SECTION 2.2.2:CLAYDON PIKE TRENCH 13

INTRODUCTION
Phasing and Chronology

PHASE 2: THE LATE IRON AGE/EARLY ROMAN SETTLEMENT (c AD 25-125)
Summary
Phase 2 feature classes
Phase 2a features
Phase 2b features
Phase 2c features
Phase 2d features
Phase 2 features unassigned to sub-phases

PHASE 3: THE ROMAN COMPLEX (EARLY 2nd TO EARLY 4th CENTURY AD)
Summary
Phase 3a: early to mid 2nd century
Phase 3b: mid to late 2nd century
Phase 3c: early to late 3rd century
Phase 3d: late 3rd to early 4th century
Phase 3 features unassigned to sub-phases

PHASE 4: THE LATE ROMAN VILLA COMPLEX
Summary
Phase 4a: early 4th century AD
Phase 4b: early to mid 4th century AD
Phase 4c: mid-late 4th century AD
Phase 4d: later 4th century AD

PHASE 5: SAXON AND MEDIEVAL ACTIVITY
Summary
Middle Saxon Activity

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Introduction

Trench 13 covered an area of approximately 8100 m² and represented the main area of excavation at Claydon Pike. A number of features had been observed as cropmarks during aerial survey, including enclosure ditches and linear boundaries (Fig. 2.2.1:Trench plan of Longdoles Field ). The trench was located in an area that rose slightly above surrounding marshland. Although disturbed by ploughing, Trench 13 was not as badly affected as the other areas, but the stratigraphy was, nonetheless, rather shallow.
Occupation in the area dated from the early 1st century to the later 4th century. During the early 1st to early 2nd century (Phase 2) a nucleated settlement was represented by a series of enclosure ditches, along with a number of smaller features including pits, gullies and smaller boundaries (Fig. 2.2.4: Trench 13 composite phase 2 plan ). No structures were identified for this phase. The end of Phase 2 ( Fig. 2.2.5-2d: Trench 13 phase 2 sub-phase 2d) saw the construction of more strongly defined linear boundaries. The early 2nd century (Phase 3) signalled a radical re-ordering of the site layout, when a series of linear boundary ditches were laid out, enclosing two aisled buildings (Fig. 2.2.6: Trench 13 composite phase 3 plan ). The main access to this area was via a gateway structure located at the western edge of Trench 13, just to the north of the rectangular enclosures of Trench 19. The complex underwent a number of significant changes over the next two centuries, and during the early 4th century (Phase 4) a low-status villa structure and associated building were constructed (Fig. 2.2.13: Trench 13 composite plan phase 4 ). After a short period these buildings were unified, and further modifications saw the southern part dismantled and the north-eastern part extended. The northern building was enclosed by a two phase sub-circular enclosure ditch. A circular shrine was identified approximately 60 m to the north-east of the villa, in Trench 27. During the middle Saxon period (Phase 5) a number of inhumation burials were inserted into the ruins of the villa building (Fig. 2.2.17: Trench 13 phase 5 ).

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Phasing and Chronology

Activity in Trench 13 has been divided into three main phases (Phases 2, 3 and 4), and each of these has each been sub-divided into a further four phases. The phasing was established on the basis of stratigraphic relationships, while the chronology of these phases has been attributed by examination of the pottery and coins from key context groups. Analysis of the pottery indicated that occupation in Trench 13 was continuous from the early 1st to the later 4th century AD.

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Phase 2: The Late Iron Age/Early Roman Settlement (c AD 25 - 125; Fig. 2.2.4: Trench 13 composite phase 2 plan )

Summary

The main focus of activity during Phase 2 was exposed in Trench 13. By means of trial trenching and salvage work it was possible to identify additional linear boundaries and enclosures from the cropmark survey, and to relate them to features within the excavated trench. A dense concentration of features covering an area c 2400 m² lay at the heart of the settlement and was defined towards the end of Phase 2 by a substantial boundary ditch, 2502. The settlement nucleus included a complex of gullies, pits, small enclosures and boundary ditches, but there was no clear evidence of structures. Small quantities of daub were recovered, but these were not of sufficient quantity or density to demonstrate the presence of buildings. Pottery and ironworking debris provided evidence of occupation and industrial activity. The stratigraphic and spatial relationships of Phase 2 features in this area indicated four sub-phases, dated on the basis of pottery (Fig. 2.2.5 a, -b, -c, -d: Trench 13 phase 2 sub-phasing ). Occupation appeared to have lasted for approximately one century from c AD 25 to 125. Because chronological divisions within this period were problematic and pottery from many features was sparse, the dating is, in some cases, tentative.

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Phase 2 feature classes (Fig. 2.2.4: Trench 13 composite phase 2 plan )

Features belonging to Phase 2 were classified by type in order to simplify description and interpretation.
The large ditched enclosures, prefixed by the letter 'E', were mostly sub-square and ranged in size from 17.5 m to 32.5 m across.
Sub-enclosures (hereafter SE) were defined as predominately sub-rectangular ditched enclosures that were completely open on one side. The sides adjacent to the open side were often foreshortened, and the long axis ranged from 8 m to 15 m. Sub-enclosures 2, 3 and 5 appeared to be related to, and possibly defined, concentrations of smaller features, including pits and gullies.
Ditched linear boundaries (LB) were defined as straight lengths of ditch, a minimum of 15 m in length and c 0.5 m deep. These boundaries appeared to define the nucleus of the settlement area in this phase, and created internal boundaries within it.
Linear boundaries defined by gullies were identified around the periphery of Trench 13, most occurring on the southern and eastern sides, some apparently as simple boundaries, others forming rectangular plots. The gullies varied in size from 0.4 to 0.8 m wide and 0.07 to 0.4 m deep. All lay on a NW-SE or NE-SW axis, few had been recut and finds were sparse.
A series of circular gullies (CG) was also exposed in Trench 13. These seemed to conform to two sizes, defining a small enclosure c 4 m in diameter, and a larger enclosure c 8 m in diameter. Both were between 0.5 to 0.7 m in width and 0.2 to 0.5 m in depth. Finds were generally sparse.
Two concentrations of short linear and curvilinear gullies were noted, one bounded by SE 3 and SE 2, the other to the north of E 11. The former group comprised two sets of penannular gullies, one of which enclosed an area 8 m in diameter, the other defined an area 12 m in diameter. Several shorter lengths of gully lay in the vicinity of these two features. The latter group included three short curved gullies and one penannular gully. The penannular gully defined an area c 8 m in diameter and five postholes were associated with one of the curved gullies, possibly defining a structure.
Pits were present across the entire site, but two concentrations were recognised. Most of the pits were circular in plan, varying in size to a maximum diameter of 1.2 m to 1.4 m and depth of 0.7 m.

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Phase 2a features (Figs 2.2.4 and 2.2.5: Trench 13 phase 2 sub-phase 2a)

The earliest features in Trench 13 were generally less substantial than later features. They included SE 1, curvilinear gullies 1551 / 537 / 528, circular gully 1757 and gullies 568, 567 and 592. Activity in this phase appears to have been concentrated in the north and east of the trench, and finds of Savernake pottery suggests a date from c AD 25 - 100.

Sub-enclosures

Sub-enclosure 1, located on the north side of Trench 13, was a three-sided enclosure open to the east. The long axis measured 15 m north-south, and the two east-west arms were 8 m long. The northern terminal had been truncated by Phase 4 enclosure ditch E22. The ditch was c 1.6 m wide with gently sloping sides and c 0.6 m deep and there was some sign that it had been recut (section 136). It contained fills 1805, 2624 and 2611. Finds were relatively sparse, comprising pottery and a few iron nails but in excess of 130 animal bones were also recovered, horse being the most common of the identifiable species. The ditch was cut by north-south linear ditch 2602, and gully 1961 and it post-dated east-west aligned gully 2627.

Linear ditch boundaries

The earliest feature in the southern part of Trench 13 was ditch 644. The ditch formed an arc enclosing an area 22.5 m in diameter, open to the west and south. The north-western terminal was truncated by boundary 500 and it was not clear whether feature 1900 or 1710 (not shown on plan) represented its terminal, although the former was most similar in profile. The ditch had been recut at least once. The shallower original version was 0.8 m wide and 0.3 to 0.4 m deep. The later version ditch was a deep flat bottomed ditch, 1 m wide and 0.6 m deep. The later cut may not have been continuous as it was not traced on the northern side. The small finds assemblage recovered from the ditch included pottery, daub and window glass. The features within the enclosed area did not appear to be associated with the ditch.
Linear boundary ditch 566, located in the north-eastern part of Trench 13, was c 17 m long and approximately 1 m wide. It appeared to have been truncated by E 13. It may have been related to a number of small pits and a circular gully, 506, although these features could not be precisely phased

Linear gully boundaries

Gullies 568, 567 and 592 appeared to enclose a rectangular plot at the eastern edge of Trench 13. Gully 592 ran in a straight line for c 37 m on a NE-SW alignment. It was 0.4 m wide and 0.2 m deep. Its NW-SE return, gully 567, was c 13 m long and slightly more substantial at 0.6 m wide and 0.4 m deep. Gully 568 formed the western side, 10 m long, 0.4 m wide and 0.4 m deep. Gully 568 truncated a small circular gully, 1757, which enclosed an area c 3 m in diameter. A few sherds of pottery were recovered from the gullies.

Circular gullies

Circular gully, 532, lay to the south of boundary ditch 566. It enclosed an area 3.8 m in diameter, and measured 0.5 to 0.9 m wide and 0.5 m deep (section 168). There ware no associated internal features. Small quantities of pottery and animal bone came from the gully fill. The animal bones included a complete donkey metacarpal.

Short gullies and gully arcs

A group of features, 1551, 537 and 528 ,together formed a penannular gully complex lying to the west of rectangular enclosure 568/567/592. Where excavated, the gully was 0.6 to 0.8 m wide and c 0.25 m deep (Section 172) and defined an area c 8 m in diameter. It appeared to be truncated by circular gully 532, but this relationship was not certain. A ring of five postholes lay within the enclosed area, concentric with the gullies and defining an area 5 m in diameter, but their relationship to the gully complex was not established and no dating evidence was recovered. The southern end of 1551 was truncated by enclosures 11 and 14 and overlain by Aisled Building 3. The eastern stretch of the gully was truncated by E 13.

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Phase 2b features (Figs 2.2.4 and 2.2.5: Trench 13 phase 2 sub-phase 2b)

Phase 2b was characterised by sub-enclosures, but a move to more substantial enclosures was indicated by the construction of E 13 and E 14 during this period. Few major linear boundaries were in use during this time.

Enclosures
Enclosure 13

Enclosure 13 was situated in the north-east corner of Trench 13, and extended beyond the excavated area. The enclosure was sub-rectangular in plan and although its full length could not be measured, the enclosed area was 15 to 18 m wide. The ditch was between 2.5 to 5.0 m wide and its average depth was 0.5 m. No entrance gap was present in the excavated area. Two major cuts were visible, 563 and 576, and an earlier shallow gully on the outer edge of the ditch, 572, may have represented an original version of the enclosure ditch (section 171). Feature 576 was approximately 0.5 m deep, and 563 varied in depth from 0.5 m to 0.7 m. On the south side the two main features diverged, the earliest clearly cut by Enclosure 15 (section 180).
The ditch fills were uniform, with little to distinguish one from another. Some infilling of gravel was present in the top layer at the north-west corner of the enclosure, which appeared to truncate ditch 566. No features within the enclosure were demonstrably contemporary with it. Finds, which were not abundant but were scattered consistently throughout the ditch fills, included pottery, smithing slag, iron nails and a small quantity of animal bone.

Enclosure 14

Enclosure 14 lay immediately to the south-west of E 13 and was cut by E 12, 15 and 11. The ditch was variously designated 767/784/795/796 at different points along its length and showed little clear evidence of recutting. It was generally c 1 to 1.2 m wide and c 0.5 to 0.9 m deep. The enclosure was roughly square, measuring 16 m by 16 m, with an entrance of 2.5 m positioned centrally along the west side. The ditch terminals, 795 and 796, appeared to have been later cut by a gully, 879, measuring 0.4 to 0.6 m wide. More than 75% of the interior of the enclosure had been cut away by the ditches of E 11, 12 and 15 and no features associated with the enclosure ditch were recognised within the surviving interior. Finds from the ditch included 1.1 kg of pottery (1.1 kg) and 137 fragments of animal bone. A piece of copper alloy wire was also recovered from terminus 795.

Sub-enclosures

Four sub-enclosures were assigned to sub-Phase 2b on the basis of stratigraphic relationships and ceramic dates.

Sub-enclosure 3

Sub-enclosure 3 was located at the western edge of Trench 13, just within the confines of boundary ditch 2502 and was sealed beneath a later Roman masonry building. It was represented by gully 2552 and by ditches 2562, 2312, 2272 and 2273, and excavation indicated a complex sequence of recutting. The principal element was a major ditch cut, 2312 (2272), which curved from south to the north for 18 m and then for 8 m to the east (section 138). The ditch was c 1.4 m wide and up to 1 m deep. A recut, 2273, was evident on the northern side. Gully 2552, on the western edge of 2312, was 0.4 m wide and 0.3 m deep and did not continue along the eastern return of the enclosure. Ditch, 2562, which was 1.2 m wide and 0.9 m deep, on the other hand, closely followed the line of 2312 and was visible within section 138. Both features had been recut. The southern return of SE3 was lost to disturbance by later features. Its south-west corner was cut by ditch 2502 and the northern ditch of E 16/17 at the point subsequently transacted by Phase 3a boundary ditch 2156.
The ditch fills were largely homogeneous and only distinctive on the northern edge where some consolidation with gravel had occurred. SE 3 was cut by SE 2 and by two WNW-ESE aligned boundary ditches, 1770, 2101/1997, which were in turn cut by Phase 2d boundary ditch 2502. A series of pits also cut the northern terminals. A substantial but sterile pit, 2274, pre-dated the northern stretch SE 3 (section 138). SE 3 appeared to define an area of activity represented by a number of pits, postholes and gullies, although it could not be demonstrated precisely which of these features were contemporary as most produced no dateable finds. The few small finds recovered from the enclosure features included fired clay, an iron nail, lead fragment and copper alloy brooch pin. Very small quantities of pottery and animal bone were also recovered.

Sub-enclosure 4

SE 4 lay to the west of SE 3, on the south-western edge of Trench 13. It was represented by three distinct intercutting ditches, 2170 (eqivalent to 2158), 2157 and 2169 and was aligned north-east to south-west. The enclosure measured c 15 m long and the southern return of the ditch was 5 m long. The northern end was truncated by Phase 2d enclosure ditch 2502 and by Phase 3 ditches and it was unclear whether the ditch turned east. Cut 2169 was the earliest ditch and 2157 merged with 2170 on the north side.
The dimensions of the ditches varied. Ditch 2170 was 1.4 m wide and 0.9 m deep while 2169 was much smaller, 0.9 m wide and 0.5 m deep. The area defined by SE 4 did not appear to contain features representing evidence of activity. The enclosure ditch cut ditch 2173, and was it turn cut by ditch 2502. The finds assemblage included small quantities of 1st-century AD pottery and animal bone, an iron nail and fired clay fragment.

