Shropshire History and Archaeology Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society (incorporating the Shropshire Parish Register Society) VOLUME LXXXV edited by D. T. W. Price SHREWSBURY 2010 (ISSUED IN 2011) © Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society 2011 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society. Produced and printed by 4word Ltd., Bristol COUNCIL AND OFFICERS 1 DECEMBER 2011 President SIR NEIL COSSONS, O.B.E., M.A., F.S.A. Vice-Presidents M. UNA REES, B.A., PH.D. B. S. TRINDER, M.A., PH.D., F.S.A. ERNIE JENKS MADGE MORAN, F.S.A. Elected Members NIGEL BAKER, B.A., PH.D., M.I.F.A., F.S.A. MARY F. MCKENZIE, M.A., M.AR.AD. FRANCESCA BUMPUS, M.A., PH.D. PENNY WARD, M.A., M.I.F.A. NEIL CLARKE, B.A. ROGER WHITE, B.A., PH.D., M.I.F.A. ROBERT CROMARTY, B.A. ANDY WIGLEY, B.SC., M.A., P.C.H.E., PH.D. Chairman and Acting Hon. Treasurer JAMES LawsON, M.A., Westcott Farm, Pontesbury, Shrewsbury SY5 0SQ Hon. Secretary and Hon. Publications Secretary G. C. BAUGH, M.A., F.S.A., Glebe House, Vicarage Road, Shrewsbury SY3 9EZ Hon. Gift-Aid Secretary B. SHERRatt, 11 Hayton View, Ludlow SY8 2NU Hon. Membership Secretary W. F. HODGES, Westlegate, Mousecroft Lane, Shrewsbury SY3 9DX Hon. Editor THE REVD. CANON D. T. W. PRICE, M.A., F.S.A., F.R.HIST.S. 57 Kynaston Drive, Wem, Shrewsbury SY4 5DE Hon. Editor of the Newsletter HUGH HANNAFORD, M.I.F.A., 42 North Street, Shrewsbury SY1 2JJ Joint Hon. Meetings Secretaries DAVID PANNETT, B.A., Merton, Shepherds Lane, Bicton, Shrewsbury SY3 8BT DAVID POYNER, M.A., PH.D., 136 Hoo Road, Kidderminster DY10 1LP. The Council is not responsible for any statement made, or opinion expressed, in the Transactions of the Society CONTENTS Editor’s Introduction . 1 Sharpstone Hill and Meole Brace in the Iron Age and Roman Periods: Introduction, by Roger White and Andy Wrigley . 2 An Engineered Iron Age Road, Associated Roman Use (Margary Route 64), and Bronze Age Activity Recorded at Sharpstone Hill, 2009, by Tim Malim and Laurence Hayes . 7 The Walls of Troy: A Classical Labyrinth at The Wall, Kynnersley, by Caroline Malim and Tim Malim . 81 Front Cover: Sharpstone Hill Road Looking South-eastwards towards The Wrekin on the Skyline (Photograph by Laurence Hayes). White in the moon the long road lies, The moon stands blank above; White in the moon the long road lies That leads me from my love. Still hangs the hedge without a gust, Still, still the shadows stay: My feet upon the moonlit dust Pursue the ceaseless way. The world is round, so travellers tell, And straight though reach the track, Trudge on, trudge on, ‘twill all be well, The way will guide one back. But ere the circle homeward hies Far, far must it remove: White in the moon the long road lies That leads me from my love. (A. E. Housman, A Shropshire Lad, stanza XXXVI.) NOTES ON CONTRIBUTORS Ben Gearey Ben Gearey, B.A., M.Sc., Ph.D., is Project Manager and Research Fellow in Environmental Archaeology at the University of Birmingham. He is actively involved in research with interests in the palaeoenvironmental and archaeological record of wetland landscapes, in particular raised mire systems, the geoarchaeology of alluvial landscapes, and palynological approaches to Holocene landscape change. Pam Grinter Pam Grinter, Ph.D., is an external specialist in Archaeobotany for Birmingham Archaeo-Environmental. Laurence Hayes Laurence Hayes is an Associate Archaeologist with SLR Consulting Ltd. Since graduating from Liverpool University with a degree in Geography and Archaeology in 2000 he has worked for archaeological units at National Museums Liverpool, Gifford (Chester) and SLR (Warrington), directing excavations on sites of all periods in commercial, academic and outreach spheres. Laurence has recently published papers on excavations at Wat’s Dyke, Gobowen, Chester, and a synthesis of excavations in medieval small towns across Cheshire. Alice Lyons Alice Lyons, B.A., M.A., M.I.F.A., is a Project Officer for Oxford Archaeological East. She has worked in East Anglia for many years as a post-excavation researcher with a particular interest in the Latest Iron Age and Romano- British periods. She has a specialism in pottery analysis and her research has focused on the transition between Iron Age and Roman pottery manufacturing technology. Richard Macphail Richard