SECTION 2.2.3:CLAYDON PIKE TRENCH 19PHASE 3 A: PRE-ENCOSURE FEATURES PHASE 3 B/C: THE ENCLOSURES PHASE 3 C/D: THE PITS PHASE 4 A/B: THE LATE ROMAN BOUNDARIES PHASE 4 B+: THE LATE ROMAN WALL 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). 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. 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. 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). Enclosure E 18The 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. Enclosure E 19The 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 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. Internal cobbling 2350Apparently 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). Phase 3 c/d: The pitsAt 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. Pit Group 2365In 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. Pit group 2393Pit 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. 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. Ditch 2375Ditch 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. Phase 4b+: The late Roman wallThe 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. Wall 2475Wall 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. Interpretation of the archaeology from Trench 19Although 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. |