Sub-Enclosure 5

Ditches 1604 and 1677 formed sub-enclosure SE 5, located on the north-east side of Trench 13. It lay just north of E 11 and to the west of E 13, and was partially overlain by Aisled Building 3. The enclosure ditch was 8 m long along its east-west axis with 3 m long north-south returns at each end. The ditch had been recut at least once, the smaller recut, 1603, located on the southern edge. The ditch was on average 0.8 m wide and 0.4 m deep. It was uncertain whether feature 534 represented the north-east terminus of SE 5 or an associated pit. SE 5 post-dated a sequence of gullies, including circular gully 532, but a series of pits, 530, 531, 533, 540, 542, 1605, 1608 and 1609, appeared to have been dug during the time the ditch was being filled as both the pit and ditch fills contained slag. Smithing slag was recovered from the ditch and smithing and smelting slag from the pits. Most of the pits lay within the area defined by SE 5 and it is likely that the sub-enclosure was associated with iron-working activity. A small assemblage of pottery but few other finds were associated with SE 5.

Sub-Enclosure 6

Sub-Enclosure 6, represented by ditch 656, lay in the south-east corner of Trench 13. The NW-SE aligned long axis was 11 m long, and the shorter arms, 671 and 630, were 6 m long. The ditch was flat bottomed with gently sloping sides, c 1.2 m in width and 0.6 m deep. A steeper sided cut survived on the south-west side. SE 6 was cut by the Phase 2d LB 643 (ditch 660) but cut smaller boundary ditches 664 and 666 to the west. It was in part sealed by a spread of burnt limestone, 658, which appeared to be redeposited as there was no sign of in situ burning. Circular gully, 662, lay adjacent to the north arm, but the two features did not impinge. Finds were sparse, apart from a reasonable quantity of pottery.

Ditched linear boundaries
LB 2602

A north-south aligned linear boundary ditch represented by ditch 2602 and 2626, stretched for 18 m from the northern return of boundary ditch 2502 to the northern side of SE 2. Two phases were recognised. Ditch 2602, the earlier feature, was 0.6 m wide and 0.3 to 0.4 m deep (section 136) and its southern terminal was cut by SE 2. The later ditch, 2626, was 1 m wide by 0.6 m deep, and was cut close to its northern terminal by the northern arm of boundary ditch 2502. Ditch 1567, to the south of SE 2, may represent a continuation of ditch 2602, apparently respecting the northern terminal of SE 3 (Fig. 2.2.5: Trench 13 phase 2 sub-phase 2b). Ditches 2602 and 2626 both post-dated SE 1. Few finds were recovered from their fills.

LB 675

Curvilinear ditch 675 was located immediately to the south of E 11. It was c 1.8 m wide and 0.8 m deep (section 155), and approximately 8 m of its length was preserved. The northern end was cut phase 2c enclosure E 11, the southern end by Phase 3 boundary ditch 547. It cut a small curving gully, 860, which was 0.6m wide. The fill produced a small quantity of pottery and animal bone, and a fired clay oven fragment.

Linear gully boundaries

Several linear gullies in the south-western corner of Trench 13 represented a NE-SW aligned pattern of field boundaries that continued, on the evidence of cropmarks, to the south-west of the trench. The complex included three parallel gullies, 2006, 2204 and 2010. Gully 2204 truncated 2006 and terminated just south of E 16. It was cut by Phase 2 LB 1717, Phase 3 fence lines 4 and 5, and ditch 1737 (not on plan). Gully 2006, located on the east side of 2204, cut WNW-ESE orientated gully 2016. Gully 2010 extended further north than 2204, and was truncated by LB 1717, E16 and Phase 3 ditch 1737. Another shallow gully, 2013, located to the east of 2006, cut NE-SW gully 2203 (not on plan), which appeared to be the earliest feature in the sequence. Due to complexity of the intercutting of the features it was difficult to precisely define their extents in plan. A sparse collection of finds including fired clay, iron nails, animal bone (mostly cattle) and pottery was recovered from the gully fills.

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Phase 2c features (Figs 2.2.4 and 2.2.5: Trench 13 phase 2 sub-phase 2c)

Phase 2c was characterised by a much more substantial circular enclosures, located in the east and south-west sectors of Trench 13, and a number of linear boundaries in the south and west. The pottery assemblage from this phase resembled that from Phase 2b, with a slight preponderance of Flavian material (c AD 70 - 96).

Enclosures

Six major enclosures were assigned to this sub-phase, although only three could have been directly contemporary. A succession of three large enclosures, E 15, E 12 and E 10, extended beyond the excavated area to the south and east of Trench 13.

E 15

Enclosure 15 (initially recorded as 886) was the earliest of the three enclosures.It cut Phase 2b enclosure E 14. It appears to have been an earlier version of E 12, and was morphologically similar. The northern edge of the E 15 enclosure ditch was cut and obscured by E 12, and the eastern and southern parts extended out of the excavation area. The enclosed area was c 25m across. In contrast to E 10 and E 12, no evidence of a south-west facing entrance was visible, although the ditch was wider at this point. The relationship between E 15 and E 13 was unclear due to the effect of E12 cutting across at the point where this may have been tested (section 180). Small finds included iron nails, an Old Red Sandstone spindle whorl and fired clay, including oven plate fragments and daub. A small amount of pottery and animal bone was also recovered.

E 12

Enclosure 12 was not visible as cropmark but was one of a sequence of intercutting enclosures in the south-east corner of Trench 13. It was roughly rectangular in plan, and at least 22 m across. A south-west facing entrance c 2.5 m wide was represented by ditch terminals 851 and 773, which was 0.4 m deep where sectioned (section 182). The enclosure ditch had been recut at least ten times, as evidenced in some sections, but the homogeneity of the fills prevented the construction of a precise stratigraphic sequence. Different phases of the ditch sequence were designated 739 (0.5 m deep), 740 (0.7 m deep) 761 and 591 (0.5-0.7 m deep; section 180). Cut 895 was also thought to be part of E 12, although it's location in plan was not clear. Cuts 745 and 762 (initially grouped as 885) could have been part of either E 12 or E 15, but probably the former. A NE-SW orientated ditch, 774, was cut by 773, the terminal ditch of E 12 and may have been part of the E 12 complex. The presence of occasional gravel bands and darker fills suggested some degree of deliberate infilling in the otherwise naturally silted ditches. Finds were extremely sparse and no concentrations of material were detected. Small finds included vessel glass fragments and fired clay. A small quantity of animal bone was also recovered.
An area of cobbling, 615, to the south of Aisled Building 3 overlay the enclosure ditch but had not subsided into it and there was no evidence that its position was determined by the underlying ditches. It appeared to have been cut by E 10, but it post-dated E 13, E 14 and E 15. A copper alloy ligula was found in this deposit

.E 10

Enclosure 10 was an oval shaped enclosure, partly exposed in the south-east corner of Trench 13. This enclosure was not clearly visible as a cropmark and the greater part of it lay outside of the excavation. Its size was difficult to estimate but it was at least 20 m wide. The enclosure was represented by a 3 m wide ditch, 525, that curved round from south to east (section 185). At least four major cuts were visible, the deepest and one of the earliest, measuring c 0.9 m deep and 1.75 m wide. The fills were fairly homogeneous and contained little occupation debris. The truncated Roman ground surface did not extend over the ditch and there was no evidence of deliberate infilling or consolidation. A west-facing entrance c 2.5 m wide belonged to one of the early phases but no trace of a late entrance was found. The entrance was represented by two terminals, 853 and another un-numbered (section 182). A shallow gully, 855, lay across the inside of the entrance and it was not clear whether it was an early phase gully cut by the entrance terminals after it had filled or whether it was dug to block the entrance. No features were exposed within the enclosure apart from two shallow scoops adjacent to the entrance. The section excavated across E10, 12 and 15 demonstrated that E 10 was one of the latest in the sequence of intercutting enclosures (section 180). Almost 2 kg of pottery and 170 animal bones were recovered from this feature. Ditch 525 was later cut by Phase 3 boundary ditch 559.

E 11

Enclosure 11 was situated to the west of E 12. It was roughly circular in form, with a maximum external length of 21 m and enclosed area 10-14 m long. It post-dated E14, and was cut by a small number of Phase 3 pits and B 3. It barely impinged on E 12 to the east, and, although the relationship was not certain, E 11 was thought to be later, but still within Phase 2c. The ditch had been recut on at least five occasions and the contexts relating to these phases were 742 (section 177), 732, 783, 764, 757 (section 177), 859, 711, 712, 892, 758, 733, 861, 862, 1759 and 1628.
An entrance, possibly relating to a late phase of use, was marked by terminals 1759 / 1628, on the north-west side of the ditch circuit. The opposing terminus was not recognised due to truncation by later features, including a part excavated pit, 1627. No earlier entrances were located. The deepest and one of the earliest of the five ditch cuts measured 1.1 m deep and 1.6 m wide (section 177). Fills were a homogeneous orange brown sandy loam apart from the fill of a late cut, 732, which was sealed by Aisled Building 3. This was much darker and contained relatively large amounts of limestone rubble, particularly in the uppermost layer, evidence of deliberate infilling. It also contained the highest concentrations of small finds from the ditch, including iron nails, fired clay, a copper alloy coin dated to AD 81 - 96, perforated copper alloy sheet, fire fractured flint and smithing slag. Small finds from the rest of the enclosure were limited to iron nails, fired clay fragments and a bone bobbin. Comparatively large amounts of pottery and animal bone were also recovered.
A substantial layer of cobbling, 772, had been spread across the western part of the enclosure and had subsided into the top of the ditch. The cobble layer produced few finds.

E 16

E 16 was situated in the south-west corner of Trench 13. It was roughly circular in plan with a straight southern arm that may have continued north and east, joining linear boundary 645, but this possible relationship was obscured by post-medieval boundary ditch 500. The enclosure measured 29 by 23 m from the outer ditch edges but the enclosed area was only 17 m long and 15 m wide. Two major phases of ditch cutting were visible on the south-east and west sides (sections 152, 127). The maximum dimensions of the largest ditch here were 3 m wide and 1.2 m deep. The various ditch cuts on the northern side could not be separated from those of E 17 but it was clear that E 16 was the earlier of the two enclosures. E 16 contained the following cuts: 577 (section 152), 821, 822, 823, 2229, 2231, 2221, 2222, 2227, 2228 (section 127), 2234, 2235, 2239, 2240, and possibly 2215.
An entrance on the east side was suggested by the position of a northern terminal 1704 (not numbered on plan), but a corresponding southern terminal was not recognised and the entrance could be assigned only to E 16 / 17. Debris and infilling in the top of the ditches indicate that they were open well into Phase 3. The northern side of the enclosure was overlain by the trackway ditch on the southern side of the Phase 3a enclosure. Successive layers of the trackway cobbling, 2000 and 2003, were recorded where it crossed the ditches (Phase 3a below).
No contemporary internal features were recognised within the interior but finds from the enclosure ditches suggested the proximity of domestic occupation, although material was most prolific from the upper levels of the southern ditch, 577, which probably remained open into Phase 3. Small finds included a relatively large number of fired clay fragments, including a loomweight and oven fragment; more than 12 iron nails, an iron rivet, melted and sheet lead fragments, a lead rod, plug and weight, slag, two copper alloy brooches, a copper alloy perforated sheet, a bone pin, several glass fragments, including vessel and window glass, and a whetstone. Large quantities of pottery and animal bone, mainly cattle and sheep, were also recovered, mostly from ditch 577.

E 17

E 17 was approximately concentric with E 16 and probably represents a recutting of the earlier enclosure ditch. The southern side was foreshortened, however, and the southern arm terminated at the postulated entrance to E 16 / 17. The enclosure measured 26 by 20 m from the outer ditch edges and the internal area was c 20 long and 12 m wide. The E 17 ditch had been more substantially recut than E 16, at least five phases showing in some sections. The different cuts were designated 814 (section 127), 1515, 1519, 1528, 806, 807, 2237, and possibly 1745, 1746, 1504. A typical deep ditch profile was 1.8 m wide and 0.9 m deep. The latest cut, 1515, seemed to continue across the entrance, but the terminal may have been cut away by the Phase 3 ditch 620. The ditches belonging to E 16 and E 17 could not be distinguished on the northern side and the western ditch had been so extensively recut that it appeared very broad in plan (section 127). The following recuts could only be assigned to E 16 / 17: 1704, 1713, 2066, 2254, 2257, 2258, 2259, 2260, 2325, 2342. The general sequence, however, was clear. E 17 cut E 16 and was itself cut by the Phase 2d boundary ditch, 2502. No internal features were demonstrably contemporary with the enclosure ditches.
Finds from the ditch fills were generally sparse apart from large quantities of pottery and animal bone. Fragments of fired clay and iron nails were recovered from most of the ditches, and additional finds included vessel glass fragments and a bone pin.

Sub-enclosures

SE 2 was the only sub-enclosure that belonged to this phase. It lay the south of SE 1, and was open to the south. If regarded as an arc, the projected radius of the enclosed area would have been 7.5 m. Three principal ditch cuts were identified, 1569, 1570 and 1571 (section 139). The ditches were relatively consistent in size at c 1.2 m wide and 0.4 to 0.5 m deep (section 137 and 139).
Cut 1570 appeared to be the latest, truncating 1569 to the north and 1571/1566 to the south. An earlier phase of 1570, 2293, was recognised at the south-west end of the complex and was truncated by 1569 and 1570. Cut 1585 may have represented the eastern terminal of 1570, but the feature may have been a pit rather than a ditch terminal. The eastern terminal complex was truncated by Phase 4 ditch 780 (E 21). The western terminal complex was not clearly defined and only the terminal of ditch 2293 was obvious. But the other terminals at the western end were observed, nonetheless, to cut SE 3.
SE 2 cut SE 1, SE 3 and a series of pits, including 2282 and 2283 and it was cut by Phase 4 E 21. The tops of the ditches had been consolidated with limestone cobbling, layer 1582, during the Roman period. SE 2 appeared to define a concentration of pits, gullies and postholes to the south and east and, although it was not generally possible to establish whether these smaller features were associated with the ditch complex, there were markedly fewer Phase 2 features to the north and west. The finds assemblage from SE 2 was sparse.

Ditched linear boundaries
LB 645

Ditch 645 was possibly associated with E 16, located in the south of Trench 13. The ditch ran eastwards from E 16 and was truncated by post-medieval ditch 500 along this stretch. It continued east for 7 m and turned southwards for 19 m long. This southern return was cut by a parallel ditch, 634, belonging to Phase 2d (see below; section 163). Two phases were identified, an early deep ditch 1.4 m wide and 0.9 m deep and a shallow later cut 0.8 m wide and 0.4 m deep. The earlier ditch had been partially infilled with gravel, particularly the east-west arm. Finds were very sparse.

LB 2508

LB 2508 ran NE-SW along the western side of Trench 13, defining the edge of an area of raised ground. A southern terminal was visible and the ditch was traced northwards for 25 m where it was cut by ditch 2502. The southern terminal was 1 m wide 1 m and c 0.3 m deep with a flat base. Few finds were recovered from the ditch. It was one of a succession of boundary ditches, 2502, 2508 and 2171, defining the western extent of the activity in Trench 13 during Phase 2. Phase 3 Building 2 and Phase 4 E 21 cut across this complex.

LB 2171

Ditch 2171 ran NE-SW in a line roughly parallel to ditch 2508. It was traced for at least 22 m but was cut away by Phase 3 pit 2526 to the north and by boundary ditch 2162 to the south. The south end also was also sealed by beneath the Phase 3 gateway structure (see below). Ditch 2171 also impinged on SE 4, but the relationship between the two was not observed.
The ditch was c 1.7 m wide and 0.5 m deep, although to the south at the junction of 2162 it was as shallow as c 0.3 m. Two cuts were recognised, the earlier terminating alongside SE 4 ditch 2170. The ditch may have continued north-east as 2529, which was cut by 2502 (section 115), but this was unconfirmed. Few finds were recovered.

