping south-western edge, broadly flat base and a remnant area of pitched stone suggest this is a partially-robbed Roman wall footing. No dating evidence was recovered from its basal fill 109 but the deposit supported a pitched stone surface, 106, from which sherds of 2nd-century AD pottery were recovered. Deposit 112 which partially overlay footing 106 appears to fill robbing cut 113.

2.4 Both Roman features were overlain by a post-Roman subsoil 114 and by modern subsoil and landscaping deposits.

Trench 2 (Figs 2, 3 & 6)

2.5 Natural sands 216 appear to have been encountered within the eastern half of trench 2 at approximately 1-1.1m bpgl. North-east/south-west aligned metalled surface 205, constructed from compact pebbles, gravel and sand, formed the western edge of the Roman road leading from the north-east gate of Neath fort. Immediately to the north-west was similarly aligned U-shaped ditch 206. It measured at least 2.9m in width, 0.3m in depth and contained silt-sands 207 from which Roman pottery dating to the first half of the 2nd century AD was recovered. These ditch silts appeared to be partially overlain by latest road surface 205.

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot: Archaeological Evaluation

2.6 An area of north-west/south-east aligned stone slabs and river cobbles, 210, was noted to the west of roadside ditch 206 overlain by clay deposit 215 from which late 1st to 2nd-century AD pottery was recovered. These structural remains appear to represent one of a series of narrow wall-footings within trenches 2 and 4 set perpendicular to the Roman road.

2.7 Roman levels were sealed by a modern subsoil 204, containing residual Roman pottery, and subsequent modern deposits.

Trench 3 (Figs 2, 4 & 7)

2.8 The natural geological substrate was not encountered within the western part of trench 3, since hand excavation halted at further metalling deposits associated with the Roman road previously exposed within trench 2. The uppermost road surface, 306, comprising compacted gravels, pebbles and sands, was worn and irregular, with three probable wheel ruts observed. A poorly-preserved copper-alloy coin contained within the latest metalling appears to be of Roman date, but could not be more closely dated. An earlier metalled surface, 310, was also partially exposed. Immediately to the south-east of the road, clay-silt deposit 309 was noted, which augering established to be approximately 0.2m in thickness. This silt-rich deposit represents the roadside drainage ditch.

2.9 The Roman road surface was overlain by modern subsoil 305, which was in turn cut by footing trench 307 for modern E-W aligned sandstone wall 308. This was overlain by further modern landscaping deposits.

Trench 4 (Figs 2, 4 & 8)

2.10 Soil horizon 406, containing sherds of undiagnostic Roman pottery, was noted at the limit of excavation, into which were set three narrow, linear spreads of stone slabs and rounded river cobbles, 405 (possibly a continuation of footing 210 in trench 2), 409 and 410. These appear to represent further remnant wall-footings perpendicular to the Roman road. Late 1st to 2nd-century pottery was recovered from 409, with undiagnostic, Roman pottery being retrieved from footing 410.

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot: Archaeological Evaluation

The Finds

2.11 The Roman pottery types present were Dorset Black Burnished ware, samian ware, Caerleon colour-coated ware, and miscellaneous grey and oxidised wares. All amphora sherds are consistent with a Baetican (Southern Spanish) fabric, associated with the Dressel 20 form. Of note is a Caerleon colour-coated ware cornice rim beaker from ditch fill 207 which dates to the first half of the 2nd-century AD. Most or all of the Roman pottery dates to before the mid 3rd-century AD.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 The evaluation has confirmed that Roman deposits survive within the proposed development area, and that these deposits have not been significantly impacted upon by former modern buildings or landscaping. In particular the evaluation has further confirmed the projected alignment of the Roman road between the north-east gate of the fort at Neath and the nearby fort at Coelbren, identifying a series of well- preserved metalled surfaces and adjacent roadside drainage ditches within trenches 2 and 3.

3.2 In addition, the evaluation revealed a narrow v-shaped ditch within trench 1 and remnant stone wall-footings (at least one of which appears to have been partially robbed) within trenches 1, 2 and 3. The latter suggests the presence of late 1st to 2nd-century AD Roman buildings, presumably part of the civilian settlement (vicus) outside the north-eastern gate of the fort, alongside this road. The evidence adds to the growing corpus of information from small-scale works within the immediate vicinity of the site, although the overall character of activity within the vicus remains unclear.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Alistair Barber, assisted by Caroline Butler. The report was written by Alistair Barber. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive has been compiled by Alistair Barber, and prepared for deposition by Kathryn Price. The project was managed for CA by Cliff Bateman

8 © Cotswold Archaeology Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot: Archaeological Evaluation

