The Cotswold Water Park Project
The Cotswold Water Park Project is a landscape study centred on parts
of the Upper Thames Valley in the southern and eastern hinterland of the
Roman town of Cirencester (Fig.
1.1: Location of Project Area).
Over the past 40 years, much of this area has been subject to gravel extraction
in order to cater for the boom in the construction industry. The resultant
flooded gravel quarries saw the creation of the Cotswold Water Park, an
area of nature reserves, country parks and recreational zones spreading
over 40 square miles (Fig.
1.2: Location of key sites). The large scale quarrying along these
gravel terraces has led to numerous extensive archaeological investigations
which have highlighted dense areas of settlement, ranging from early Neolithic
to the post-medieval period.
The current project has incorporated four key Iron Age and Roman archaeological
sites within this region (Fig.
1.2).
- Claydon Pike
- Somerford Keynes
- Whelford Bowmoor
- Stubbs Farm
Most of the key sites were the subject of archaeological investigation
in the late 1970s and 1980s as part of a co-ordinated program of research
carried out by Oxford Archaeology (OA, then Oxford Archaeological Unit,
OAU) in the Gloucestershire Upper Thames Valley.
The overall aim of the current project has been to present the data and
interpretations of the four key sites and to examine the socio-political
and economic development of the wider region from the middle Iron Age
to the end of the Roman period.
Summary of the key sites
Fairford Claydon Pike
Excavations on the first gravel terrace at Claydon Pike between 1979
and 1983 revealed two areas of settlement, ranging from the middle Iron
Age to the medieval period. Middle Iron Age activity at Warrens Field
was recorded over three gravel islands, and probably represents the settlement
of one or two families, that shifted eastwards over time. A maximum of
four roundhouse structures were in use on an island at any one time, and
the structures contained varying quantities of occupation refuse in their
surrounding drip gullies and associated enclosure ditches. The inhabitants
were pastoralists with a subsistence led mixed animal economy.
In the early 1st century AD a nucleated settlement was established about
120 m to the south at Longdoles Field, characterised by a series of large
and intensively re-cut enclosures, gullies, pits and substantial boundary
ditches. Within the site was identified a number of activity areas associated
with domestic habitation, small scale metalworking, and stock management.
It appears to have operated a largely subsistence economy associated with
cattle ranching, and in this respect was very similar to the nearby site
at Thornhill Farm. However, there were noticeable differences between
these sites, with Claydon Pike having an increased emphasis upon the settlement
boundary, along with larger numbers of imported goods associated with
eating and, to a lesser extent, drinking.
The early 2nd century saw dramatic changes. The enclosures, gullies and
ditches of the earlier phase were replaced by two large rectangular enclosures,
a substantial aisled barn and an aisled house with a tiled roof and painted
plaster interior. This was probably the residence of an extended family
group, and there is evidence to suggest that they utilised elements of
Roman style dress as well as new eating and drinking habits. The economic
basis of the site incorporated the management of hay-meadows, probably
on a commercial basis to sustain the needs of growing local population
centres such as Cirencester. By the mid 2nd century AD the settlement
expanded onto adjacent gavel platforms which seem to accommodate the lower
status estate workers, as well as providing small stock enclosures and
industrial areas. What may have been a religious precinct was also established
at the heart of the settlement, overlooking a central open space. At some
point during the early 4th century AD there appears to have been deliberate
and widespread clearing of the site with much domestic and structural
material deposited within pits and ditches. This was undoubtedly connected
with the establishment of a modest masonry footed villa on the site comprising
two separate structures, the southern of which incorporated a hypocaust
room. The villa was substantially modified during the 4th century, and
had two successive enclosures built around it, probably signalling a shift
in emphasis towards a perception of an increased need for security.
A small inhumation cemetery plot lay 100 m to the west of the villa and
a well built masonry footed shrine was constructed to the east. The surrounding
gravel terrace and floodplain were no longer used for haymaking and had
reverted to grassland used for grazing animals. It is possible however
that some arable production may have occurred on certain gravel islands
within the villa estate. Other economic activities may have included bee
keeping, fishing, and salting and/or curing of meat and fish. The final
abandonment of the villa at Claydon Pike is unclear, but there is some
evidence to indicate activity of some kind until the start of the 5th
century.
A small group of inhumation burials were cut through the villa building,
three of which were assigned to the middle Saxon period by radiocarbon
dating. Further intermittent activity took place on site in the medieval
period.