LB 2709

Ditch 2709 was a short length of shallow ditch that ran approximately 8 m south-west from the northern end of LB 2508. It was c 1.2 m wide and 0.3 m deep and its original length was uncertain due to truncation at the northern end by Phase 3a ditch 2710, and by pit 2160 at the southern end. Its northern end cut LB 2508. Small finds from the fill included an iron bucket loop and nail and vessel glass.

Internal settlement boundaries
LBs 1770 and 1997/2101

Three parallel ditches on an east-west alignment ran eastwards from boundary ditch 2502, cutting SE 3 and a series of small gullies. Ditch 1770 (2551) was 15 m long, c 0.8 m wide and 0.4 m deep (section 138). Its eastern terminal apparently respected the position of an unphased curvilinear gully, 1765 and its western end was cut by ditch 2502. Two intercutting ditches, 1997 and 2101, lay 2 to 3 m to the south. The largest, 1997, was 1 m wide and 0.7 m deep and ditch 2101 was 0.6 wide and 0.4 m deep. Ditch 1997 ended approximately 2 m short of 2502 but ditch 2101 continued westwards as 2520 and was cut by 2502. Ditch 2502 appeared to have been cut on the line of the western terminals of these short east-west aligned ditches because they could not be traced beyond its eastern edge. Few finds were recovered.

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Phase 2d features (Figs 2.2.4 and 2.2.5:Trench 13 phase 2 sub-phase 2d)

During Phase 2d the nucleus of activity in the area, represented by the dense concentration of features in Trench 13, was defined at its western limit by a by substantial boundary ditch, 2502, and by smaller ditches, 634 and 643, to the south. These features produced pottery of predominantly late 1st to early 2nd century AD date.

Linear boundaries, ditches
Enclosure Ditch 2502

Ditch 2502 defined the western limit of the nucleated area in Trench 13 and defined the highest area of land in the trench. It ran on a north-south axis 45 m long and had two parallel east-west arms. The northern arm was 22 m long and the southern arm 24 m long. The southern stretch coincided with Phase 3a boundary 547. The ditch complex comprised context numbers 2092, 2284, 2502, 2521 (section 116) and 2628.
At least two main cuts of the ditch were recognised. The earliest, 2652, continued northwards beyond the limit of excavation, but was not located during salvage work. The terminal of the northern arm was removed by post-medieval boundary ditch 500 and the southern terminal was cut by ditch 547. The cut dimensions were, on average, 1.4 m wide and 1 m deep (section 116). A possible earlier version of the ditch, 2652, ran northwards beyond the northern east-west return of 2502.
Ditch 2502 was one of the latest features assigned to Phase 2. It cut E 17 to the south, SE 3 and 4 to the west, and SE 1 to the north. It was overlain by Phase 3a Aisled Building 1, and was cut by clay-lined pit 2526 to the south-west. There appeared to have been no significant consolidation of the ditch top prior to the construction of the aisled building.
A large proportion of the finds came from the top fills of the ditch and were, therefore, not securely related to the use of the ditch. The group included fired clay (including oven fragments), personal items such as a copper alloy finger ring and brooch, an iron goad, vessel glass and some general occupation debris, such as nails. Pottery and animal bone were present in some quantity. The pottery was predominantly early second century in date.

Ditches 643 and 634

Ditches 634 and 643 (660) represented two phases of a linear ditched boundary running southwards from the excavation area. The earliest ditch was represented by a 10 m east-west aligned length of ditch, 634, which turned south on the line of Phase 2c ditch 645. This early phase was represented by two large cuts 1.8 m across and 0.7 m deep (sections 162, 163). The later phase, represented by a smaller ditch 1.2 m across and 0.4 m deep, continued east for a further 10 m before turning south on the line of ditch 643 (660). An earlier version of 643 continued north 20 m as 660, terminating just south of E 15. This was 1.4 m wide and 0.7 m deep. Both 634 and 643 continued south to the triple ditched boundary (517, 518, 519), but their line was obscured by post-medieval boundary 500. Both phases of this boundary ditch appeared to post-date E 16 and to cut ditch 645 (section 163). They were not cut by any other Phase 2 features.
Finds were more plentiful than the assemblages from the large enclosures to the north-east. Pottery, animal bone, fragments of fired clay and iron fragments were recovered, including an iron retaining pin from 643.

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Phase 2 features unassigned to sub-phases

Linear boundaries - ditches and gullies

A number of linear boundaries were exposed throughout Trench 13, particularly around the southern periphery of the nucleated area. Their stratigraphic relationships were difficult to resolve due to the shallowness of the features. Gullies 804, 809 and 580 formed rectangular block 14 m wide lying south of E 16/17. Gully 580, which ran for 11 m ESE - WNW, was 0.8 m wide and 0.18 to 0.3 m deep. It appeared to fade out to the east, but the western end turned 90( for 2 m as 1718 before being truncated by E 16. It then appeared to continue as gully 809, 0.6 m wide and 0.2 m deep, running north-south for 5 m before intersecting gully 804. Its relationship with small east-west orientated gully 815 was uncertain. Gully 815 was 0.5 m wide and 0.2 m deep. Gully 804 ran ESE - WNW for 8 m, parallel to 580. It was 0.6 m wide and 0.3 m deep, but the eastern end was shallower than the west. The western end of the gully was truncated by Phase 4 ditch 819. Small finds were sparse but gully 809 produced an iron plumb bob.
Gully 1717, in the south-west corner of the trench, was 0.6 m wide and 0.34 m deep, and ran from the western limit of excavation for 28 m before turning south 90( to become 2004. The latter was traced for 10 m, and truncated Phase 2b linear ditches 2006, 2212, 2204 and 2010. Gully 1717 truncated north-south orientated gully 2202 at the western limit of the trench. A 4 m stretch of 2202 was visible but the southern end was obscured by Phase 3 ditch 2210. Gully 2016, which was 0.8 m wide and 0.3 m deep, lay to the south of 1717. It also ran WNW -ESE for just over 5 m before being truncated by Phase 2b ditch 2006.
Gully 1533 lay at the south-eastern limit of Trench 13, running along the same alignment as gully 1717 and possibly, therefore, contemporary with it. This gully was 0.8 m wide and 0.3 m deep. A length of 15 m was seen within the confines of Trench 13, but a possible terminus, 833, was visible to the west, running a further 18 m.
Gully1711 ran WNW - ESE for c 10 m to the north of linear boundary 645, and was possibly associated with the above mentioned gullies. Immediately south of ditch 634 a possible earlier cut, 649, was noted (section 162), truncated by ditch 500. It was 0.8 m wide and 0.4 m deep, and ran WNW - ESE for 8 m. The western end was cut by gully 582. This shallow feature ran south for 10 m to the southern edge of excavation. Immediately north of gully 582 a 3 m length of gully, 808, lay on the same alignment as 852 and may have represented its terminus. Gully 808 truncated pit 818.
The fills of the gullies were generally sterile with few finds and little sign of recutting had occurred. Gully 1717 was anomalous in containing large quantities of stone in its fill along with several fired clay fragments, an iron nail and a piece of melted lead.
Two short lengths of gully lay immediately to the north of LB 645. Gully 1709 ran north-west to south-east for approximately 3 m. The north end was obscured by gully 2253, and the southern end truncated by ditch 620. A narrower north-south aligned gully, 2094, was visible only as a 3 m length, as its southern end was cut by LB 2502.
Curvilinear ditch 666 ran roughly east-west between ditches 1711 and 645. It was represented by a single cut c 1.20 m wide and 0.60 m deep. Along with 2502, E 17 and the northern arc of 644, ditch 666 appeared to define a clear southern boundary. Its eastern end was cut by Phase 2d linear boundary 643 (see below). The western terminal was traced beneath Phase 3 trackway ditch 547. Ditch 666 post-dated Phase 2a gully 644, but was cut by gully 664, which was in turn cut by SE 6. These relationships place it relatively early in the sequence. It produced only a small quantity of pottery.

Short lengths of gully and gully arcs

Two concentrations of short or semi-circular arcs of gullies could be seen in the nucleated area. One was defined by SE 2 and SE 3 in the western part of the trench, and the other was located immediately north of E 11 and west of E 13 (Fig. 2.2.4: Trench 13 composite phase 2 plan ). There were no indications of any structures in association with these features.

Western group

The more westerly complex included penannular gully 1765. It was 0.5 m wide and 0.3 m deep, and its southern curve was cut by possible feature 1979. The south-eastern terminal of 1765 was not traced but was thought to continue as 1597 and to enclose an area of 8 m diameter, open to the north-east. Finds from 1765 included a mid 1st century brooch and a small quantity of animal bone and pottery. The area enclosed by gully 1765 was free of Phase 2 features, but an arc of pits on its northern perimeter appeared to have been constrained either by activity or by a structure located within 1765.
Feature 1978 may also have been a penannular gully. This was c 0.5 m wide, and was truncated by 1979 to the north and Phase 3 ditch 1595 to the south. It may have continued as gully 1945, and would have enclosed an area c 4 m in diameter. Immediately south of 1978 a short gully, 1942, ran NE-SW for c 2.5 m. It terminated immediately north of unphased post hole 2067. Gully 1942 was truncated by gully 1941, which was 0.5 m wide. A 3.5 m stretch was visible before it was cut by Phase 4 ditch E 21. It may have continued south of this feature as 1791, curving towards the south-west for 2.5 m. Gully 1791, to the south, cut a short length of curving gully 2057. On the eastern side of 2057 and 1791 a small length of gully 2056 abutted gully 1791 but was truncated by Phase 3 well 766.
Gully 1565 was a more substantial feature than the other gullies, measuring 0.5 m wide and 0.5 m deep. Fired clay and an iron phalera were recovered from its fill. Gully 1775 curved round from the southern end of 1565. It was 0.5 m wide and c 2 m of its length was visible before it was cut by 1565. It may have been a continuation of gully 1767, which emerged from the other side of 1565. Gully 1767 was, however somewhat wider, at 0.7 m, and was 0.45 m deep.
Three short lengths of gully, 1755, 1575 and 1567 lay immediately to the south of SE 2. The relationships with SE 2 were, in some cases, unclear, but the sub-enclosure ditches truncated gully 1567. Gully 1575 in turn cut a short east-west orientated gully, 2575. Gully 1968 lay c 2 m to the south of 2575 and was truncated by pit 2578.
Two small slots, 2557 and 1781, lay to the south-west. Slot 2557 was 2.2 m long and abutted slot 1781, which ran perpendicular to it. The latter was 1.6 m long and was probably truncated by Phase 2c LB 1770. To the south of LB 1770 was a similar arrangement of slots represented by features 1980 and 1981.

North-eastern group

A concentration of gullies in the north-eastern part of the trench appeared to be defined to the north-west by gully 876, 526 on the north, and penannular gully 537 / 1551 to the east. A 4 m length of gully, 526, ran on an east-west alignment, although its plan and full extent were uncertain. Its fill contained fired clay fragments and a piece of slag. To the south of 537 a short length of curving gully, 529, contained a sizeable amount of fired clay, including oven fragments. The western side of 537 appeared to continue as 528 and may have been truncated by circular gully 532, although this was not confirmed. A number of smaller NW-SE gullies, 1622, 1634, 1675 and 1654, lay along the western side of SE 5. All were of similar dimensions, between 0.40 and 0.60 m wide and c 0.25 m deep.

Additional gullies in Trench 13

Curvilinear gully 2014 and linear gully 1514 extended northwards from the southern edge of Trench 13. The latter may have been associated with the linear gully complex to the north, which included 1533/833. On the north-western side of Trench 13 two short gullies, 2630 and 2627, ran perpendicular to the linear boundary complex that defined the western edge of the nucleated area. Gully 2630 was truncated by LB 2502 and gully 2627 was truncated by SE 1. The relationship between SE 1 and curving gully 1961 was unclear, but the latter appeared to cut a very short length of north-south gully, 1955, and a small circular pit, 1954.

Circular gullies

A group of circular gullies lay within the nucleated area or on its periphery. They appeared to conform to two standard sizes, a small enclosure c 4 m in diameter and a larger enclosure c 8 m in diameter. The smaller gullies, 532, 662 and possibly 1757 and 860 (cut by later features), were between 0.5 and 0.7 m wide and 0.2 and 0.5 m deep. Fills were sterile and rarely showed evidence of recutting. No internal features were associated with them. These features may have functioned as 'stack rings' for the provision of animal fodder, for which parallels existed in Trench 17 as well as at Somerford Keynes and Thornhill Farm (Jennings et al 2004).
The larger enclosures, 506 and 1645, were located on the north side of the nucleated area, c 10 m apart. They were 8 m and 9 m in diameter respectively, but the gullies were of similar dimensions to the smaller group. Gully 506 was complete but there gully 1645 had been truncated by post-medieval boundary ditch 500 and its extent was less clear. The southern edge shallowed and was lost west of ditch 500. Finds were sparse but several nails, fired clay and a whetstone were found within gully 506.

Pits

Many of the pits in Trench 13 were isolated features containing no finds and were, therefore, unphased. Those ascribed to Phase 2 on the basis of stratigraphic or finds evidence are described here. One concentration of Phase 2 pits was located south of SE 2 and east of SE 3, an area also notable for a concentration of short gullies (see above). A smaller group was exposed within SE 5. Other pits were scattered sparsely across Trench 13.
The western pit concentration lay along the eastern arm of SE 3, and may have been related to circular gully 1765. Most were circular in plan and, although of varying size, the most was 1.6 m in diameter. The quantities of pottery recovered relative to that from the large enclosures to the east suggest that the pits were utilised at least, in part, as rubbish pits. Pits 1751, 1966 and 1984 contained approximately 500g of pottery, but relatively little animal bone. To the south of 1765 lay another concentration of intercutting pits. Again, their size was variable, ranging from 1.6 m in 1776, to much smaller features, such as 1710, which was 0.5 m in diameter. Part of a Savernake type storage jar (E 83) was found in small clay-lined pit 1873, which was 0.4 m in diameter and 0.23 m deep. Oval pit 1850, measuring 1.6 m by 0.8 m across and 0.32 m deep, contained quantities of burnt clay, pottery and tile. In general these pits to the south of 1979 contained much higher quantities of animal bone and pottery than those to the north,. This was particularly true in the case of a deep rectangular pit, 1596, measuring 1.2 by 3 m and 0.46 m deep.
Three oval pits, 578 (section 130), 579 and 583, lay between Phase 3 fence lines 4 and 3 in the south-west corner of the trench. They were between 1.3 and 1.6 m in length, 0.55 and 0.7 m wide and approximately 0.2 m deep, and all were orientated NE-SW. Each contained a fill of dark greyish brown sandy loam with moderate amounts of gravel and evidence of burning, including burnt stone. Two iron nails and fired clay fragments were recovered from the pits, but because pottery was sparse their phasing was tentative.
The pits in the north-east corner of the nucleated area were located west of penannular gully 537 and did appear to relate to it. Most lay south of gully 526. The contents of these pits contrasted with the western group. Pottery and animal bone were sparser but reasonable amounts of smithing and smelting slag were present. Pit 1610 was rectangular, 0.16 m deep with a flat base. It had been cut by a larger, deeper pit, 533, and contained ashy lenses, fired clay and slag fragments and burnt bone. The pit was 1.2 m across and 0.5 m deep. Light industrial activity may have taken place in this area in contrast to the domestic occupation suggested by the gullies and pits adjacent to SE 3.
Pits included in the general scatter across the trench included a number of scoops grouped as pit 595. They were roughly sub-circular in plan, 2.8 m in length, 2.5 m wide and 0.5 m deep and were and truncated by E 13. The fill contained a few pottery sherds and scraps of animal bone. Pit 597 lay below the northern arm of E 13 and was cut by it. The original length was uncertain but it was 1.1 m wide and 0.35 m deep, and produced few finds. Pits 564 and 565, to the west of E 13, were assigned to Phase 2 on the basis of small quantities of pottery. Pit 564 was oval in plan, 2.3 m long and 1.3 m wide, 565 was smaller and more circular, 1.4 m diameter. Pit 1747 lay in the southern part of the trench, to the south of ditch 634. It was oval in plan and only 0.18 m deep. A group of pits in the south-west corner of the trench probably belong to Phase 2, but only 1738 and 846 produced sufficient dating evidence to confirm this.

