SECTION 2.2.3:CLAYDON PIKE TRENCH 19

INTRODUCTION
Phasing

PHASE 3 A: PRE-ENCOSURE FEATURES

PHASE 3 B/C: THE ENCLOSURES
Enclosure E18
Enclosure E19
The North-South Boundaries (2161, 2162, F8)

PHASE 3 C/D: THE PITS
Pit Group 2365
Pit Group 2393

PHASE 4 A/B: THE LATE ROMAN BOUNDARIES
Ditch 2375

PHASE 4 B+: THE LATE ROMAN WALL
Wall 2475

INTERPRETATION OF THE ARCHAEOLOGY FROM TRENCH 19

Introduction (Fig. 2.2.18: Trench 19 composite plan)

Trench 19 lay on the southern side of the main excavation area, and separated the southern area of Trench 13 from Trench 29. It was physically separated from Trench 13 by a series of north-south aligned boundary ditches (2162, 2161 and 2375) which progressively shifted westwards (see Trench 13 description).
To the west it lay alongside a 'lane' which separated it from Trench 29 (a width here of between 15 and 20 metres). Its northern side, adjacent to the gateway of Trench 13, fronted onto a large cleared, and probably cobbled, area in the centre of the occupation area (c 35 x 42 m), at the junction of four main roads. The southern boundaries of the enclosure marked the limits of the main excavation trench.
Unlike trenches 13 and 17, the rectangular enclosure was not visible as a raised area, and alluvial silts had gathered in the tops of some later Roman pits. No truncated ground surface survived as it had in the other areas. The north-east corner appeared to be badly effected by ploughing as large quantities of Roman debris lay disturbed at the bottom of the ploughsoil. Some cobbling did survive both within the enclosure and on its northern edge.
The main feature in Trench 19 was a double ditched rectangular enclosure (E 18/19). Aside from an area of cobbling, no contemporary internal features could be discerned, although the compacted gravel subsurface would have ensured that if any structures had been present, they would have required negligible or no foundations, and would therefore have left no presence in the archaeological record. The column fragments and other structural stone in the vicinity hint at a structure of some architectural merit in the area (see below). Other finds associated with the enclosure include a large number of iron nails, vessel glass, and a small amount of smithing slag, some possibly indicative of copper working. Over 3400 animal bones were recovered from this part of the site, more than double that of Trench 29 to the west, though far fewer than the main occupation areas in Trenches 13 and 17.

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Phasing (Fig. 2.2.18-3a, -3b, -3c, -3d, -4a, -4b: Trench 19 sub-phases)

Activity in Trench 19 has been divided into six phases on the basis of stratigraphy and pottery dating (see phase summary below), although the lack of securely stratified datable material made it difficult to establish a precise chronological sequence. The ceramic record indicates that the main phases of the double enclosure occurred within Phase 3 of Trench 13 (c mid 2nd to c late 3rd/early 4th century), with much of the pottery from the major features belonging to the later part of this period (Phase 3c-d). It seems that the ditches were kept relatively clear until the mid-later 3rd century when material started to build up, possibly signalling a change in use for the enclosure. Soon after, it appears that groups of pits were dug within the central area, filled with building rubble and pottery, including large quantities of redeposited Oxford, Nene Valley and Rhenish colour coated wares (see Booth, section 3.2). The Phase 4 north-south aligned ditch running through the site (2375) also contained reasonable quantities of late Roman fineware pottery.

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Phase 3a: Pre-enclosure features (Fig. 2.2.18 and 2.2.18a: Trench 19 sub-phase 3a)

There were a few features that were stratigraphically earlier than the double-ditched rectangular enclosure, although the pottery evidence is somewhat equivocal. Features of probable Phase 3a date comprised a pair of gullies (2387, 2388) running WNW-ESE on the south-west corner which were cut by ditch 2432 and truncated by both the outer enclosure gully 2386, and by the corner of the inner gully (2390). They were not traced further east from that point. Significantly, they lay on the same alignment as the later enclosure gullies, and may relate to the north-south Phase 3a boundary ditch 2162.
Features of less certain phasing included gully 2389 which extended from the south-west corner of the trench and curved east into the south-west corner of the outer enclosure gully, 2386. The relationship at this point was unclear but the situation was mirrored on the eastern side where an earlier cut curved off to the south. Gully 2389 respected the southern boundary of the enclosure but was difficult to assign to a particular sub-phase.
Gully 2425, which ran WNW-ESE along the northern side of the enclosure, was also difficult to phase, but probably belonged to Phase 3a on spatial grounds, as it lay on the same alignment as gullies 2387/8 and the later enclosure. Its relationship with 2386 was uncertain, hence the problem in phasing. It seemed to extend west of 2386 but the gully had shallowed to a gravelly stain and survived for only c 1m. A similar stain lay just to the north, but this was definitely cut by 2386.