Macphail, B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D., is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. His research interests have focused on pedology and soil micromorphology, and, although he has worked all over the world, his UK research has included studies on the origins of Dark Earth formation, and contributions to the experimental earthwork project at Overton Down and Wareham. Caroline Malim Caroline Malim has been an archaeologist for over 20 years, specialising in archaeological illustration and public outreach projects. She has a combined B.A. in Industrial Archaeology, Astronomy, Art and Design, a P.G.C.E. in Religious Education and History, and an M.Phil. (Cantab.) in Heritage Management. She is currently a Senior Illustrator and Designer at SLR Consulting, and previously held similar posts at the AFU, Cambridgeshire County Council and BUFAU. Caroline has recently produced a number of interpretation panels for Shropshire and surrounding counties. Tim Malim Tim Malim is technical discipline manager for archaeology and heritage at SLR Consulting, based at Mytton Mill. With over 30 years experience in this country and abroad, he has published widely and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a Member of the Institute for Archaeologists, and a graduate from the Institute of Archaeology, London University. Recent work in Shropshire has included the dating of Wat’s Dyke, published in Anglo-Saxon Studies in Archaeology and History, 15, 2008. Peter Marshall Peter Marshall, B.A., Ph.D., is an archaeologist who uses mathematical modelling of scientific dates to improve the chronologies of archaeological sites. Roz McKenna Roz McKenna is an external specialist in Archaeobotany for Birmingham Archaeo-Environmental. David Peat David Peat is a Technician in the Luminescence Laboratory at the Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, Oxford University. Jean-Luc Schwenninger Jean-Luc Schwenninger is Head of the Luminescence Laboratory at the Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, Oxford University. David Shotter David Shotter, B.A., Ph.D., F.S.A., is Professor Emeritus (History) at Lancaster University. His research has followed three main areas of interest: the collapse of the Roman republic and development of centralized government, the archaeology and history of early Britain, and Roman numismatics. David Smith David Smith, M.A. (Cantab.), M.A., Ph.D., F.R.E.S., is a lecturer in environmental archaeology at the University of Birmingham, specialising in palaeoentomology. His main research interests concern the interpretation of insect remains from the archaeological record. Roger White Roger White, B.A., Ph.D., M.I.F.A., is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity of the University of Birmingham and Academic Director of the Ironbridge Institue. He is a member of the Council of this Society. Andy Wigley Andy Wigley, B.Sc., M.A., P.C.H.E., Ph.D., is a landscape archaeologist, at present engaged on the Shropshire Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) Project for Shropshire Council. He has conducted research into the Bronze and Iron Age periods of Shropshire and the Marches, and he is a member of the Council of this Society. NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS All contributions should be submitted on CD. A hard copy should also be provided. The author should, where necessary, provide a list of illustration captions and table titles, including acknowledgements and copyright where applicable. It is the author’s responsibility to obtain permission for the use of copyright materials. In archaeological reports English Heritage guidelines may be followed, including Harvard (author date) style. If this is adopted the bibliographical reports should follow the examples below: Biddle, M., 1978: Winchester Studies Carver, M. O. H., 1978: ‘Early Shrewsbury: an archaeological definition in 1975’, Trans. Shrops. Archaeol. Soc., 59, pt. iii Other contributors should employ endnote citations following the examples below: D. Knowles, The Religious Orders in England, iii, 1959, 489-90 PRO: E302/1/5-6 VCH Salop, I, 337 C. D. Gilbert, ‘Clubmen in South West Shropshire 1644-45’, Trans. Shrops. Archaeol. Soc., LXVIII, 1993, 95 Contributions should be sent to The Editor, 57 Kynaston Drive, Wem, Shrewsbury SY4 5DE. 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