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Phase 3: Early 2nd to early 4th century (Fig. 2.2.6:Trench 13 composite phase 3 plan )

Summary

Phase 3 saw a radical re-organisation of the landscape at Claydon Pike. The circular enclosures that characterised Phase 2 were infilled, and the top fills consolidated in some cases. They were replaced by large linear ditched enclosures, associated with masonry walls in some areas. Two aisled buildings were erected, and remained in use for the majority of Phase 3. This phase saw the most extensive focus of activity at Claydon Pike, and produced the largest assemblage of finds.

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Phase 3a: early to mid 2nd century (Figs 2.2.6 and 2.2.7: Trench 13 phase 3 sub-phase 3a)

During Phase 3a two areas of land were enclosed, separated by a cobbled trackway, and two aisled buildings, B 1 and B 3, erected. A gateway structure, B 4, stood at the entrance to the trackway. The northern enclosed area was the more fully exposed of the two in Trench 13, comprising ditches 2198, 2156, 547 and 559. The area enclosed measured 4,340 m2, (70 x 62m), and corresponded closely to the area enclosed by Phase 2 boundary ditch 2502. The area was flanked by trackway lanes to the west and the south, while to the north the ground dropped gently to wetter land. An entrance to the northern enclosure was located midway along the central east-west trackway. The southern ditch of this trackway, 620, returned as ditches 2162 and the southern extension of 559 to form the southern enclosure.

Western boundary

The western boundary of the northern enclosure was represented by ditch 2198 during Phase 3a. It had been recut at least once, but possibly up to three times, enlarging the original width to 3 m and the depth to 0.6 m to 0.8 m (sections 113, 114). The sequence of recutting was uncertain, but it appeared that the boundary gradually shifted westwards, incorporating cuts 2198, 2188, 2734 and probably 2191. Cuts 2476, 2482, 2705 and 2476 may also have belonged to this boundary complex. A total of 1275g of pottery, mostly undiagnostic, was recovered and ranged in date from the late 1st to early 2nd century. Ditch 2198 produced a small amount of metalwork including a piece of melted lead, a lead rivet, an iron knife and two iron nails. A retouched flint flake and small quantities of animal bone were also present. The boundary turned east becoming 2156 just north of the gateway (see B 4 below). South of the gateway the boundary continued as ditch 2162, on the same alignment as 2198. The full length of 2162 was not clearly traced but it probably continued south of the trackway for approximately 30 m within the excavated area. At least three phases of cutting were visible, the latest measuring c 1.2 m across and c 0.5 m deep. The southern stretches of the cuts merged. The northern end was cobbled over and cut by postholes associated with a later phase of the entrance. Ditch 620, which defined the southern lane of the trackway ran perpendicular to 2162, and was undoubtedly contemporary with at least the latest version of this feature. Most of the small pottery assemblage (c 1 kg) from the ditch was undiagnostic but was consistent with a date in the first half of the 2nd century. Small finds included iron nails and a Millstone Grit quern. The western boundary was succeeded by ditches 2301 and 2161 in Phase 3b.

Trackway

Ditch 2156 represented the northern side of the 5 to 6 m wide trackway separating the enclosures. It was traced for c 6 m as 2156, and then a further 16 m eastwards as 1855, where it was lost due to truncation by Phase 4 boundary ditch 501. Midway along this stretch the profile of the ditch measured 1.6 m wide and 0.65 m deep. The fill in the area south of Aisled Building 1was similar to that of 2198, a very clean orange-brown sandy loam containing large amounts of limestone rubble in the lower and middle fills (section 126). Ditch 2156 probably terminated at the point where ditch 501 cut it, leaving an entrance of up to 7 m wide before continuing as ditch 547. Ditch 2156 contained 755g of pottery and 1 kg of CBM, two iron nails and an iron hook. The pottery indicated a late 1st to mid 2nd century date. Ditch 1855 contained 8.3 kg of pottery and 460 g of CBM, several iron nails, fired clay fragments, a bone pin, vessel glass fragment and a bone burnisher. This section of the ditch produced a greater quantity of animal bone (300 fragments) than 2156.
Ditch 547 was 34 m long, 1.2 m wide and 0.6 m deep. Only one cut was identified and the fill, in contrast to that of 2156, was a dark brown sandy loam with large quantities of occupation debris, possibly indicating deliberate infilling. Finds comprised 8 kg of pottery of early to mid 2nd century date, 410g of tile, iron nails, an iron billet, vessel glass fragments, fired clay fragments and over 200 animal bones.
Ditch 620 ran parallel and to the south of 2156 / 547, defining the southern side of the trackway. It was of similar size and fill to ditch 547, 1.2 m wide and 0.6 m deep (section 158) but the western end had been recut. Ditch 620 was continuous along the northern side of the south enclosure and turned south to become 2162. The ditch produced a large pottery assemblage (19.4 kg), 2.5 kg of tile, and small finds including over 34 iron nails, an iron billet, two iron boot plates, a looped iron pin, an iron stylus, and a number of copper alloy objects including a Colchester Derivative brooch, sheeting, belt fitting, bracelet and stud. Several vessel glass fragments were also recovered, along with a Millstone Grit quern, a lead weight and several fired clay fragments, including daub. Almost 1000 fragments of animal bone were also present. The pottery was for the most part undiagnostic, but it indicated that the ditch was filled in by the middle of the 2nd century or slightly earlier.
The trackway was cobbled where it crossed the Phase 2 enclosure ditches of E 16 and E 17. Several phases of cobbling survived in the subsidence hollows of the enclosure ditches and the earliest layers, 2003 and possibly 2009, belonged to Phase 2. Layer 2003 was a substantial layer of cobbles sealing a layer of loam, 2012, which was, in turn, overlain by another layer of loam, 2001, and a deposit of limestone cobbles, 2009. Layer 2012 contained a relatively sizeable assemblage of occupation material including over 2.5 kg of pottery and 143 animal bones.

Eastern boundary

The eastern boundary was represented by ditch 559, which cut ditches 547 and 620, and closed access to the trackway on this side of the enclosures. The ditch was c 1.8 m wide and c 0.9 m deep showed evidence of recutting (section 175). The trackway ditches pre-dated the eastern boundary but had never stretched further than the point at which 559 was later cut. Finds from ditch 559 included 1.78 kg of pottery, 2.19 kg of tile and 740 animal bones. Small finds included a number of iron nails, a whetstone of Old Red Sandstone, a lead weight, smithing slag, a bone bobbin and fired clay.
The cropmark survey showed that ditch 559 continued southwards to the point of a triple-ditched boundary some distance to the south of Trench 13 (Fig. 2.2.1: Trench plan of Longdoles Field ). Several trenches were placed across the triple ditch feature to the stratigraphic sequence, and it seemed evident that part of the southern stretch of ditch 559 had been recut on a number of occasions, and that the feature survived into Phase 4 (see southern and south-eastern trenches below). But the excavated evidence from Trench 13 indicated that ditch 559 was not open beyond Phase 3b in this area.

Internal enclosure boundaries and other features

Ditch 2175 was located 2 m to the east of and parallel with ditch 2198. It was 1.2 m wide and 0.4 m deep (section 114). Its southern end turned south-west towards ditches 2198 and 2156, and was cut by ditch 501. At this point 2175 narrowed and shallowed as if terminating. To the north 2175 was cut by pit/waterhole 2160 and terminated adjacent to the northern extent of wall 2190 (seen below), 25 m to the north of the 2198 / 2156 junction. Ditch 2175 was cut by the beam slot of Building 2 (hereafter B 2), and the pottery recovered from 2175 appears to have been contaminated by material relating to the building. The ditch contained an iron nail and a quern of Niedermendig lava.

Feature 2526

A large shallow feature, 2526, was situated to the west of B 1, and was cut by B 2. It was c 10.5 m long, 2.5 m wide and 0.50 m deep and was steep sided and flat bottomed. The north-east corner swelled out and encompassed a deeper circular pit, 2517. Evidence from the fill of these two features suggests that they were infilled and open at the same time (section 116). Pit 2517 and the northern part of 2526 were overlain by a mortared limestone foundation, 2503. An un-mortared level area, 2512, measuring 1 m by 0.8 m, lay adjacent to the north.
The lowest fill of 2526 (section 115) was very clayey, unlike the basal fill of any other feature of this depth and may have been a deliberate lining for a sump. Feature 2526 cut Phase 2 ditch 2502, and was cut by the beam slots of B 2. The pottery from 2526 and 2517 suggested a mid 2nd century date. The latter feature contained far more pottery, 3.7 kg in comparison with 1.7 kg. Pit 2517 also contained ten amphora sherds (418 g) of Dr 20 and Cam 186a types. Small finds included fired clay and an iron nail in 2526, iron nails, an iron rod and a bead from 2517. Small quantities of animal bone were recovered from both features, and a deposit of oyster shells was found in 2526.

The Gateway (B 4; Fig. 2.2.8: Phase 3 gateway (B4) in trench 13)

At the western end of the trackway two parallel footings, 2331 and 2332, of small limestone rubble formed part of a gateway foundation structure. They were 3 m apart, c 0.6 m wide and c 4.5 m long. They were set at the ends of trackway ditches 2156 and 620. The footings were shallow (section 129) and insubstantial, and, therefore, probably would not have been load-bearing. Small stone packed postholes, 2466 and 2465, were positioned 1 m in from the eastern end of the footings, on the inside of each wall. Another posthole, 2478, lay midway between these two. They were all of a similar size, 0.3 m wide and between 0.2 m to 0.3 m deep, and the distance between them was 1.5 m. Posthole 2478 had been almost completely removed by a late, large stone packed posthole, 2333. The smaller postholes represented the supports for a gate. The footings and gate-posts formed the first phase, Phase 3a, of the gateway.
Both footings 2331 and 2332 had been robbed at the western end, leaving a 2.5 m and 3 m length of footing remaining respectively. This may have simply represented what was left after robbing or a later modification of the gateway. The southern robber trench was cut by a large stone packed posthole, 2314, measuring 0.75 m in diameter and 0.80 m deep (section 132). It appeared to correspond to by posthole 2313, located 3 m from the western end of wall 2331. Three other stone packed and well-preserved postholes, 2329, 2330 and 2333, formed an ran east-west alignment. Posthole 2329 was midway between postholes 2313 and 2314, with the distance from post centre to post centre of 1.75 m. The line of 2330 and 2333 was c 0.5 m further north than the mid-line of the north-south posts. This post arrangement appeared to represent a second phase of the gateway. The robber trench for wall 2331 had been cut by two postholes, 2327 and 2328. Posthole 2328 lay adjacent to but did not impinge on posthole 2313. A late 3rd century coin (SF 1680) was recovered from 2327. More postholes lay to the north, south and east of the gateway structure but no association with the gateway was apparent.
Few finds were recovered from the gateway features. A small collection of pottery (160 g) and iron nails came from postholes 2313, 2314, 2328 and 2327. Posthole 2327 produced vessel glass fragments and the abovementioned coin, and posthole 2329 contained vessel glass fragments. No animal bone was recovered.

Aisled buildings

B 1 (Figs 2.2.9: Phase 3 aisled building 1 and 2.2.9a: Phase 3 aisled building 1 sections)
Aisled Building 1 (B 1) was situated in the south-west corner of the northern enclosure. The building was constructed during Phase 3a, and continued in use until the end of Phase 3c. Orientated on a NE-SW axis, it measured c 18.5 m by 11.5 m. The surviving structural elements were two rows of 7 paired post-pits (Table 2.2.1) and a remnant of mortared stone rubble wall foundation (2518) on the south western side. The wall fragment had been preserved by the later floor of the hypocaust in Building 8. The aisle post lines were 6 m apart from post centre to post centre and formed a line 15 m long. The building was cut directly by at least two other buildings, and this truncation had removed the floor levels.
The surviving wall foundation, 2518, measured 2.8 m by 0.5 m and was 2 m - 2.5 m from the centre of the nearest post line. The rest of the western wall would have been destroyed by the western walls of the later buildings 7 and 8 and the eastern wall by the eastern wall of B 8. No trace of the north and south walls was found. They are assumed to have been a half bay width from the end posts as was the case with B 3. The southern wall would thus have lain less than 1 m from boundary ditch 547 and the northern wall would have run between wall 2591 of B 8 and wall 2139 of B 7.

Context no:
Diameter
Depth
Comments
1580 1.1 m 0.75 m no stone packing, probably robbed with B 8 wall 1581
1893 1.1m - stone packing survived
2131 0.9m 0.85m
northern edge overlain by B 8 wall 2132, top half was disturbed, packing material was only preserved in the lower layers
2135 1m 0.6m a central fill change was clearly present, disturbed nature of the stone suggests it was due to robbing rather than a post-pipe
2138 0.8m 0.8m sealed by B 8 wall 1591, small random blocks of limestone and large flags found collapsed into the posthole. Post may have been truncated at ground level, and subsequently rotted out. Void present on removal of the flags suggested post diameter of c 0.45m
2153 1.1m 0.5m robbed and disturbed, sealed by the collapsed hypocaust floor (2116) of B 8. Top third of fill consisted of mortar and rubble consolidation
2154 - - laid stone rubble present at base; truncated by Phase 5 well 696
2194 1m 0.75m cut by B 8. Intact limestone rubble packing material formed a D-shaped void, measuring 0.8 x 0.3 m
2195 1.1m 0.75m limestone rubble packing survived intact giving a cross-section post measurement of c 0.4 m. Cut by robber trench 2309 of B 8
2197 1.1m 0.7m limestone rubble packing survived from c 0.25 m depth giving a cross-sectional measurement of the post of 0.4 m - 0.5 m. Overlain by SE corner of B 7, cut by robber trenches 2112, 2106. No consolidation was made over the top
2267 1.4m 1.4m larger post pit due to the presence of the Phase 2 SE 3. Overlain by Phase 5 wall 1999; disturbed by B 8 robbing. Collapsed packing located in lower fill, surviving in situ packing gave a cross-sectional measurement of c 0.35 m - 0.4 m for the post. The top 0.8 m had been infilled with sandy gravel, clay and some rubble
2269 1m 0.75m sealed by a thick masonry slab and B 7 wall 2107. Beneath the slab a void c 0.4 m across was recorded, the majority of the packing surviving undisturbed
2318 1.2m 0.8m cut by B 8 robber trench 2106. Top half robbed, packing stone collapsed to lie horizontally towards the bottom. D-shape post void c 0.50 m diameter

Table 2.2.1. Summary of B 1 postholes

Most of the pottery (4.2 kg) recovered from B 1 dated to after the mid 3rd century, particularly that from postholes 2135, 2153, 2195, 2267 and 2269, and that associated with foundation 2518. The remainder was 2nd century, although not confined to the early part of this period. The presence of later pottery suggested that the material was incorporated in the postholes at the time of the destruction of the building, and therefore, indicates a demolition date of mid 3rd century. Fired clay, iron nails and mortar / plaster fragments were most commonly recovered materials from the postholes. A copper alloy coin dated to 259-268 AD came from posthole 2267. Ceramic building material was found in most postholes, and ranged from small amounts (under 70g) in postholes 2131, 2195, 2153 and 1580, to an average of 300-500 g in postholes 2197, 2318, 2267, 2138, 2135 and a large dump of 1600g in posthole.
Mortar and plaster recovered from nearby Phase 3 b/c well 766 probably derived from the demolition of B 1. It included type A, a fine white mortar mix, almost certainly a wall plaster, which produced a very fine surface for painting. Colours visible on this type of mortar / plaster included rusty-red, green, yellow and white and some patterns. The presence of painted plaster indicates more than a utilitarian use for the building. Type E was also recovered from the well, a hard, fine pink mortar. The animal bone assemblage from B 1 suggested domestic activity, especially the bird bones (see Sykes, section 4.3). All of the bird bones from the building came from the northern half of the structure, suggesting that different activities took place in the two parts of the building.