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Phase 3b/c: The enclosures (Fig. 2.2.18-3b:Trench 19 sub-phase 3b, -3c: Trench 19 sub-phase 3c)

Sometime in the mid 2nd century (3b), the main phase of activity began in Trench 19, in the form of two concentric rectangular enclosure gullies (E 18, E 19) surrounding a central area with no visible associated features. The spatial relationship between the two enclosure boundaries suggested that they were contemporary features, at least until the c mid 3rd century AD, although E 19 seems to have remained open for longer (see below). Most of the pottery from these features was mixed with material from later pits and redeposited spreads, dating to the later 3rd/early 4th century (Phase 3d).

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Enclosure E 18

The smaller outer gully, E 18 (2421, 2410 and 2386), seemed to be linked to the side of ditch 2161 to the east, forming a continuous feature. It defined an area c 31 x 21 m with a bulge on the north side where a segment of the gully projected forward c 2 m. The gully was c 0.4 m wide and 0.3 m deep with evidence of a single cut (section 111). The fill was a very clean clay loam with little gravel. The finds, mostly iron nails and pottery (c 3.5 kg), were predominantly from the surface, and on the western and northern side. This northern side (2421) had been cut by pit group 2365 (see below) and then partially sealed by cobbling during the later 3rd/early 4th century (along with 2397 of E 19). Most of the finds recovered were associated with this or just prior to it. A total of 257 animal bones were also recovered, most from the western side.

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Enclosure E 19

The inner enclosure ditch, E 19 (2390, 2409, 2376, 2397, 2437), was probably contemporary with E 18, although the southern ditch was recut further south (2409; see below) suggesting that the inner gully may have been open for longer (also see below). The inner enclosure was c 23 x 16 m, with a 3 m entrance on the northern side, aligned with the bulging stretch of outer gully 2421. The dimensions of the inner ditch were variable, ranging from 0.6 to 1.2 m wide and 0.4 to 0.6 m deep (section 105). Two clear cuts were defined on the north-west and southern sides.
The recutting of the ditch on the southern side (2409) may have been associated with changing activity within the enclosure (Phase 3c/d?). The earliest cut on the southern side was sealed by an area of cobbling 2350 (7 x 5 m) in the south-east corner (see below). This surface, which contained a small quantity of 3rd-4th century vessel glass and pottery (c 2 kg), seemed to respect the edge of the late recut, and was presumably contemporary. The latest cut of ditch 2409 defining the southern side was distinctive in containing limestone rubble (Section 99). The rubble have come from the robbing of the later wall, 2431, which was assumed to have continued east through this point (see below). Pottery (0.9 kg) recovered from the ditch indicated a later 3rd century date.
Only the earliest cut, 2376, survived on the east side of E 19. It is possible that a later cut ran slightly to the west and was removed by ditch 2375 (section 104). The ditch was 0.35 m in depth, c 1 m in width, and had a distinct orangey fill. Finds were few and predominantly from the surface.
The north-eastern part of the enclosure was particularly badly truncated by ploughing, with the result that features were generally very shallow, cuts were often difficult to distinguish, and finds from different features were inevitably somewhat mixed. A section of the inner enclosure (2397) ran west for c 5 m from the Phase 4 north-south ditch 2375/2407 which cut through it. It seemed to end in a well-defined terminal, and cut through a similarly aligned gully, 2425 (see above), as well as shallow pits 2396 and 2422 (see pit group 2365 below). Pit 2422 cut gully 2421 of E 18 to the north, indicating that the outer enclosure went out of use before the inner. Gully 2397 was c 0.36 m deep and c 1.2 m wide, and there was little evidence of recutting, although given the truncated nature of the stratigraphy in the area, this is not certain. Indeed, on a stratigraphic and chronological basis, it is highly likely that it was recut, probably at the same time as other sections of the inner enclosure (see discussion below). It was partially overlain, along with the E 18 gully (2421), by a layer of cobbling (2398). Most of the finds from the ditch/gullies and pits were recovered from the junction of the topsoil and upper fills of the features.
Lying c 3m west of 2397 was the corresponding length of inner enclosure ditch, 2437. This had clear evidence of two cuts, and was c 1 m wide and 0.4 m in depth. It cut gully 2425 and a large shallow pit (2399), and contained pottery (0.25 kg) dating to the later 3rd century in its upper fills.
The western side of the inner enclosure (2390) showed evidence of a single cut (1.2 m wide, 0.6 m deep), and contained a quantity (1.28 kg) of mostly mid-late 3rd century pottery. In total 519 animal bones were recovered from the different sections of E 19.