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Somerford Keynes, Neigh Bridge
A series of salvage excavations between 1986 and 1988 at Somerford Keynes
Neigh Bridge revealed part of a late Iron Age and Roman settlement. The
earliest features were a series of curvilinear enclosures dating from
the early/mid 1st century AD to the early 2nd century AD, although the
evidence hints at some level of middle Iron Age occupation in the vicinity.
These represent part of a farmstead, although a late Iron Age/early Roman
religious focus is also suggested by an unusually large number of coins
and brooches. A system of trackways and ditched enclosures and a large
aisled building replaced the earlier features in the early 2nd century
AD. The building was associated with a large quantity and variety of tile,
indicating that it may have served at least in part as a tile depot, associated
with wider changes in landscape organisation during this period. Sculptural
fragments of the Capitoline triad point to an official religious presence.
No features can be securely dated much beyond the end of the 2nd century
AD, although a substantial number of late 3rd and 4th century coins and
small finds suggests late Roman activity of some kind. An official or
military presence is hinted at during this late phase.
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Whelford Bowmoor
Three archaeological investigations were undertaken at Whelford Bowmoor
in 1983, 1985 and 1988. The earliest features revealed during excavations
comprised a regular system of sub-rectangular enclosures, dating to the
early/mid 2nd century AD. The enclosures were probably used for livestock
management. Another group of smaller enclosures lay further to the west,
which were probably a later development, but still possibly used in some
aspect of livestock management. It seems likely that many of these enclosure
ditches went out of use by the latter part of the 2nd century AD, and
the only convincing evidence for domestic activity within the site dates
to this period, taking the form of a rubble building platform and associated
'midden' deposits, dating from the later 2nd to early/mid 3rd century
AD. The finds assemblage on the whole suggests that the later phase of
the site was of higher status, with relatively high quantities of imported
fine and specialist wares in addition to finger rings, bracelets and remains
of hobnail shoes.
The site lies upon the immediate floodplain of the river Coln, and there
is some reason to believe that incidences of flooding were slowly increasing
throughout the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. In response to this, the site
may have been occupied only on a seasonal basis, and if such were the
case, then the quantities of fine ceramics associated with eating and
drinking, together with the much higher quantities of animal bone from
the later phase, may be explained in terms of seasonal feasting associated
with the re-occupation of the site. The general absence of later 3rd or
4th century AD material from the site suggests that settlement and structurally
defined agricultural activity may have shifted from the area entirely,
towards drier locations further up the gravel terrace, which were less
prone to flooding and waterlogging.
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Kempsford Stubbs Farm
Archaeological evaluation and excavation took place at Stubbs Farm from
1991 to 1995, specifically targeting a multi-ditched circular and rectangular
enclosure known from cropmark evidence. The two enclosures seem to relate
to separate phases of activity, with the circular feature tentatively dated
to the Iron Age/early Roman period. The scarcity of finds associated with
the use of the feature suggests a non-domestic function, possibly the corralling
of animals. The rectangular enclosure clearly belongs to a later phase of
activity, in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. The overall character of this
phase is indicative of a low status rural farmstead operating a largely
pastoral economic regime amidst the grasslands of the lower gravel terrace
and floodplain. Despite the paucity of what may be termed high status material
culture, the rectangular enclosure itself represents a considerable investment
of labour. The site clearly relates to a wider system of field boundaries,
trackways and settlements in the local area, with the rectangular enclosure
linked with the 2nd century settlement just to the west at the Multi-Agg
quarry site. Both the Stubbs Farm and Multi-Agg settlements appear to have
gone out of use by the second half of the 3rd century, with the latter probably
lasting slightly longer.
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Location and geology
Most of the key Cotswold Water Park Project sites lie within the triangular
area between the modern settlements of Lechlade, Fairford and Kempsford,
centring on the confluence of the rivers Coln, Leach and Thames (Fig.
1.3: Geological map of project area ). The main group lay along an
east-west line from Whelford Bowmoor, by the River Coln in Kempsford Parish,
via Thornhill Farm and Claydon Pike, Longdoles Field in Fairford Parish
to Claydon Pike, Warrens Field in Lechlade Parish. These sites all lay
within a block defined by the river Coln to the west and south, and the
river Leach to the east. The Kempsford Stubbs Farm site lies about 2 km
south of Whelford Bowmoor, south-west of the river Coln and about 1 km
north of the Thames. The 'Survey' sites were mainly concentrated to the
east in Lechlade Parish, to south-east of the Leach and north of the Thames.