B 3 (Fig. 2.2.10: Phase 3 aisled building 3)

B 3, an aisled barn, was situated on the east side of Trench 13, just 1 m inside enclosure boundary 559. The walls, 557, 556 and 688, were stone founded with a mixed and unfaced small random rubble limestone footing of up to 0.75 m wide. The overall dimensions of the building were 17 m by 11 m.
Survival of the footings was good apart from the north side where they overlay natural gravel. Elsewhere they were dug across the Phase 2 enclosure ditches. Where the building overlay the ditches of E 11, the ditch tops had been consolidated with rubble within the interior of the barn. A gap of 1.75 m centrally placed along the southern wall marked a c 2 m wide entrance. The walls were partially robbed on the south and east sides. The robber trench, 736, was between 0.5 m to 0.7 m wide and 0.3 m deep. A mid 4th century coin (SF 610) was recovered from the top of the fill.
Four sets of stone-packed post pits, 677, 676, 538, 678, 691, 685, 690 and 684, marked the position of the aisles. The building had three bays but there was an additional central posthole, 683, at the eastern end. It is unlikely that this was an aisle post, and its dimensions were not recorded, but examples of aisled buildings with end posts do exist (eg Somerford Keynes, see section 5), and given its position between two aisle posts, this arrangement must remain a possibility.
The bays were 4 m wide, with 1.75 m wide aisles and the nave was 6.25 m across. The aisle posts were all of similar dimensions, ranging from 0.6 m to 0.8 m in diameter and 0.6 m to 0.7 m in depth. Undisturbed limestone rubble packing was present in all but one, 690, where the packing had been disturbed. Post-pipes ranged from 0.15 m to 0.20 m in diameter. The small quantities of pottery recovered was mostly of mid 3rd century date, and a late 3rd century coin (SF 408) was recovered from the top of the packing of one posthole. These finds had probably been incorporated during demolition.
An internal division, 689, was represented by a 1.6 m length of dense limestone rubble c 0.8 m wide. It ran north from posthole 690 into the interior of the barn. It sealed the packing of posthole 690 but could have abutted the post. Three other postholes may also have been associated with the structure. Posthole 683, mentioned above, lay midway between aisle posts 678 and 684 at the eastern end of the building. It was slightly smaller than the main aisle post pits but was similarly well packed and the post-pipe was 0.2 m in diameter. Postholes 734 and 735 were much slighter. Both lay less than 1 m from the inside edge of the southern wall, either side of the entrance and may have been doorway features.
Pit 686 lay 1 m to the east of the south-western aisle post, 691. It contained a near complete Savernake storage jar and had clearly been dug to take the vessel. The rim had been broken off and was found within the jar. A semi-articulated sheep skeleton (699) lay centrally within the building (not shown on plan), but it was not clear whether it was contemporary with the structure.
A patch of cobbling, 616, abutted the outer face of wall 556 on the east side of B3, running at a slight angle to the building axis. It overlay the eastern boundary ditch, 559, but was cut by Phase 3c fence line 2. The cobbling was not contemporary with the construction of the building and probably belonged to Phase 3 b.
It was difficult to date the destruction of B 3 but it had certainly gone by the end of Phase 4 as enclosure ditch 501 (E 22) cut through the western end. It seems likely that the building could have continued in use into the early 4th century (Phase 3d or 4 a), probably in a slightly dilapidated state. The two coins were recovered from 678 and 736, which were not very reliable contexts, although the coin from robber trench 736 (dated AD 330-346) indicated the building was certainly demolished by the mid 4th century. The Savernake jar in pit 686 indicated use of the building in the 2nd century. The 2.2 kg of pottery recovered from floor make up layer 522 was a mixed assemblage, mostly dating to after 250 AD, suggesting that the building was in use at least until the end of the 3rd century.
Layer 522 also contained a relatively large number of small finds. Most were iron objects, including more than 28 nails, a rod, awl, knife, horseshoe and tool collar, but also smithing slag, a worked bone object, vessel glass, mudstone spindle whorl, a copper alloy vine leaf (probably from a lamp), a pin and fired clay, including daub. The rubble of wall 688 produced a silver finger ring and an iron hobnail plate. Few small finds were recovered from the postholes. but 538 contained a copper alloy bell, 677 contained fired clay, 678 a coin (see above), 690 fired clay and an iron nail and 691 vessel glass split which joined fragment SF 483 from context 693,a Phase 4 rubble layer. Only a small quantity of animal bone was recovered from this building, and none from the general floor make up layer, 522. This is in sharp contrast to B1 and suggests the possibility of a non-domestic function for this building.

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Phase 3b: mid to late 2nd century (2.2.7b: Trench 13 phase 3 sub-phase 3b)

During Phase 3b the western boundary continued to shift progressively westwards, with a fence line (F 6) constructed immediately east of the southern part of the boundary, and a stone wall (2190) adjacent to the northern part. A second fence line, F 4, was positioned 21 m east of the first. The eastern boundary ditch was recut as a continuous ditch, 559. The trackway ditches were infilled and consolidated with cobbling, suggesting that the area may still have functioned as a thoroughfare. The gateway structure continued in use, as did both of the aisled buildings. A two room timber building, B 2, was erected on the western side of B 1, lying perpendicular to it. On the eastern side of the B 1 three ditches, 1595, 1594 and 781, created an internal boundary, possibly to control access to the building. A well was in use at the south-eastern corner of B 1 during this phase.

Western boundary

During this phase the western boundary ditch was recut as 2301. This ditch was situated c 2 to 3 m west of Phase 2a ditch 2198 (sections 113 and 114), and was represented by at least three cuts ranging from 0.4 m to 0.7 m deep and c 1 m wide. Ditch 2301 was cut by Phase 2 ditch 2930, which ran east-west in Trench 29, turning north at the gateway and then followed the same alignment as 2301.
Ditch 2301 ran through the centre of the hollow separating Trench 17 and Trench 13, and its fill was siltier than that of 2198 but contained no waterlogged material. The pottery assemblage (c 2.2 kg) was mixed, dating from the 2nd to mid-late 3rd century, indicating that it continued as a boundary in use into Phase 3c. Small finds were few and consisted of a bone pin and window glass fragments. Almost 300 animal bones were recovered from a number of the ditches.
A length of wall, 2190, to the east of 2301, was probably built during this phase. It was c 5 m long and overlay ditch 2191. A large deposit of stone rubble, 2454, lying c 20 m to the south of the wall over ditch 2198 just north of the gateway wall 2331, may have been part of the southern section of the same wall.
South of the gateway, ditch 2301 continued south as ditch 2161. It was a recut of Phase 2a ditch 2162, and of similar dimensions. Two cuts were visible, 1 m wide and 0.5 m deep. They respected the southern gateway wall at its northern end and continued southwards as a linear boundary south of the main settlement. The pottery (3.4 kg) indicated a date in the second half of the 2nd century. The ditch also contained 2 kg of ceramic building material and several iron nails, slag fragments, a piece of lead sheet, a copper alloy pin and locally derived building stone. A total of 244 animal bones was also recovered.

The gateway

During this phase the gateway was likely to have continued in use. Although the trackway ditches had been filled in, they were sealed by a cobble layer, 2007, suggesting that this stretch still functioned as a thoroughfare.

Eastern boundary

Ditch 559 was recut during Phase 2b to form a continuous solid boundary ditch (section 175). The recutting may have occurred after the infilling of the trackway ditches. At some point towards the end of this phase or beginning of the next, the eastern boundary ditch in Trench 13 was consolidated with a layer of limestone rubble, 616 (Fig. 2.2.10: Phase 3 aisled building 3 ), which was crossed by fence line 2 in Phase 3c.

Internal boundaries

Ditches 1594, 1595 and 781 bounded two sides of an area 18 m by 10 m, open to the north, with B 1 forming part of the west side. A 3 m wide entrance lay on the east side. Ditches 1594 and 1595 were of different dimensions, albeit contemporary. Ditch 1594 was 1.2 m wide and 0.4 m deep whilst 1595 was 0.8 m wide and 0.5 m deep. Ditch 1595 terminated 6 m from B 1. Ditch 1594 turned north from 1595 and continued for 4 m.
The northern terminal of ditch 781 was not well defined. Phase 4 ditch 780 cut the northern stretch of this ditch and it was difficult to trace it through the intersection of the Phase 2 ditches of SE 3. A slight swelling in the northern side of Phase 4 ditch 870 may represent the surviving terminal. A deposit of rubble spread north-eastwards between the terminals of 781 and 1594 (not shown on plan) and a concentration of this material 0.6 m² in size adjacent to the terminal of 781 may have represented the base of a gateway.
The three ditches produced a significant pottery assemblage (2.73 kg) of mixed material dating to the 2nd century and the second half of the 3rd century. A fragment of wall plaster suggested that 1595 was open during the destruction of B 1. Fired clay oven fragments were also recovered. Small finds from 1594 included a fired clay fragment, iron nails and a lead weight. Ditch 781 also contained fired clay and iron nails. Almost 300 animal bones, including domestic fowl, were also recovered from these features.

Fence linesF 4 (Table 2.2.2)

F 4 was situated on the southern side of the trench running approximately NE-SW, parallel to F 6 (see below), but slightly obliquely to Phase 3c fence lines 2 and 3. The northern part of the fence line, 834, appeared to cut the southern edge of trackway ditch 620, and from this three further posts 817, 1529 and 2226, ran southwards at intervals of c 2.4 m. Although it cut the trackway, the fence line appeared to respect its line, implying that the area remained a thoroughfare. The postholes had distinctive oval shapes in plan and preserved evidence of stone packing and the post-pipe.
On the basis of its relationship to ditch 620 and F 2 and F 3, this fence was constructed during Phase 3b. Dating evidence was inconclusive. A few sherds of 1st century pottery (20g) were recovered from posthole 817, and a late 4th century coin from the top of 834, but was not securely stratified within the posthole.

CTX
Maximum diameter
Depth
817 0.7 m 0.4 m
834 0.8 m 0.36 m
1529 c 0.7 m 0.2 m
2226 0.7 m 0.22 m

Table 2.2.2: Dimensions of postholes in F 4

F 6 (Table 2.2.3)

F 6 was aligned NE-SW and bordered the rectangular enclosure in Trench 19. It included at least three aligned postholes, 2166, 2165 and 2164 and probably 2163, 2353 and 2354 after a break of 6 m. The fence line respected ditch 2161, running parallel to it, cutting the eastern edge of Phase 3a ditch 2162. The spacing between the first four posts varied from 1.6 to 2 m, but 2353 and 2354 were separated by only 0.1 m. All the posts were packed with limestone.
Phasing was problematic as no finds were recovered. F6 it post-dated Phase 3a boundary 2162, and was aligned with F 4, and was, therefore, assigned to Phase 3b.

CTX
Diameter
Depth
2163 0.48 m 0.26 m
2164 0.58 m 0.21 m
2165 0.4 m 0.23 m
2166 0.58 m 0.21 m
2353 0.5 m 0.35 m
2354 0.4 m 0.3 m

Table 2.2.3: Dimensions of postholes in F 6.


Building 2 (Fig. 2.2.11: Phase 3 building 2)

B2 lay in the western part of Trench 13, set at right angles to B 1. It was represented by four shallow slots, 2509, 2510, 2513 and 2514, c 0.2 m deep and 0.6 m wide. The width of the slots suggested that they held masonry foundations, subsequently entirely robbed, but the nature of the superstructure remains uncertain. The structure was a rectangular extension to B 1, divided into two rooms by slot 2510. It measured 9.5 m by 7.5 m overall and the individual rooms were c 6 m by 6.5 m and 6 m by 2 m. No slot existed on the east side against B 1. Slot 2509 ran to within 0.5 m of the conjectured wall of the B 1 and slot 2513 ended c 2 m from it.
B 2 overlay Phase 3a features 2526 and 2175, and was cut by Phase 4 ditch 700 (E 21). The pottery assemblage recovered from the slots was substantial (11.8 kg) and mixed but generally relatively late and included a much Black Burnished Ware, including 2nd and mid to late 3rd century forms. The sherds were larger than those from B 1 and B 3, indicating that they had been in use at the time of demolition. Small finds from 2509 included iron nails, a looped iron pin, iron boot plate, an iron Nauheim derivative brooch, vessel glass, an Old Red Sandstone whetstone and a bone pin. Slot 2513 contained a copper alloy coin dated to AD 364-378 and two iron nails, and 2514 contained iron nails and vessel glass fragments. A group of over 300 animal bones belonged, for the most part, to the main domesticates (Sykes section 4.3) but included red deer antler. The demolition of B 2 and B1 may have been contemporary.

Pit 663

Pit 663, in the south-east part of Trench 13, was an irregularlar shaped feature approximately 6 m in diameter and 0.5 m deep. It cut Phase 3a trackway ditch 620 (section 158) and Phase 2 ditches 645 and 644, and was sealed by a layer of hard standing, 647. This material may have been contemporary with, or equivalent to, cobbled layer 616 that sealed ditch 559 further to the east. Pit 663 was assigned to this phase on the basis that it contained mid to late 2nd century pottery. Small finds were rare and included a few iron nails, fired clay and a copper alloy pin. The size and composition of the pottery (2.1 kg) and animal bone (103 fragments) assemblages suggested that this material was dumped in the feature.

Well 766

Well 766 was situated adjacent to the south-eastern corner of B 1. It was not clearly visible during the first stages of the excavation as it had been sealed during Phase 4, and part of the stone lining had been robbed. It was 1.8 m wide at the top, narrowing to 1.4 m at the base (section 194) and was 1.26 m deep with a flat stone slab on the base. The dry-stone wall lining continued to the base. The infill included layers of dark grey sandy loam, mixed clay and gravel, along with a layer of charcoal, 7, and a small amount of rubble, primarily in layers 1 and 2. The large pottery assemblage (c 3 kg) dated mostly from the mid to late 3rd century, and all of the later Oxford colour coated ware came from the top two layers. Small finds included over 16 iron nails, fired clay fragments, copper alloy wire, two bone pins, an unidentified leather object and wall plaster fragments distributed throughout the fills (object numbers 3206-3209, 3194). Most of the plaster was type A and probably derived from the destruction of B 1 (see above). Most of the plaster came from the lower fill, 5, of the well, and almost all of the nails came from layers above. It is possible that it represented successive stages of building demolition and that the well was infilled with the debris over a relatively short period of time. The shallow depth of the well prevented the survival of organic deposits. Over 650 animal bones were recovered, representing a large range of species. The assemblage may have represented primary domestic refuse, perhaps the remains of a single high-status meal (Sykes, section 4.3).
The well appeared to cut ditch 2156 and the pottery and plaster recovered from it indicated that it was filled during Phase 3c and/or Phase 3d and was, therefore, most likely to have been in use during Phase 3b and 3c.