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The North-South Boundaries (2161, 2162, F 8)

A sequence of ditches divided the area of the rectangular enclosure from Trench 13. These progressively shifted westwards, cutting the enclosure gullies, and have been described in the Trench 13 section. The earliest, 2162, was probably part of the boundary system that marked the major Phase 3a reorganisation within Trench 13. Ditch 2161, running parallel to 2162, was similar in dimensions, and belonged to Phase 3b. It was this ditch that probably formed the eastern boundary of the Trench 19 double enclosure. Ditch 2161 was cut by the Phase 4 wall 2475, and on pottery evidence was earlier than ditch 2375 running along its west side.
A short fence line, F 8, ran for c 7 m along the west side of ditch 2161 at the south-east corner of the rectangular enclosure. The postholes were irregularly spaced and some were cut the edge of one phase of ditch 2161. The juxtaposition of ditch 2161, fence line F 8 and enclosure ditch 2376 may suggest that all three might not have been contemporary but it is conceivable that the enclosure was separated from Trench 13 by a fence and ditch arrangement. Ditch 2161 and gully 2376 were slightly oblique to one another, joining at the north end.

Internal cobbling 2350

Apparently contemporary with the enclosure phase was an area of cobbling, 2350, covering the south-eastern corner of the enclosed area. This had suffered from ploughing but sufficient survived to show it had been deliberately laid. Its surviving extent was c 7 x 5 metres but was cut to the east by ditch 2375. To the south it seemed to overlie the inner cut of 2409 but not the later, more southerly cut. Whether this is an accident of survival or archaeological stratigraphy was not clear but the latter interpretation has been assumed in discussing the enclosure gullies (see above).
It was difficult to date the construction of the cobbling on the basis of the finds. An irregular hollow (2442) was sealed by the cobbles (Section 99) but it contained minimal (0.06 kg) fragments of 2nd century pottery. Material over the cobbles was 3rd and 4th century, including late Roman window and vessel glass and slag (similar to the Phase 3c/d pit deposits in the north of the enclosure). It is possible that this cobbling related to the Phase 3c recutting of the inner enclosure.

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Phase 3 c/d: The pits

At some point in the later 3rd/early 4th century, two groups of pits were dug through the north-eastern and central parts of Trench 19, cutting the earlier enclosure ditches. The north-eastern pit group (2365) appeared to have been earlier (Phase 3c?), and the inner enclosure (E 19) was subsequently recut. By the time pit group 2393 was dug (Phase 3d or 4a), the enclosure was probably no longer in use, at least in its original form.

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Pit Group 2365

In the north-east of Trench 13, lay a group of pits (2365, 2422, 2420, 2396) that had been heavily truncated by ploughing, and in some areas survived only as an irregular spread of dark soil and rubble. Individual cuts were difficult to distinguish and cut size and profile were also variable. They were cut by Phase 4 ditch 2375 (designated 2407 at this point) and apparently by ditch 2397 of E 19, although pit 2422 was also recorded as cutting gully 2421 of E 18. This is difficult to reconcile stratigraphically, although if correct, it seems that at some point a number of pits were dug through the north-eastern boundaries of the enclosure (Phase 3c?), and then gully 2397 of E 19 was subsequently recut, along with other sections of this boundary (2437, 2409). Dating was problematic. Large quantities of finds lay at the interface of the topsoil and pit fills, and they showed a similar mix to that of the adjacent pit group to the south. This included almost 13 kg of pottery, much of which was 3rd century in date, but 4th century material was also present. Much of the earlier pottery was eroded and fragmentary, possibly indicating that it was residual. The high percentage of Rhenish wares compared to that from the whole site suggests that it derived from a single domestic source, and it may have been part of a general spread of material deposited across much of the northern part of the site (Phase 3d?), that only survived in the tops of the gully and pit hollows. Other finds included 124 animal bones, over 10 kg of ceramic tile, late Roman vessel and window glass, iron nails, two coins (AD 268-70 and AD 320-78), a copper alloy bracelet, bone pins and an iron sickle.