5. REFERENCES

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2007. Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr Y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot. Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Evaluation

Geological Survey of Great Britain (England & ) 1972 Swansea. Drift. Sheet 247 1:63360

GGAT 1993 Archaeological Field Evaluation, Glyn Leiros, Road, Neath. GGAT Report No. 93/030

GGAT 2002 Neath College gas pressure induction station: archaeological watching brief. GGAT Report No. 2002/057

GGAT 2003 Neath Port Talbot Electronic Learning Centre: archaeological watching brief. GGAT Report No. 2003/073

GGAT 2006 Dwr y Felin School, Neath, car park extension (SMC): archaeological watching brief. GGAT Report No. 2006/070

Howell, J.K. 2001 Neath Port Talbot College crèche: archaeological field evaluation. GGAT Report No. 2001/035

Maynard, D. 1993b Archaeological Field Evaluation, Cwrt Herbert Playing fields, Neath, . GGAT Report No. 93/026

Nash-Williams, V.A. 1950a The Roman stations at Neath (Glam.) and Caer Gai (Mer.) Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies, 13, Part 4, 239-245

Nash-Williams, V.A 1950b The Roman station at Neath. Further discoveries. Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies, 14, Part 1, 76-79

Pearson, A. 2004 Roman roads and vici in Southeast Wales: Year 2 report. GGAT Report No. 2004/02

9 © Cotswold Archaeology Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot: Archaeological Evaluation

Petersen, A. 2003 Neath Roman Fort (Nidum), West Glamorgan: Archaeological Watching Brief. Cambrian Archaeological Projects Ltd Report No. 287

Sell, S. H.1997 Neath College Archaeological Survey. GGAT Report No. 97/018

Sell, S. H. 2000 Proposed classroom, Neath College. Archaeological Field Evaluation. GGAT Report No. 2000/029

Sherman, A and Evans, E. 2004 Roman Roads in South East Wales: Desk-based assessment with recommendations for fieldwork. GGAT Report No. 2004/073

Young, T.P. 2003 Geophysical survey of part of Neath Roman fort, Dwr-y-felin playing fields, Neath [SS 746 977].

10 © Cotswold Archaeology Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench 1

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 101 Layer Topsoil 0.05- Modern 0.1m 102 Layer Sand deposit 0.10 Modern 103 Layer Subsoil 0.4m Modern 104 Layer Natural sand and gravel substrate At - 0.75m 105 Fill ?wall-footing trench 1.45m+ 0.5m Roman 106 Masonry Remnant pitched stones of ?wall-footing 0.4m 0.2m Roman 107 Fill Water pipe nk nk Modern 108 Fill Gas pipe nk nk Modern 109 Fill Lower stone-rich clay-sand fill of footing trench 0.3m Roman 105 110 Cut NE-SW aligned V-shaped ditch 0.65 0.35m Roman 111 Fill Clay-sand fill of ditch 110 0.65m 0.35m Roman 112 Fill Clay-sand fill of ?robber trench 113 1.45m+ 0.25m 113 Cut ? robber-trench 1.45m+ 0.25m 114 Layer Subsoil 0.25m Modern

Trench 2

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 201 Layer Topsoil 0.1- Modern 0.2m 202 Layer Chipped bark mulch 0.1m Modern 203 Layer Gravel/hardcore deposit 0.25m Modern 204 Layer Subsoil 0.55m 205 Masonry Latest metalling of Roman road nk Roman 206 Cut NE-SW aligned, U-shaped, roadside ditch 2.9m 0.3m Roman + 207 Fill Silty-sand fill of roadside ditch 206 2.9m 0.3m Roman + 208 Cut Service trench (contains plastic gas pipe) 0.25m nk Modern 209 Fill Fill of trench 208 0.25m nk Modern 210 Masonry Linear stone spread: probable wall footing 3.8m+ 0.9m nk Roman + 211 Cut Oval ?soakaway or sump 1.4m 1.1m nk Modern 212 Fill Sub-angular stone infill of 211 1.4m 1.1m nk Modern 213 Cut Service trench (contains electric cable) 0.3m Modern 214 Fill Fill of trench 213 0.3m Modern 215 Layer Clay-sand deposit overlying ?wall footing 210 0.1- Roman 0.2m 216 Layer Natural sand substrate nk - 217 Layer Roman soil horizon. Grey-brown clay-sand. 0.2m Roman

11 © Cotswold Archaeology Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot: Archaeological Evaluation