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Phase 3c: early to late 3rd century (2.2.7: Trench 13 phase 3 sub-phase 3c)

During Phase 3c the western boundary appeared to continue in use, although the southern extent was not defined. A short stretch of wall, 2193, appeared to succeed the Phase 3b wall. The gateway seems to have remained in use. The eastern boundary ditch, 559, was infilled and cobbled over, and replaced by a 60 m fence line (F 2), running obliquely to the line of ditch 559. To the north of the fence line was ditch 562, associated with a large paddock to the east of Trench 13, visible as a cropmark. A shorter fence line, F 3, ran parallel c 27 m to the west of F 2. Two lines of posts ran at near right angles 13 m further to the west to form fence line 5. All three buildings continued in use, as did the associated internal boundary ditches.

Western boundary

During Phase 3c the western boundary, consisting of ditch 2301 and possibly 2161, continued in use. A small stretch of wall, 2193, and its robber trench, 2192, lay just north of the second phase gateway (section 113). This wall was the successor to wall 2454, which lay at the southern end of 2198. Wall 2193 was on a 1 m wide footing of small un-mortared rubble. It extended north c 10 m from the gateway but there was no evidence that it continued further. The relationship between the wall and the gateway structure was not certain, but on spatial evidence they were likely to be contemporary. The pottery from ditch 2301 was mostly mid to late 3d century in date, suggesting that the boundary was little used after this phase. Whether the boundary continued to the south was uncertain as there was no dating evidence to confirm this. Spatially the plan of the area remained little changed from Phase 3b to 3c and it was therefore possibile that ditch 2161 remained open during this phase.

Eastern boundary

Ditch 559 was replaced by a fence line, F2, situated in the western part of Trench 13. Ditch 562, in the north-eastern corner of Trench 13, bordered a large paddock c 60 m by 50 m in size, defined by ditches 562, 1539 and 1748. Ditch 562 (section 174) was c 2 to 2.5 m wide and c 0.9 m deep, and ran perpendicular to boundary ditch 559. Although it post-dated 559 it turned north, continuing its alignment.
The cropmark survey indicated that 562 continued south-eastwards beyond Trench 13, turning southwards after c 50 m and continuing for c 60 m. It then returned in the direction of the trench, emerging in the south-eastern corner as1539 (recut as 1748). A 7 m stretch of 1539 was exposed in Trench 13, and the top had been filled by limestone rubble in this area. Ditch 1539 was just over 1 m wide, but was later recut twice as 1748, c 2 m wide and deeper than the former ditch. Little pottery (0.3 kg) was recovered from the southern stretch of the eastern boundary ditch. Small finds included a piece of melted lead and an iron nail. Just to the south of Trench 13, cropmark evidence revealed a ditch running south from this enclosure, cutting the line of ditch 559, and probably turning westwards as ditch 1801 in trench 26 (see southern and south-eastern trenches below).
Most of the pottery from 562 (2.3 kg) was late 3rd century in date and possibly slightly later. Small finds included a few several iron nails, an iron spearhead and vessel and window glass fragments. Over 300 animal bone fragments were recovered from the ditches, most from 562.

Fence lines F 2 (Table 2.2.4)

F 2 was represented by a line of postholes spaced c 2 m apart which lay on a NNE-SSW alignment 60 m long within the excavated area. They ran from just south of the intersection of ditches 559 and 562 approximately parallel to the western edge of B 3 and were probably associated with it. The postholes ranged from c 0.3 m to c 0.8 m in diameter and from c 0.15 m to 0.35 m deep. Most had pitched limestone packing, much of which was undisturbed. Surviving post voids ranged from c 0.12 m to c 0.2 m in cross-section and were square in plan.
This fence line stopped 5 m short of the 559 / 562 intersection. Three additional postholes, 600, 604 and 596, ran at an angle for 7 m from the north end of the fence line. They may have been contemporary with it, forming the southern side of a 5-6 m wide entrance to the paddock defined by ditch 562. A further two postholes (un-numbered) ran at an angle from the southern stretch of F2. They may have formed part of an internal division in the paddock. F 2 continued south beyond the point where ditch 1539 met it but was not located in the trenches south of Trench 13.
Small finds from the post line included a Millstone Grit quern from 609, and iron nails from 621 and 623. Most of the pottery recovered was undiagnostic but a late 2nd to 3rd century date seemed likely. F 2 cut the trackway and its bordering ditches, and probably cut across cobbled area 616 which overlay ditch 559.

Context
Maximum diameter
Maximum depth
Size of post void
Comments
605 0.8 m     stone packed
606 0.5 m     west of 559, east of B3
607 0.58 m     between 606 and 608
608 0.57 m     south of 607
609 0.5 m     south of 608
610 0.5 m     south of 609
611 0.5 m 0.3 m   stone packed, post void visible, south of 610
612 0.6 m 0.26 m   stone packed, post void visible, south of 611
613 0.53 m 0.35 m   stone packed, post void visible, south of 612
623 0.5 m 0.26 m 0.18 x 0.26 m stone packed, post void visible, south of 613
624 0.45-0.6 m 0.15 m 0.13 x 0.14 m stone packed, post void visible, south of 623
625 0.6 m 0.3 m 0.2 x 0.30 m stone packed, post void visible, south of 624
626 0.6 m 0.35 m 0.12 x 0.36 m stone packed, post void visible, south of 625
627 0.7 m 0.33 m 0.18 x 0.34 m stone packed, post void visible, south of 626
268 0.3 m 0.25 m   stone packed posthole, south of 627
269 0.4 m 0.26 m   stone packed posthole, north of 621
621 0.6 m     cuts 547
636 0.7 m 0.22 m 0.17 x 0.22 m stone packed, post void visible, south of 547,621
637 0.7 m 0.21 m 0.12 m stone packed, post void visible, south of 636
638 0.7 m     cuts 620, south of 638
639 0.6 m     south of 638
640 0.5 m     south of 639
641 0.6 m     south of 640
642 0.6 m     south of 640

Table 2.2.4: Dimensions of postholes in F2

F 3 (Table 2.2.5)

F 3 ran north-eastwards from the southern end of Trench 13 for a distance of 26 m. It was c 27 - 28 m west of and parallel to F 2 and was represented by at least eight postholes. Two, 1541 and 1540, appeared to be connected by a shallow gully, 1516, 2 m long. Intervals between the posts varied from 2 to 4 m. The fence ran northwards to the line of ditch 547, cutting across the trackway. It continued beyond the southern trench boundary. The sparse dating evidence available suggested a 3rd century date, and , considering its alignment, it was probably contemporary with F 2

.

Context Diameter Depth Comments
2084 0.5 m 0.22 m stone packed
812 0.4-0.5 m 12 stone packed
849 0.6 m 0.3 m stone packed
1517 0.35 m 0.07 m  
1540 0.4 m 0.3 m stone packed
1541 0.42 m 0.2 m stone packed
1545 0.45 m - stone packed, 5 stones at edge formed pentagon shape, post pipe visible
838 0.36 m 0.18 m stone packed

Table 2.2.5: Dimensions of postholes in F3

F 5 (Table 2.2.6)

F 5 was located c 13 m to the west of F 3 and was represented by four postholes, 2217, 2206, 2205 and 2214, forming a c 10 m long alignment. Three postholes, 2211, 2200 and 2225, appeared to represent a 6 m long east-west aligned return to the fence line, but no further postholes were exposed in the salvage area to the west.
The east-west line of posts was irregularly spaced, varying from 1.5 m to 3 m from post centre to post centre. A gap of just over 2 m lay between posts 2214 and 2205 on the NE-SW line. There was then a break of 5 m before the fence line continued as two more posts 2 m apart. The two sets of postholes were not, however, precisely aligned with each other. Only a few sherds of pottery were recovered, including 150g from 2214, dated to the 2nd century. F 5 could truncated Phase 2 features but no relationships were observed with later features. F 5 was, therefore, assigned to Phase 3c on the basis of its spatial relationship with F 2 and F 3.

Context
Diameter
Depth
Comments
2200 0.55 m 0.35 m stone packed, post void 0.13 x 0.19 m
2211 0.25 x 0.4 m 0.12 m contains one burnt stone fragment
2225 0.6 m    
2214 0.5 m 0.26 m stone packed
2205 0.42 m 0.4 m stone packed
2206 0.64 m 0.52 m large stone packed posthole, post void seen flush with noeth west side
2212 0.59 m 0.42 m large stone packed posthole

Table 2.2.6 Dimensions of postholes in F5

Internal features
Buildings and boundaries

During Phase 3c B 1, B 2 and B 3 continued in use. Ditches 1594, 1595 and 781 were also still open and well 766 was probably operational during part of this phase. At some point at the end of this phase or beginning of the next, B 1 and B 2 were demolished, the well filled with demolition rubble, and ditches 1594, 1595 and 781 infilled.

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Phase 3d: late 3rd to early 4th century (2.2.7: Trench 13 phase 3 sub-phase 3d)

The end of Phase 3 saw a re-ordering of the enclosed area. The western boundary was infilled, and wall 2193 was robbed (2300). Either during Phase 3d or Phase 4, the southern part of western boundary ditch 2301 was covered by a layer of cobbling that extended into Trench 19, north of the rectangular enclosure. B 1 and B 2 were demolished, and internal boundaries 781, 1594 and 1595 went out of use. These features were replaced by a single small square building, B 7. Three oven / hearth features were exposed in the interior of this building, suggesting domestic activity. Aisled building B 3 continued in use at some level. Lying just to the west of B 3 was well 502, which may have belonged to both Phase 3d and 4a/b. It has been described with Phase 4 features. F 2 may have continued into this phase, given the spatial relationship with B 3, and F 3, therefore, may also have still been standing. The majority of the pottery from ditch 562 was late 3rd century in date, but some may have been later, indicating that the paddock to the east of Trench 13 may have also continued in use up to this point.

B 7 (Fig. 2.2.12: Phase 3 building 7)

B 7 was a small square structure, measuring 8 by 8 m internally, erected over the northern end of B 1. Its east wall sealed four of the aisle posts of B 1. Only two small fragments of wall or footings survived, a 2 m long fragment of the east wall, 2107, and and 0.8 m stretch of the north wall, 2139. Both wall fragments were coursed and regularly faced in contrast to B 1 and the later B 8 which succeeded B 7. A total of 70 g of 3rd and 4th century pottery was recovered from 2107.
Wall 2139 was sealed by a layer of levelling material, 1949, beneath the floors of B 8, while wall 2107 had been reused in B 8. Wall 2107 sealed B 1 aisle post 2269. A large masonry block had been placed over the truncated aisled post, which had subsequently rotted, leaving a void. The walls elsewhere were not deeply founded. Robber Trench 1977, robbing wall 2139, was barely 0.1 m deep, and 2106, robbing wall 2107, was 0.14 m at most. Robber trench 2106 continued south from wall 2107 for c 4 m. It was overlain by Phase 4 layer 1929 (B 8) and Phase 5 wall 1999. Robber Trench 1977 ran for 5 m from the north-east corner of the building, before it was cut by robber Trench 1947 of B 8. It was not traced west of 1947, possibly due to the poor survival of the stratigraphy in this area. A small hearth, 1948, overlay robber trench 1977 but was sealed by 1949, a floor make-up layer in B 8. This places the hearth stratigraphically between B 7 and B 8, perhaps representing activity between the demolition of B 7 and construction of B 8.
No pottery or small finds were recovered from the hearth, and robber Trench 1977 did not produce diagnostic pottery but 4th century pottery (0.6 kg) was recovered from 2106, along with an iron nail and wall mortar / plaster fragments.
Definition of the south and west sides of the building were more problematic. The line of the southern wall showed clearly as a layer change between internal layer 2152 (see below) and external layer 2196, and possible robber trench 2112 was visible running east-west in this area. It contained type F mortar / plaster fragments (a soft and porous mix), abutted layers 2152 and 2196, and was overlain by 1929 (a layer associated with B 8). The western section had been removed by medieval well, 696. Given the truncation of robber trenches 1977 and 2112 and the poor preservation of features, the western part of the structure is conjectural. It appeared likely that it was on the line of the western wall of B 8, 1556. The robber trench of this wall, 2102, continued south beyond the south-west corner of B 8 and ended on line with 2112, the southern robber trench of B 7. Robbing would have taken place during the demolition of B 8. Internal layer 2152, a black sandy loam, appeared to be a contemporary horizon, although not showing signs of compaction expected of a floor surface. Only 78 g of pottery was recovered from it along with an iron nail and copper alloy coin dated to AD 250- 400. A series of hearths, ovens, postholes and pits were defined at this level and appeared to be associated with B 7. Layer 2152 petered out to the west, exposing B 1 aisle post. An area of disturbance, layer 2145, associated with robbing of aisle post 2267, spread north to also seal aisle post 2269. Phase 2 layers 2143 and 2144 were visible from below. Layer 2111, to the north of 2152, was also a black sandy loam, overlain by 1920, demolition layer of B 7, and abutting robber Trench 1977. It is likely that this layer was contemporary with 2152. It contained 4th century pottery (0.82 kg), a fired clay fragment, several iron nails, an Old Red Sandstone whetstone and iron arrowhead. Most of the 81 animal bones associated with B 7 came from this layer.
Three ovens or hearths lying within the interior were probably contemporary with the use of the building (Fig. 2.2.12). Feature 2136 was poorly preserved but some stone facing survived on the south and east walls. The remains of this feature measured 1.4 m by 0.8 m. The north-western side was overlain by wall 1591 but the hearth impinged on the cut of aisle post 2267. During the construction of B 8 this post had been sealed just below ground level by limestone slabs and there was no evidence for similar sealing during the use of B 7. The pottery from the hearth indicated a late 3rd century date.
Hearth 1965 was situated in the north-eastern part of B 7. It was defined by two perpendicular lines of burnt and pitched stone forming an area 1 m by 0.8 m from which a patch of burnt clay c 0.7 m in length extended. Burnt stone lay within it and to the north, against the outer edge of the pitched stone, was an oven of flat burnt stone c 0.4 m by 0.4 m. Hearth 1965 overlay layer 2111, and was sealed by destruction layer 1920, which sealed interior layer 2152. No pottery or small finds were recovered from the hearth, but 4th century pottery was recorded in the demolition layer.
Oven 2113 lay to the south of 2136, orientated NW-SE. It was circular in plan, and constructed of up to four courses of limestone, with pitched slabs on the eastern side representing a fireplace, leading to a stokehole (Fig. 2.2.12 section). The fill was a black sandy loam containing charcoal, and a small quantity of charred grain (wheat, barley and flax). The secondary fill covered both the oven and the stokehole. The oven was well preserved and had been set deeper than the other features within B 7. It was sealed by layer 1929. It may have been a simple type of bowl-shaped corn drier, as defined by Morris (1979, 182), although the quantity of grain was very slight. Small finds consisted of fired clay fragments including daub, and a mortar / plaster fragment. Only 0.76 kg of undiagnostic pottery was recovered.
A concentration of postholes, 2147-2151, 2155, 2265 and 2266, was located to the east of hearth 2113. They were all of a similar size, c 0.4 m diameter and 0.3 m deep with limestone packing. Postholes 2147, 2148, 2149 and 2151 formed a 1 m² four post structure around the stokehole to 2113. A few pottery sherds were recovered from the postholes and no small finds were recorded. An oval pit, 2140, c 1 m x 0.50 m and 0.22 m deep, lay adjacent to these postholes. It contained a greyish black fill of sandy loam with charcoal which produced 300 g of ceramic building material, and 0.40 kg of pottery.
B 7 may have been erected soon after the demolition of B 1, and it did not appear to have a long lifespan. Certainly the severed aisle post in 2138 had not begun to rot as, wall 1591 was deliberately laid over it during construction of B 8. An arc of gully, 2114, cut the south-east corner of B 7, but was cut by the robber trench 1578, of the north wall of B 9. There were few finds to indicate the function of the building, but it was well constructed, and the presence of wall plaster (if it did indeed relate to this building) suggests a domestic dwelling of some kind. The presence of hearths and a possible corn-drying oven associated with grain and chaff suggests that at some point crop processing took place within the building.