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Pit group 2393

Pit group 2393 formed a rectangular area in the central part of Trench 19, showing clearly as a cropmark. It consisted of a series of pits, often difficult to distinguish stratigraphically due to similarity in fills (2384, 2385, 2401-3, 2416-7, 2419, 2394-5, 2427-8, 2423). Pit 2395 cut 2396, which probably belonged to the north-eastern pit group 2365, and was in turn cut by pit 2394 to the south. The fills were very mixed, containing limestone rubble, domestic debris and general building debris. Most of the datable finds were late 3rd/early 4th century in date, later material being confined to upper layers. The cuts varied from regular and rectangular to irregular and subcircular in shape (section 96). Dimensions were variable, between 1 m to 3 m across and 0.2 m to 0.5 m deep. The group was in part sealed by alluvium (2355), which was deepest over the latest two pits, 2384 and 2385, indicating that they survived as visible hollows for a considerable period.
Chronologically, there was little to distinguish between the finds from pit groups 2393 and 2365, although the only stratigraphic relationship recorded (see above) suggests that the central group was later. The fact that more of the material seemed to derive from the main fill of these pits, as opposed to the upper surface, also suggests that these were later features, associated directly with the dumping of material. This probably occurred in Phase 3d or 4a, possibly contemporary with the early phase of ditch 2375. The finds from the pits included over 21 kg of pottery, almost 6 kg of ceramic tile, late Roman vessel and window glass, smithing slag, mortar and plaster, bone pins, iron nails, a copper alloy bracelet and four coins, mostly 4th century. Over 1000 animal bones were also recovered.
In addition to the wealth of material within the enclosure pits, there were two areas of redeposited rubble (2356, 2362) overlying ditch 2162, which also probably belonged to the Phase 3d/4a. Significantly, these included three separate column fragments, which must have come from a structure of some architectural merit, possibly located within the enclosure (see discussion below). Further column parts found in similarly dated pits in Trench 17 to the north may have come from the same structure.

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Phase 4a/b: The late Roman boundaries (Fig. 2.2.18 4a: Trench 19 sub-phase 4a and 2.2.18 4b: Trench 19 sub-phase 4b)

By the end of Phase 3, it appears that the rectangular enclosure had gone out of use, with the enclosure boundaries gradually filling up, and dumps of redeposited material spread across parts of the site. However, a significant amount of 4th century material was recovered from ditch 2375, along with some of the pits and general ploughsoil layers, indicating continued activity of some kind.

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Ditch 2375

Ditch 2375 post-dated the rectangular enclosure, cutting both its outer and inner gullies. Its northern sector coincided with the gated entrance to Trench 13 (although the gate structure was probably out of use at the phase). Its extent south of the main excavation trench is unclear, although cropmark evidence suggests it joined an east-west ditch not far south of the enclosure. Two separate cuts were distinguishable in 2375, on average c 1 m wide and c 0.5 m deep (section 104). Comparatively large quantities of pottery (c 20 kg) were recovered from the fills, with a date range indicating activity in the early to mid 4th century (Phase 4a-b). Much of the debris, which included smithing slag, 1367 animal bones, 12 kg of ceramic tile, quernstones, vessel glass, a copper alloy bracelet, brooch and ring, and many other items of metalwork, was concentrated within the northern terminal. Wall 2475 (see below) overlay the edge of the ditch at its northern end, although further to the south debris from the wall collapse filled its top layers, indicating that even if the two were not contemporary, the ditch was still a visible hollow. The north-western part of the ditch truncated an area of pits (2365) containing late 3rd/early 4th century material, indicating that it belonged to Phase 4, contemporary with the late Roman `villa' or farmstead.