Trench 3

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 301 Layer Topsoil 0.2m Modern 302 Layer Sand horizon 0.1m modern 303 Layer Subsoil 0.4m Modern 304 Layer Sand horizon 0.1m Modern 305 Layer Subsoil 0.2m 306 Layer Road metalling 5m+ Not Roman known (nk) 307 Cut ?Wall footing 0.8m 0.55 Modern 308 Masonry Sandstone walling 0.7m 0.55m Modern 309 Layer Fill of roadside ditch 1.75m 0.2m Roman + 310 Layer Road metalling 0.3m nk Roman +

Trench 4

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 401 Layer Topsoil 0.1- Modern 0.2m 402 Layer Chipped bark (mulch deposit) 0.1m Modern 403 Layer Gravels/hardcore deposit 0.1- Modern 0.35m 404 Layer Subsoil 0.6m 405 Masonry ?Wall footing. Possibly part of 210 in trench 2 1.6m+ 0.2m nk Roman + 406 Layer Soil horizon with occasional charcoal and ?fired clay 0.25m Roman flecks 407 Cut Service trench (contains electric cable) 0.1m nk Modern + 408 Layer Fill of trench 407 0.1m nk Modern + 409 Masonry ?wall footing 0.5m nk Roman 410 Masonry ?wall footing 0.5m nk Roman

12 © Cotswold Archaeology Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Quantities of pottery, building material, fired clay, metalwork, animal bone, clay tobacco pipe, and glass were recovered from nine deposits during the current works. The majority of pottery present was Roman, but two sherds of more recent pottery were present: one of a yellow ware (17th to 18th-century dating) and one of blue china (20th-century dating).

The Roman pottery types present comprise Dorset Black Burnished ware, samian ware, Caerleon colour-coated ware, Baetican amphora and miscellaneous grey and oxidised wares. Amphora sherds, all consistent with Baetican (Southern Spanish) fabric associated with the Dressel 20 form, are notably common. This material, together with most or all of the Roman pottery, dates to before the mid 3rd-century AD. Of note is a Caerleon colour-coated cornice rim beaker from ditch fill 207 dating to the first half of the 2nd century AD.

The copper alloy coin recovered from the road metalling surface is heavily corroded and illegible but is consistent with a Roman date.

Finds Concordance

Context Artefact type Count Weight (g) Spot-date 106 Roman pottery: Black Burnished 1, samian, 27 125 C2 greyware, miscellaneous oxidised ware Roman amphora: Baetican 33 429 Roman ceramic building material: brick 9 91 Fired clay 5 20 Iron nails 4 32 Animal bone: cow-sized vertebra 1 7 111 Roman pottery: greyware, samian, 5 20 C1-C2 miscellaneous oxidised Roman amphora: Baetican 5 32 Fired clay 3 5 204* Roman pottery: samian, Caerleon colour- 16 93 MOD coat, greywares, miscellaneous oxidised Roman amphora: Baetican 1 52 Post-medieval pottery: yellow ware 1 2 Modern china 1 1 Clay tobacco pipe 1 2 Roman glass 2 16 Stone tile 1 139 207 Roman pottery: Caerleon colour-coat, 8 97 EC2 greywares Roman amphora: Baetican 1 188 Iron Nail 1 14 215 Roman pottery: greywares, miscellaneous 20 161 LC1-C2 oxidised Roman amphora: Baetican 4 71 Roman glass 1 3 Stone tile 4 135 306 Copper Alloy coin: illegible 1 9 ?RB 406 Roman pottery: reduced ware 5 11 RB Roman amphora: Baetican 1 15 409 Roman pottery: greywares 2 43 LC1-C2 410 Roman pottery: miscellaneous oxidised 1 2 ?RB *not retained.

13 © Cotswold Archaeology Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX C: LEVELS OF PRINCIPAL DEPOSITS AND STRUCTURES

Levels are expressed as metres below current ground level and as metres Above Ordnance Datum (AOD), calculated using a surveyor’s nail set within the adjacent tarmac (12.87m AOD).

Trench 1 Trench 2 Trench 3 Trench 4 Current ground level 0.00m 0.00m 0.00m 0.00m (12.80m) (13.10m) (13.15m) (12.99) Top of Roman deposits 0.78m 0.64m 0.71m 0.68 (12.02m) (12.46m) (12.44m) (12.31m) Limit of excavation 1.38m 1.06m 0.75m 1.02m (11.42m) (12.04m) (12.40m) (11.97m)

Upper figures are depth below modern ground level; lower figures in parentheses are metres AOD.

14 © Cotswold Archaeology Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX D: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr Y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot Short description An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by (250 words maximum) Cotswold Archaeology in October 2007 at the request of James and Nicholas, on behalf of Neath Port Talbot College, within the college campus. Four trenches were excavated across the proposed development area.