Boundary 1988

Gully 1988 post-dated B 1 but ran on the same axis as the eastern aisle post line. Its northern terminal lay just north of the south-east corner of B 7. It extended south for c 7 m where its southern end was truncated by ditch 700 (E 21). The gully was narrow but comparatively deep, measuring 0.55 m wide and 0.5 m deep. It contained a rubble fill with late 3rd to 4th century pottery (4.5 kg). A causeway of coursed limestone slabs and gravelly mortar, 2126, had been constructed across the gully, approximately 1 m in length and at least as deep as the gully.
Gully 1988 post-dated B 1 but would logically predate B 8 boundary wall 1587. It is likely to be contemporary with B 7, perhaps reinforcing a boundary originally defined by B 1. Gully 1988 and 2108 were overlain by Phase 4 layer 1929. Apart from pottery, finds from the gully comprised iron nails, a whetstone, mortar and plaster (probably from B 1), fired clay and a bone bobbin. An assemblage of 188 bones was also recovered, and included domestic fowl and hare.

Oven 2103

Oven 2103 lay to the south of ditch 1988 and was cut by ditch 700. Three stone courses survived and it had clearly been robbed. It was filled with charcoal, burnt stone and 0.48 kg of pottery of 2nd to 4th century date. A coin dating to the late 4th century was obviously intrusive. Large quantities of glume bases of spelt wheat were recovered from the feature. It was clearly later than B 1, and spatially more likely to belong to Phase 3d or 4a as it lay within the entranceway to the Phase 4b villa.

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Phase 3 features un-assignable to sub-phases

The northern boundary

Aerial photographs indicated that at the north-eastern corner of Trench 13, ditches 559 and 562, extended in a north-westerly direction to join ditches 2301 and 2198. This northern boundary, designated 548 / 2642, was only observed during salvage operations. A parallel but slightly smaller ditch, 2641, ran 2 to 3 m to the north, and at the western end turned south into 548, c 5 m short of the western boundary. It was cut by the later phases of 548 / 2642 and was sealed by hearth 2634. Further to the west, ditch angles 2198 and 2301 were indistinguishable and their fills merged with ditch 548. Very few finds were recovered from the ditches, implying that they were at a remove from the main areas of domestic activity.

Fence Lines

Three fence lines, F 1, F 9 and F 7, were thought to belong to Phase 3, but could not be securely assigned to a sub-phase. F 1 and F 9 may have formed two sides of an enclosed area, 11 m NE-SW (F 9), and 13 m NW-SE (F 1). F 9 included postholes 2621, 2613, 2635, F 1 of 2623, 2609, 2622, 2601 and 2606. Posthole 2607 joined both lines.

F 1 (Table 2.2.7)

Six postholes running NE-SW represented a fence line 13 m long. The postholes were on average 2.25 m from post centre to post centre, the exception being 2607 and 2623 at 4.5 m apart. This gap suggests the fence line predated Phase 4 ditch 2608. The fence line may have extended one post further in either direction, the evidence having been destroyed by Phase 4 ditches 1553 and 700.
All were stone packed, with ceramic building material showing in the upper fill of 2609 and 2623. Diameters ranged from 0.3 to 0.44 m and depth from 0.18 to 0.38 m. The posts were sealed by layer 2596 (unphased). F1 post-dated Phase 2, cutting across the tops of ditch 2602. Few finds were recovered.

Context
Diameter
Depth
Comments
2601 0.38 m 0.34 m stone packed, cuts 2602, overlaid by2596
2606 0.3 m 0.2 m stone packed, overlaid by 2596
2607 0.3 m 0.25 m stone packed
2609 0.38 m 0.18 m stone packed, CBM in upper fill, overlain by 2596
2622 - - stone packed, overlain by 2596
2623 0.44 m 0.3 m stone packed, CBM in upper fill

Table 2.2.7: Dimensions of postholes in F 1


F 9 (Table 2.2.8)

F 9 ran perpendicular to F 1, from its northern extent at posthole 2607, southwards for 11 m. Another posthole, 1932, would extend this to 17 m, but this was less certainly associated with the alignment. The postholes were irregularly spaced, between 2.5 m and 5 m apart, and it is possible that other postholes on this line may not have survived due to the presence of Phase 4 ditch 2608. All were 0.3 m diameter with the exception of 2613, which was 0.5 m, and all were stone packed. F 9 was cut by Phase 4 ditch 765, but few finds were recovered.

Context
Diameter
Depth
Comments
2607 0.3 m 0.25 m stone packed
2613 0.5 m 0.35 m stone packed, cut by765
2621 0.38 m 0.2 m stone packed
2635 0.3 m 0.2 m stone packed
1932 0.3 m 0.2 m cuts layer1910

Table 2.2.8: Dimensions of postholes in F 9

F 7 (Table 2.2.9)

F 7 ran NW-SE for 7 m from the southern terminus of 2175. It lay parallel to gully 2710 (see below) and c 26 m south of it. It comprised four posts, 2177-2180, set between 2 m and 2.5 m apart, all stone packed. They varied in diameter from 0.4 m to 0.6 m and in depth from 0.14 to 0.2 m. F 7 was aligned on the same axis as the Phase 3 enclosure ditches, and appeared to truncate Phase 3a ditch 2175.

Context Diameter Depth Comments
2177 0.6 m 0.14 m stone packed
2178 0.4 m 0.2 m stone packed
2179 0.5 m 0.18 m stone packed
2180 0.6 m 0.2 m stone packed

Table 2.2.9 Dimensions of postholes in F 7

Pits

Pit 2160 lay to the east of the western boundary, and appeared to truncate Phase 3a internal boundary 2175. It was c 2.4 m wide and 1.3 m deep and was truncated by Phase 4d ditch 501 (E 22). The pit contained just over 1 kg of pottery tentatively dated to the 2nd century and 54 animal bones. No small finds were recovered. The pit sides were fairly steep and the base flat. The lowest layers were waterlogged (section 113), and the feature may well have been a waterhole. Environmental samples were taken from the feature and are discussed in section 4.4.
Pit 2172 was located to the south of B 1, cutting into Phase 2a ditch 2156. his feature was rectangular in plan, 1.3 m by 0.9 m and 0.3 m deep. It contained 0.25 kg of undiagnostic pottery and an iron nail, along with a small amount of animal bone. On the basis of its relationship with 2156 it was assigned to Phase 3b or later.
Pit 2218 lay partly below the limit of excavation in the south-west part of Trench 13. It cut Phase 2 gully 2202, but relationships with Phase 3 gullies 2208 and 2210 were not clear. The pit contained few finds.
A NW-SE row of roughly circular pits lay between F 4 and F 3, just south of trackway ditch 620, although it is not known if they were associated with one another. Pit 587 lay just west of F 3 postholes 1545 and 1540 and was approximately 1.3 m in diameter. It contained small amounts of 2nd century pottery and vessel glass fragments. Pit 826 lay 6 m to the north-west and also produced very small amounts of 2nd century pottery. Pit 1505 lay south-east of F 4, cutting Phase 2 gully 804. It contained a small amount of 3rd century pottery and an iron nail.
A sub-rectangular pit, 513, c 3 m across lay to the north-east of Trench 13. It contained 2nd to 3rd century pottery, an iron nail and fragments of daub. It was cut by Phase 4 ditch 501.
Immediately north of 547 and west of F 2 two intercutting pits were exposed. Pit 703 was c 2 m in diameter and c 0.4 m deep, and contained pottery (1.8 kg) broadly dating from the mid 1st to 3rd centuries, an iron nail, and a large quantity (90 fragments) of animal bone. It was cut by adjacent pit 704, which was oval in shape, c 3.5 by 4 m, and 0.4 to 0.5 m deep. Finds included fired clay fragments, coal, a piece of melted lead, an iron nail, animal bone (73 fragments) and pottery (0.58 kg) dating from the mid 2nd to 3rd centuries. This feature cut pit 703 and a Phase 2 ditch from E 15.
Feature 1730 lay at the southern limit of excavation and was badly truncated and difficult to classify. The cropmark plan did not indicate whether it extended south of the trench. It was 3 m wide and c 0.8 m deep and contained a number of small finds including fired clay fragments, several iron nails, smithing slag, vessel glass, a spindle whorl and lead weight, as well as 2 kg of pottery of mid 1st to mid 3rd century date. An assemblage of 147 animal bones was also recovered.

Ditches and Gullies

Short gully 2710 ran perpendicular to Phase 3a gully 2175. The western terminus was unclear, but was thought to terminate just short of 2175. It extended for 8 m before being truncated by Phase 4 ditch 700 (E 21). Gully 2710 was 0.8 m wide on average. The pottery (0.86 kg) indicated a date in the second half of the 3rd century, evidence that this gully was unlikely to be contemporary with 2175. Small finds were limited to an iron nail, a miscellaneous iron object and vessel glass fragments.
In the south-western corner of Trench 13 gully 1737 ran NE-SW, overlying a series of Phase 2 gullies. It contained 1.76 kg of pottery and almost 200 animal bones in addition to fired clay fragments, several iron nails, a melted lead fragment, copper alloy ligula and copper alloy coin dated AD 335-341.

Corn-driers

A possible corn-drying oven, 1537, lay in the south-east part of the trench, over-lying Phase 2 ditch 643. It was constructed of two parallel lengths of limestone 'wall' 1.5 m long and 0.55 m apart. The western wall turned at right angles at the southern end for a further 0.4 m, but the corresponding side had been robbed. A single course of stonework survived and so the 'flue' was only 0.1 m deep at most. It appeared to be a corn-drier of traditional T-shaped design (Morris 1979, 10) with the stoke hole at the northern end showing traces of burning. Further signs of burning occurred at the southern end of the flue. There was no dating evidence for the structure, but T-shaped corn-driers generally appear from the 2nd to 4th century AD, the vast majority belonging to the later period. It could, therefore, belong to Phase 3 or 4.
A second L-shaped corn-drier,1364, was recorded in the salvage area about 20 m north of Trench 13 (not shown on plan) but was not fully excavated. It would have lain outside of the main enclosure, and could have belonged to either Phase 3 or 4.

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Phase 4: The Late Roman Villa Complex

Summary

During the early 4th century AD, Building 7 appears to have been partially demolished and replaced by a building with masonry foundations, B 8, which can be described as a modest 'cottage style' villa. Another building to the south, B 9, comprised two rooms, the smaller of which seemed to contain a hypocaust. Dating evidence suggests that these two structures were contemporary, and formed part of a small residential complex. After a short period they appear to have been architecturally unified with the addition of a 'corridor' wall along the eastern side, which probably created a courtyard between the two main structural elements. To the north and east of the villa were a series of ditches and pits associated with the occupation of the building. In the mid to later 4th century, the southern part of the building was dismantled and a substantial ditched enclosure constructed around the remaining elements. Two further rooms were added in the north-east, blocking what had presumably been one of the main entrances. A series of enclosures appeared to have branched off from the main enclosure to the north-east. The final structural phase within Trench 13, dating approximately to the later 4th century, saw the construction of a far more substantial enclosure with a masonry wall running along its inner edge. It is thought that the building and enclosure fell into disuse at the end of the 4th or start of the 5th century.

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Phase 4a: early 4th century AD (Figs 2.2.13:Trench 13 composite plan phase 4 , 2.2.14: Trench 13 phase 4 sub-phase 4a and 2.2.15:Phase 4 building 8: The late Roman ‘cottage villa’ )

Building 8: The late Roman 'cottage villa'

The successor to Building 7 was a rectangular building with a stone foundation, originally measuring 13.5 by 9 m in Phase 4a. It partly overlay Building 7, apparently utilising some of the existing walls in its structure. Footings, where they were best preserved, ranged from 0.6 to 0.7 m wide and were of a mortared random rubble construction made up of small (0.1 m) pieces of limestone. They were of variable depth, deepest on the west side (1556) where they ran along the top of ditch 2502 (Section 116). The north and south sides had the shallowest footings, the former just resting on the gravel surface, and the latter largely untraceable, apart from a fragment on the south-west corner (1591). It is likely that these masonry footings and lower wall courses supported a plastered timber superstructure.
Extant walling survived only on the western side, apart from a fragment, 2107, reused from Building 7. The wall was of mortared, coursed and faced limestone blocks with a rubble infill. The walls had been robbed to the old ground surface, and a few sections had been completely removed, notably a large section of one of the internal walls (robber Trench 890). The foundations of the eastern wall, 880, survived along much of its length.
Post-demolition activity on site (from the late 4th/5th century to well into the medieval period; Fig. 2.2.17) had further taken its toll on the surviving structure. A series of pits (1905, 1906) in the northern rooms (1 and 7) removed almost all contemporary and earlier levels. A fragment of wall, 1999, of a later undated structure caused disturbance on the southern side and particularly the south-eastern corner. A series of burials cut the eastern wall, causing disturbance to Room 8.
Surviving demolition debris over and around the building provided evidence of its character and status. Fragments of whitewashed, rather than painted, wall plaster were recovered. Other mortar/plaster was recovered which may have come from flooring. Large numbers of broken roof tiles were present (see below), probably deriving from this structure. Small quantities of stone roof slabs indicated that some roofing was in stone - perhaps the late extension on the north-east side. Several fragments of late Roman window glass probably also derived from this structure.
Although layers contemporary with this building were excavated (1919, 1558, 1930, 1933, 1908, 725, 1917, 1888, 1889) none could be interpreted as floors with certainty. They were all of similar character - loose brown sand loam with little occupation debris, perhaps forming bedding for either mortar or beaten earth surfaces. The ploughsoil invariably overlay these layers with a thin scatter of rubble, 693, forming an interface. They were observed, due to the quantity of 4th-century material they contained, to be truncated and disturbed floors.

Room 1

Situated in the north-west corner of the building, Room 1 measured 3.3 m by 2.5 m. The division between Rooms 1 and 7 had been cut by pit group 1905, but a short length of robber trench, 1890, survived, confirming its presence. Layer 725 within this room may have been a disturbed floor layer. It consisted of decayed mortar, sand and gravel in a matrix of brown loam, and contained 870g of pottery, not recorded in detail. A small number of animal bones (25) were recovered from this layer.