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Phase 4b+: The late Roman wall

The only feature that could be ascribed to this phase (mid 4th century +) was masonry wall 2475. It is uncertain for how long this feature was in use, although there was not a distinctive late 4th century pottery assemblage from the trench as a whole, and only five percent of the coins dated to after AD 350, compared to 21% from Trench 13. This suggests that activity in the area declined markedly after the mid 4th century.

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Wall 2475

Wall 2475 formed the latest of the north-south boundaries (2162, 2161, 2375) on the eastern side of the enclosure area. It extended further north then the Phase 3 gateway structure, surviving partly as wall and partly as robber trench, a shallow gravel filled slot. Access must still have been possible, either through or around the wall, as the inner gateway of Trench 13 indicated the continued use of the early Roman track.
The southern extent of the wall was unclear, as structural traces of it disappeared after c 10 metres. However, as noted above, ditch 2375 contained collapsed material from it in its upper layers. This rubble extended south towards the southern limit of the trench. The wall construction, where it survived resembled the latest Roman extension to Building 8 in Trench 13 (Phase 4b), a pitched stone foundation with horizontal courses above. Up to three courses of this pitched foundation survived where it overlay the edge of ditch 2375 (2409). It was c 0.75m wide, and possibly c 35 m long.
Wall 2431 ran perpendicular to wall 2475 in the south-west corner of the enclosure. Only a 6 m length survived but it was of similar width. Its continuation eastward would join the line of wall 2475 at the point where the rubble infill of ditch 2375 stopped. It seems likely therefore, that the two were contemporary, forming a later Roman enclosure open to the west and north over the Phase 3 enclosure. Further evidence of wall 2431 possibly survived in the top of gully 2409, where intermittent rubble (Section 107) might derive from the footing of 2431.

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Interpretation of the archaeology from Trench 19

Although activity began in Phase 3a, the first significant period of expansion in this area came during the middle of the 2nd century AD (Phase 3b), with the establishment of a substantial double ditched rectangular enclosure. This was probably a continuation of the radical reorganisation that occurred in Trench 13 during Phase 3a, and resulted in an enclosure facing north onto a large cleared central zone, with the aisled buildings to the north-east. There were no indications of any internal structures within the enclosure, and the finds revealed little of the nature of any activity there. It seems likely that most of the area was kept clear, although the quantity of structural stone found, including column parts, indicates the presence of a building in the vicinity. Despite the hard-packed gravel surface, a substantial building would undoubtedly have required a foundation, and so a modest, although still architecturally elaborate, structure is more probable.
From the initial excavation, the enclosure was interpreted as a religious temenos associated with the official reorganisation of the site, primarily on the basis of its form and location at the heart of the settlement. Whilst this interpretation is hypothetical, the spatial arrangement is reminiscent of known sacred sites (eg Folly Lane, St Albans: Niblett 1999), and its position overlooking a central public space is also paralleled by many religious structures, such as the temple dedicated to Peace, Victory and Mars at Silchester (Boon 1973, 113). The lack of any apparent temple building is not problematic, as the most important components of a sanctuary were the boundary (temenos) defining the sacred area (area sacra), and the altar where rituals were performed (Smith 2001 24). The small column parts and dressed limestone fragments found in the vicinity could easily have belonged to such an altar structure.
At some stage, a group of pits seem to have been cut through the north-eastern enclosure boundaries and the inner gully subsequently recut. It was probably at this time that other parts of the inner enclosure were also recut and cobbling laid, and it may represent a different functional phase of activity, probably dating to the mid to later 3rd century (Phase 3c). The gullies probably started to fill with debris at this time. Whatever its function, the enclosure appears to have gone out of use by the end of Phase 3 or start of Phase 4, with a number of substantial pits cut within the central area. This, again, was undoubtedly part of the site-wide transformation occurring at this time. The pits were filled with domestic refuse, presumably dumped from different parts of the site, and were probably contemporary with the pit group found to the north in Trench 17. A substantial north-south boundary ditch was also dug through the enclosure during Phase 4a/b. This was succeeded by a masonry wall along a similar alignment, which appears to have been contemporary with the Phase 4b extension to the 'villa' in Trench 13.

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