Well-preserved metalled surfaces, with flanking drainage ditches, were recorded within trenches 2 and 3, confirming the conjectured line of a section of Roman road leading from the northeast gate of the fort at Neath (Lidum) to a second fort at Coelbren. In addition, structural remains were noted within trenches 1, 2 and 4 which appear to represent remnant wall-footings set perpendicularly to, and to the west of, the Roman road. These remains suggest the former presence of Roman buildings associated with the vicus, or attached civilian settlement, within the proposed development area.

Project dates 22-25 October 2007 Project type Field evaluation (e.g. desk-based, field evaluation etc)

Previous work (reference to organisation or SMR numbers etc)

Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Dwr Y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot Study area (M2/ha) 0.09 ha Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) SS 7485 9790

PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust (Curatorial Division) Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology

Project Manager Cliff Bateman Project Supervisor Alistair Barber PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of Content archive: Neath Museum and Art Gallery

Physical Neath Museum and Art Pottery, Cu alloy coin Gallery

Paper Neath Museum and Art Context sheets, Context Gallery Registers, Levels Register, Drawings Register, Plan and Section drawings Digital Digital photos BIBLIOGRAPHY

15 © Cotswold Archaeology Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot: Archaeological Evaluation

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2007. Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr Y Felin Road, Neath Port Talbot. Archaeological Evaluation Unpublished Typescript Report 07145

16 Reproduced from the 1992 Ordnance Survey Landranger map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office N c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109

Site

0 5km

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY Neath Port Talbot PROJECT TITLE Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath FIGURE TITLE Site location plan

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. JE 1:50,000@A4 2447 1 Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey digital mapping with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office N c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109

T1

T2

T4

T3

SS 0 50m

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE site Neath Port Talbot College, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath evaluation trench showing archaeological features FIGURE TITLE Trench location plan, showing archaeological features DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG 1:500@A4 2447 2 Trench 1; Plan N

A 106 A

105 109 110 B natural 104 112 111

B

0 10m

Trench 1; Section AA Trench 1; Section BB

SW NE 13m AOD 101

102 103 107

114 NW SE 12m AOD 109 106 112 111 105 109 113 110 Roman modern 0 5m

N Trench 2; Plan

204 217 212 215 roadside ditch 207 213 road surface 205 217 206

C ?wall footing 208 C 210

0 10m

Trench 2; Section CC

201 SE NW 13m AOD 202 203 204 COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY 204 ?wall footing PROJECT TITLE 209 210 road surface roadside ditch 207 217 Neath Port Talbot College, 205 206 Dwr y Felin Road, Neath 0 5m FIGURE TITLE Trenches 1 and 2; plans and sections DRAWN BYSCALE @ A3 PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG 1:100 and 1:50 2447 3

Trench 3; Plan N

D wheel ruts D

roadside ditch ?kerb 309 stones road surface 305 306 306 306 306 auger holes

0 10m

Trench 3; Section DD

SW NE 13m 301 AOD 302

303 307 308

roadside ditch road surface Roman 309 306 modern 0 5m

Trench 4; Plan N

E footing 409 E

404 footing 406 406 405 services 407

footing 410

0 10m

Trench 4; Section EE

NE SW 13m AOD 401 402 403 COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY 404 PROJECT TITLE footing 404 Neath Port Talbot College, 405 footing footing Dwr y Felin Road, Neath 409 410 FIGURE TITLE 0 5m Trenches 3 and 4; plans and sections DRAWN BYSCALE @ A3 PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG 1:100 and 1:50 2447 4 5

?robber trench 105

footings 106

ditch 110

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Neath Port Talbot College, 5 Trench 1, looking north-east, showing ditch 110 and Dwr y Felin Road, Neath wall footing 106 FIGURE TITLE Photograph

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG n/a 2447 5 6

road surface 205

roadside ditch 206

?wall footing 210

modern intrusion 211

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Neath Port Talbot College, 6 Trench 2, looking sout-east, showing ditch 206 Dwr y Felin Road, Neath and metalling 205 FIGURE TITLE Photograph

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG n/a 2447 6 7

?kerb stones

road surface 306

possible wheel ruts

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Neath Port Talbot College, 7 Trench 3, looking north-west, showing road Dwr y Felin Road, Neath surface 306 FIGURE TITLE Photograph

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG n/a 2447 7 8

wall footing 405

wall footing 409

wall footing 410

COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY

PROJECT TITLE Neath Port Talbot College, 8 Trench 4, looking north-east, showing footings 406, Dwr y Felin Road, Neath 409 and 405 FIGURE TITLE Photograph

DRAWN BYSCALE PROJECT NO. FIGURE NO. LG n/a 2447 8