Other survey sites lay between the Coln and Leach and one lay to the south
of Thames in Buscot Parish, Oxfordshire. In addition to this main concentration
of sites was Somerford Keynes, Neigh Bridge, which lies about 17 km WSW
of Claydon Pike. It was located adjacent to the Thames, 6 km due south
of Cirencester and just south of the village of Somerford Keynes.
Geologically, all of these sites lay on the 1st gravel terrace of the
river Thames, with Whelford Bowmoor being sited upon the immediate floodplain
of the river Coln (Fig.
1.3). To the south, past the main low-lying areas of alluvium on the
Thames floodplain lie areas of Oxford clay. The ground then rises significantly
towards the sands and clays of the Corrallian Ridge, which also includes
significant outcrops of Coral Rag. To the north of the sites lie higher
gravel terraces, then in some cases further areas of Oxford clay. Bands
of Cornbrash, Forest Marble and Great Oolite limestone then mark the rise
into the Cotswolds.
The post-excavation process
The post-excavation programmes of Claydon Pike, Somerford Keynes and
Whelford Bowmoor followed on from the fieldwork and continued until the
late 1980s and early 1990s. During this phase of post-excavation work,
substantial progress was made particularly in stratigraphic phasing and
on the analysis of finds assemblages and environmental data for Claydon
Pike. Matrices were produced and a phasing scheme for the site was developed.
Digital archives for contexts and finds data were created and specialist
reports were produced. Interim reports were also published for Claydon
Pike (Miles and Palmer 1983, 1984, 1990).
Little substantive work was undertaken on the stratigraphic data or finds
for Somerford Keynes, but the site at Whelford Bowmoor was phased and
a draft publication text produced, including site description and finds
reports. A draft report was also written in the late 1990s for Kempsford
Stubbs Farm, while the finds from the survey sites were catalogued and
a brief report made in the 1980s.
With the exception of Stubbs Farm, most of the post-excavation work for
the Cotswold water Park sites was carried out in the 1980s, and an assessment
of this data indicated that many significant revisions were needed. Therefore,
all of the original finds and stratigraphic reports have been fully revised
and updated, and much additional work has been carried out, leading to
the publication of four complete site reports. The original emphasis on
landscape interpretation has been maintained, so that the sites are viewed
as components within their local and regional context. Thornhill Farm
has been the subject of a separate post-excavation programme that has
now been completed (Jennings et al. 2004), although the wider landscape
aspects of this site still form a prominent part of the current print
volume.
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Research aims and objectives
The following are the research aims and objectives for the current publication,
based upon an assessment of the archive and the need to address contemporary
research agendas in British Iron Age and Roman studies.
Aim 1: Settlement landscapes and people: the landscape as social expression
- Settlement development and building forms: what light do the Cotswold
Water Park sites throw on later Iron Age and Romano-British settlement
development?
- Power: What light can study of the late Iron Age and Romano-British
artefact assemblages from the Cotswold Water Park sites throw on our
understanding of social structure and power within settlements and between
settlements?
- Resources and their control: can we observe regional settlement hierarchies
that can be related to the control and exploitation of resources?
- Religion: how does the evidence from the Cotswold Water Park sites
throw light on religion and beliefs in the later Iron Age and Romano-British
periods?
Identity: how does the data from the Cotswold Water Park sites provide
direct evidence for expression of identity?
Aim 2: Regionality: Dobunni: the Cotswolds and the Thames Valley; Atrebates:
Berkshire Downs; Catuvellauni: Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire.
- What light do the Cotswold Water Park sites throw on the question
of the regional variations in the material culture and agricultural
practice of Iron Age and Roman Britain?
Aim 3 Chronologies, and agencies and processes of change, including
the dynamics of Romanization
- How far can the Cotswold Water Park sites throw light on the processes
of change - settlement development, agricultural intensification and
increasing craft specialisation during the middle and late Iron Age?
- What evidence is provided by the Cotswold Water Park sites for the
transition from Iron Age to Roman and for the role of the Roman military?
- How does the data from the Cotswold Water Park sites contribute to
our understanding of local, regional and provincial patterns of development
in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD?What evidence is there for the changes
in occupation and material culture in the late and sub-Roman period?
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