SECTION 2.2.7:CLAYDON PIKE TRENCH 30

INTRODUCTION

BOUNDARY DITCHES/TRACKWAY (2739,2740)

ENCLOSURE DITCHES
Enclosure ditch 2737
Enclosure ditch 2738

GRAVES

DISCUSSION

Introduction (Fig. 2.2.25: Trench 30: The late Roman cemetery)

Trench 30 measured c 924 m² and lay c 100 metres north-west of Trench 17. Part of a small inhumation cemetery was exposed in this trench along with a section of the doubled ditched 'trackway' boundary (2739, 2740) surrounding the large western enclosure. Some of the burials were clearly associated with two successive enclosure ditches (2737, 2738). Although the cemetery is undated (a series of radiocarbon dating produced no positive results) it was probably associated with the adjacent boundary/roadway ditches dating from the early 2nd to the end of the 3rd century AD, and possibly later. A single late 3rd century coin came from an unstratified context along with a small amount of pottery (0.7 kg).
The cemetery is interesting because of its small size - some ten graves - and because the stratigraphic sequence provides evidence ofcontinuity and change in burial customs. It suggests that the 'burial plot' was used sporadically over a relatively long period and was probably at least partly contemporary with the late Roman villa/farmhouse.
Five of the graves in the core area were oriented NW-SE. Arguably the earliest was 2741, which had been dug into enclosure ditch 2737, the spoil from which formed an internal bank or mound. Grave 2773 to the immediate west was within a smaller enclosure ditch, 2783, and was clearly later since its ditch cut the already silted ditch of its neighbour. The orientation of graves 2766, 2748 and 2765 suggested that they were broadly contemporary. Outlying graves 2743 and 2745 have an apparently similar orientation but the bodies were aligned SE-NW. They are therefore less likely to have been contemporary with the rest. Three additional graves provided evidence of a second phase in the core area. They were orientated NE-SW and cut earlier burials but their close spatial relationship with earlier features suggests continuity of use of the burial ground. Grave 2759 reused enclosure ditch 2738 whilst intercutting graves 2760 and 2775 to the immediate west, both cut 2766.

Top of page

Boundary ditches/Trackway (2739, 2740)

The northern part of trench 30 revealed a section of a NW-SE aligned double ditch visible on aerial photographs (Fig. 2.2.1: Trench plan of Longdoles Field ). The southern ditch (2739) was 1.2 m wide and 0.4 m in depth, while 4.5 m to the north, ditch 2740 was much more substantial, being over 2 m wide and up to 0.5 m deep. It is likely that the two were contemporary, forming part of the northern boundary to the large western enclosure, and probably also a trackway between the fields. The only find was a piece of worked iron from ditch 2739.

Enclosure Ditches

Enclosure ditch 2737

Ditch 2737 bounded four sides of a rectangular area measuring 6.5 by 5 m, with a possible entrance at the north-east corner. The northern side was very shallow but elsewhere the depth was 0.34 - 0.42 m. The ditch had a flat base and contained a loamy gravel lining (section 250). The fill had eroded from the interior of the enclosure, which may have contained a bank or mound, and this process was advanced when enclosure ditch 2738 was cut into the west side (section 250). Three iron nails and copper alloy bracelet were found in this ditch, along with 0.31 kg of pottery, which included a sherd of samian and amphora. A total of 243 animal bones also came from this enclosure.

Top of page

Enclosure ditch 2738

Ditch 2738 represented a three-sided enclosure, open to the north. Its east side was cut along the line of the fill of the west side of 2737 (section 250). Sections excavated across the ditch indicated that it was 0.2 to 0.3 m deep with a rounded base. A small animal bone assemblage (59 fragments) was recovered from the fill.

Top of page

Graves

Grave 2741 - Situated within enclosure 2737, parallel with the centre of its north side (oriented NW-SE) and surviving 0.8 m deep. The grave contained extended inhumation burial 2771, an individual aged 30-40.
Grave 2773 - Within enclosure 2738, oriented NW-SE, surviving 0.6 m deep, and cut by grave 2759. The grave contained extended inhumation burial 2777, an individual aged 35-40; indications of hobnails were seen to the right and left of the head end.
Grave 2766 - To the west of enclosure 2738, oriented NW-SE, surviving 0.14 m deep and cut by grave 2760 and 2775. The grave contained extended inhumation burial 2769, an adult male.
Grave 2748 - Between and parallel to boundary ditch/roadway 2739 and the north side of enclosure ditch 2737, oriented NW-SE, and surviving 0.18 m deep. The grave contained extended inhumation burial 2767, and individual aged 40+; iron nails indicated the use of a coffin.
Grave 2765 - To the south of and parallel to enclosure ditch 2738, oriented NW-SE and surviving 0.2 m deep. The grave contained extended inhumation burial 2772, a male aged 18-23.
Grave 2759 - Within enclosure 2738, parallel with its east and west sides, oriented NE-SW, cutting grave 2738, and preserved 0.18 m deep. The grave contained extended inhumation burial 2768, an individual aged 20-25; stones had been used as lining (including two under the head) and one nail was found.
Grave 2760 - To the west of and parallel with enclosure ditch 2738, oriented NE-SW, and cutting graves 2766 and 2755. This grave contained extended inhumation burial 2770, an individual aged 18-23; one nail was found.
Grave 2775 - Surviving 0.2 m deep, to the west of, contingent with and cut by grave 2760; presumed to cut grave 2766. This grave contained a decapitated ?man aged 35-40 (2775) whose head had been placed at the SW end by the feet of his extended body.
Grave 2743 - Revealed in machine scraping some 20 m NE of the general cemetery area; oriented NW/SE. The grave contained a decapitated individual aged 18-23 (2744) whose head had been placed at the NW end by the feet of his extended body.
Grave 2745 - Revealed in machine scraping some 20 m NE of the general cemetery area; oriented NW/SE. The grave contained the body of an adolescent or adult, with feet to the NW.

Stray human bones were also found in the fills of the north-west terminal of enclosure ditch 2738, posthole 2742 cut by the north-east terminal of 2738 and boundary ditch/roadway 2739 to the north of enclosure ditch 2737.
The following features have not been described:
Possible graves 2751, 2752, 2756, 2761, 2763, 2764, which were all considered to be natural.
Pits, postholes, and natural features 2749, 2750, 2753, 2755, 2758 and 2762.

Top of page

Discussion

The cemetery had several interesting features. There was an absence of grave goods, the only exception being the concentration of hobnails to the right and left of the head end of 2773. Some of the bodies were clearly coffined, as a stain was discernible in 2741, and nails were found in 2748, 2759 and 2760, and grave 2759 also had evidence of stone lining. The bodies in graves 2775 and 2743 had been decapitated and the head placed by the feet, but this is a feature of Roman burials elsewhere (Booth 2002). The small size of this cemetery and its comparative longevity suggest use by a family unit, but the demographic picture argues against this. Though sexing was uncertain, all ten graves contained adults, at least four aged 30-40+. The absence of infants, children and teenagers together with over-representation of older individuals, suggests that a specialist group used the cemetery.

Top of page