Room 2

Room 2, sited centrally on the west side of the building, was much disturbed by the later drainage gully, 720 (see Phase 4d below), which cut through part of the western wall, 719. It was of a similar size to Room 1, measuring 3.3 by 2.5 m. Layer 1917 on the south side of the drain, like layer 725, may be disturbed flooring. In the north-west corner an area of pitched cobbles, 1913, overlay wall 1912 which ran between Rooms 1 and 2, but abutted the western wall, 719. It would have formed an area of hard standing contemporary with the later drainage gullies. The northern part of the eastern wall, 2638, survived, the remainder cut by robber Trench 1947/2640. The south wall, 2591/1556, ran east-west for 2m before being cut by robber Trench 890. The corner section of this wall was well-defined, suggesting that it had been partly rebuilt when the drain was inserted into Room 2 (see Phase 4d below). A small collection of pottery (0.075 kg) and animal bone (13) was recovered from this room.

Room 3

Room 3 formed the south-west corner of Building 8. It measured 4.5 by 2 m and a slot, 1991, was cut midway across the room. This feature showed no trace of being tied into walls 1556 to the west or 1581 to the east, and may therefore have been a later alteration. It divided the room into two compartments 2.3 by 2 m and 1.7 by 2 m.
Preservation in this room was poor. The northern part of wall 1581, dividing Rooms 3 and 4, had been robbed (1947), along with aisle post 1580 of Phase 3 Building 1. The west wall, 1556, was robbed for most of its length, and the robber trench, 2102, continued for a further 5.7 m beyond the southern extent of the building, following the line of the west wall of Building 7. This suggested that a wall existed during Phase 4a, running towards B 9 and terminating less than I m from its north-west corner.
The disturbed fill, 721, within Room 3 probably predated it and, as there was no trace of the north wall of Building 7, layer 721 probably underlay this structure as well. Finds from 721 included a coin dated AD 364-78 (SF 514), two quern fragments (SF 518, 1520), wall plaster, window glass and part of a late Roman glass vessel (SF 520) along with 1.3 kg of pottery and 35 animal bones.

Room 4

This room measured 4.5 by 5 m and lay on the south side of the building. Initial clearance across the room revealed a large disturbance, 1887, sealed beneath medieval wall 1999 on the south-east corner, which probably removed all trace of the villa wall in this area. The east wall of Structure 7, 2107, was reused and formed part of the eastern wall of Room 4. The rubble footings of Building 8 contrasted sharply with the coursed footings of the earlier structure. Layer 1558, which covered most of this room, was thickest north of robber Trench 1977 (B 7), which it sealed. Layer 1920 lay beneath 1558 south of this robber trench and appeared to be associated with the demolition of Structure 7.
Layer 1558, north of 1977 was removed in three thin spits, 1558, 1919 and 1949. The lower two spits contained 4th-century coins (SF 1204: AD 350-60, SF 1449: 335-41), and a copper alloy finger ring (SF 1205) and two bracelets (SF 1202, SF 1432). The top layer (1558) produced a fragment of late Roman window glass (SF 928) and an iron knife (SF 1385). A reasonable quantity of pottery (2.33 kg) was also recovered, and included 4th century Oxford colour-coat and New Forest wares. Over 100 animal bones, including pig and domestic fowl, came from the layers within this room.

Rooms 5 and 6

Rooms 5 and 6 lay centrally within Building 8. The partition wall, 2639, was not bonded into wall 1911 to the north, and to the south it was less deeply founded than the wall robbed out by Trench 890.The absence of floor layers and related stratigraphy made it impossible to demonstrate whether wall 2639 was an original partition or a later addition, although the latter is more likely, as this area may have formed the entrance chamber into the original villa. Room 5 measured 2.5 m square and Room 6 measured 2.5 by 1.8 m. The foundations of the east wall of room 6, 880, comprised loose random mortared rubble, with large pieces of pottery found in situ. The entrance to the Phase 4a/b villa may have been in this section of wall.
Layers of clean brown sandy loam, 1930 and 1933, lay within the rooms and were probably contemporary with layer 1558 in Room 4. A small quantity of pottery (0.2 kg) and fragment of vessel glass (SF 1242) were recovered from these layers.

Room 7

Room 7 sited on the north side of Building 8 and measured 5 by 4.5 m. No contemporary levels survived within this room, due to disturbance by later pit complex 1905 / 1906. All walls apart from the division of Room 1, 1890, were respected by this later activity.

Building 9 (Fig. 2.2.16: Phase 4 building 9: The southern building )

Building 9 lay several metres south of Building 8, on the same alignment. On pottery evidence it belonged to Phase 4a-b (early - mid 4th century), making it contemporary with the 'cottage' villa. It was L-shaped in plan and measured 10 m by 11 m. It was divided into two rooms, Room 1 measuring 5 m by 3.4 m and Room 2, 9m by 5.3 m.
Although of late Roman construction, the building was incomplete and later Roman and medieval features cut through it. Enclosure ditch 700 (E 21) cut east-west through the middle and wells 696 and 697 removed the northern part of Room 1. Preservation was poor to the south of ditch 700. There was no trace of the west wall and the east wall survived only as a robber trench, 2309. The south wall was represented by part of the `inner gate' structure, 2348, but stratigraphic relationships here were unclear due to disturbance and the ephemeral nature of the features (see below). Despite the disturbance, the northern part of Room 2 had the best surviving floor levels on the site. A series of stone hearths and pits were probably contemporary with its use.
Walls and footings, where they survived (principally to the north), were of similar construction, ranging from 0.5 to 0.7 m wide, with pitched stone foundations and coursed masonry above. The footings were similar to those of the later additions to Building 8, although not as well constructed. Debris, including tile, overlying Building 9 was similar to that of Building 8, although quantities of debris from mortar flooring also concentrated around the building and in the later ditch 700 (E 21).
This building post-dated Building 7 on the stratigraphic evidence. Robber trench 1578 cut gully 2114, which cut the south side of Building 7 (2112). The building must have been demolished during the mid 4th century to make way for the inner enclosure ditch E 21. It, therefore, went out of use before the end of Roman occupation on the site.

Room 1

Room 1, situated on the north-west side, measured 5 m by 3 m. The north part of western wall, 2118, survived for 2.5 m before it was cut by enclosure ditch 700. A deposit of limestone rubble, tile debris and mortar in clean orange sandy gravel, 2116, filled the interior. It was 0.2 m deep and cut into the underlying gravel. At the south side it undercut western wall 2117 but as 2117 ran north its footings deepened and the rubble took on a reddish burnt hue. The later well pits removed the remaining part of 2117 but this deepening and burning were adjacent to 2134 in Room 2, interpreted as a stokehole. Just to the south of the stokehole a burial, 800, was later inserted, cutting through wall 2117.
Room 1 then appeared to have housed a small hypocaust system, the flooring slightly raised and supported by pilae, fed from Room 2. Removal of layer 2116 revealed a fragment of wall, 2518, of mortared limestone rubble assumed to belong to Phase 3 Aisled Building 1. Aside from mortar and plaster, the finds comprised 0.5 kg of pottery, over 10 kg of ceramic tile, iron nails and 38 animal bones. The quantity of tile contrasts sharply with any other part of buildings 8 and 9, and undoubtedly derived from the hypocaust system.

Room 2

To the east of Room 1, measuring 9 by 5.3 m, was Room 2, which was reasonably well preserved to the north of ditch 700. Layer 2121 spread across the interior of this area, and contrasted with 2116 to the west in that it was a mixed brown sandy loam with patches of clay, burning and occupation deposits. Finds from layer 2121 included iron nails, and iron hook, fired clay, and a little pottery (0.18 kg), tile (0.07 kg) and animal bone (17 fragments).
A shallow oblong pit, 2174, measuring 1 m by 0.6 m across and 0.18 m deep, was situated centrally within B 9, and stokehole 2134 lay on the north-west corner. The stokehole, narrow at its eastern end, widened and dropped in depth to the west, adjacent to the line of wall 2117. Both 2174 and 2134 contained charcoal and ash. Adjacent to pit 2174 a spread of stones, which appeared to be intentional cobbling, may have also been a contemporary element of the building.
Layer 2121 did not survive south of ditch 700, although various features might have been contemporary with Building 9. A small hearth, 2071, containing fired clay, was cut by the ditch. Adjacent to this was an associated stone spread, 2070. In the south-eastern part of the room against the east wall was a structure sealed by a dark rectangular spread, 2075. This layer covered a `kidney-shaped' pit complex, 2321 and 2322, with post settings paired at both ends. The post settings were c 0.4 m in diameter and 0.3 m deep. These elements formed a 14 m² structure that was not keyed into the wall and was of uncertain function.
Robber trench 1578 removed the north wall of the room and cut the late Iron Age enclosure ditches. The east wall, 2132, most of which was removed robber trench 2115, ran along the eastern edge of the ditches. Wall 2348 of the 'gateway' seemed to form the south wall, as its robber trench, 2079, ran westwards for c 2 m, visible as a slight stain, to align with wall 2117, the dividing wall between Rooms 1 and 2.
Finds from Building 9 were sparse. No personal items that would indicate domestic use were recovered but a glass bead was recovered from 2322. The small pottery assemblage ranged in date from the 1st to the 4th centuries, and included small quantities of Oxford colour-coat and black burnished ware. Two coins stratified in the top of robber trench 1578 suggested a terminus post quem for the robbing of the wall at the end of the 4th century. A total of 223 animal bones was recovered from the building, under a fifth of the assemblage size from building 8. Even taking into account the different scales of the two buildings, it suggests that food preparation, and perhaps consumption, may have been largely confined to the northern building.

Other features (Fig. 2.2.13: Trench 13 composite plan phase 4 )

To the east and west of Building 8 were a series of pits, ditches and a well, assigned to Phase 4 a-b on the basis of stratigraphy or pottery dates. The features would not all have been contemporary but are here discussed together.

Enclosure 1553

Building 9 lay to the north of a three-sided enclosure, 16 by 12 m in size, represented by ditch 1553 (2608, 2637), which had a broad shallow U-shaped profile up to c 2 m wide and 0.5 m deep. The south-east terminal was cut by ditch 870 and the north-west arc had been removed by the late Roman enclosure ditch 700 and 765 (E 21). To the north it was cut by pits 2604 and 2631, and cut Phase 2 ditch 2502 (2628) and a stone lined gully, 2650, probably belonging to Phase 3 (section 133). It cut ditch 877.
A large slab of masonry was recovered from the ditch, along with fired clay daub and over 5 kg of pottery, including 4th century Oxford colour-coated wares and late shell-tempered wares. A group total of 280 animal bones was also recovered this feature. Given the stratigraphic sequence and pottery dates, the ditch probably belonged to Phase 4a/b, although it is possible that it could relate to Building 7 of Phase 3d.

Ditch 877

Ditch 877 ran SW-NE approximately 7 m to the north-east of Building 8. It was wide with a flat base and measured 0.80 m wide and 0.40 m deep. There was no sign of recutting. It was cut by pit 1577 and was traced for c 5 m before being cut by ditch 1553. It is not securely dated to Phase 4 as the pottery recovered (0.3 kg) indicated a broad 3rd to 4th century date. A total of 83 animal bones was also recovered.

Ditch 870

Ditch 870 ran NW-SE from near the north-east corner of Building 8, with which it was contemporary. It was 12 m long and c 1 m wide and 0.4 m deep with a flat base. A shallow gully, 1576, measuring 0.4 wide and 0.25 m deep (not shown on plan), ran parallel along its northern side for a short length but did not impinge. The western terminal of 870 cut ditch 1553. The extent of the eastern end of the ditch was less clear as it was cut by ditch 765 (E 21) and then by post-Roman ditch 500. In plan it appeared to join ditch 875 but the two ditches had different profiles. Over 4.5 kg of pottery from 870 indicated a broad 3rd or 4th century date, and two coins dated to AD 330-346 narrowed this down to the 4th century. Other finds included vessel glass, an iron horse fitting, numerous iron nails and 286 animal bones.

Pits 1577 and 1989

Situated to the north and north-east of Building 8 were two large pits. Pit 1577, was oval in shape, its southern side truncated by enclosure ditch 765 (section 1577). It measured 4 by 2.5 m and a little over 0.8 m deep. The sides were gently sloping and the bottom was irregular. Its fill was a very mixed gravel, loam, silty clay and building rubble, and suggested an infill of rubbish. A large quantity of finds was retrieved from it. Pottery (8.2 kg) dated from the late 3rd century or later and a coin dated to the mid 3rd century. It cut ditch 877 and predated the late Roman enclosure ditch 765.
Finds from pit 1577 included domestic debris such as bone pins and vessel glass fragments, and an amphora sherd with possible graffito from layer 3. Almost 400 animal bones were also recovered from this feature. Most finds from this feature came from the upper layers, 1-3.
P it 1989, further to the west, was square in plan, measuring c 4 m across and 1.10 m deep. It lay just 2 m north of Building 8 and on the same axis. It was deeper than the Roman water table and from the conditione of the fill (Section 118) it generally held at least 0.5 m of standing water. The lower sides were vertical but the gravel top had eroded, depositing gravel around the base, represented by layers 7-9. It was unclear how long the pit stood open. There was no indication of a revetment or covering, but this could have been removed prior to infilling. It resembled the deep sunken chamber, 1969, within Building 8. The remains of a wicker basket, possibly a fish trap, and another fragment of wood were preserved on the base, predating the primary fill. Environmental samples suggested that the original function of this pit was the temporary storage of live fish (see Robinson, section 4.4).
The pit was deliberately filled with limestone rubble, mixed silt and gravel. The large quantity of finds from the fill probably derived from redeposited midden material, and included building debris (building stone, large quantities of nails, lead trimmings, ceramic tile and some mortar), along with a loom weight, quernstone, bone pins and a large animal bone assemblage (1617 fragments) that contrasted markedly from most other feature assemblages from the site (see Sykes section 4.3). Over 11.5 kg of pottery provided a detailed chronological sequence for the feature (see Booth section 3.2). In summary, all contexts containing pottery were deposited during the first half of the 4th century, probably towards the middle of the century, and there appeared to have been only short intervals between episodes of filling. The final filling took place in the second half of the 4th century, not much beyond AD 350. This predated the late Roman enclosure ditch 765 (E 21). A coin from the surface was dated AD 393-395. The pit had also been partly overlain by a cobbled surface, 1916, from which disturbed fragments of human bone were recovered.

Well 502

This well was sited 8 m to the west of Aisled Building 3, and between the two late Roman enclosure ditches, E 21 and E 22. The opening was c 1.2 m diameter and depth was 3.6 m, with a dry stone lining reaching to the baseof clean gravel (section 193). It was filled with gravelly loam and some limestone rubble. The type of fill and the poorly preserved organic material suggested that there was at least a 1 m head of water within the well. The dating of its use and infill was uncertain. An assemblage of 3.5 kg of pottery was recovered from the feature, that from the bottom fills post-dating AD 240, and the rest predominantly 3rd and 4th century. A single coin was recovered from an upper fill, 2, but was dated to the Flavian period. Other finds included a bone pin and shale bracelet from layer 3 and a copper alloy razor from layer 5. In total, 429 animal bones were recovered.
The construction date was uncertain but it was likely to have been in use during the later 3rd century and part of the 4th century, spanning Phase 3d and 4a/b. It was unlikely to have continued in use after the construction of enclosure ditch 780, which would have effectively isolated it from the main domestic buildings. Poorly preserved organic material was recovered.

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Phase 4b: early to mid 4th century AD (2.2.14b: Trench 13 phase 4 sub-phase 4b)

Building 8 and central 'courtyard'

During the early to mid 4th century, probably not long after the original villa building was constructed, an extension was added to the south-east corner, the east wall of which continued southwards for c 13 m before stopping 1.4 m from a 'gateway' structure attached to Building 9 (see below). This would have architecturally unified the two buildings, creating a central 'courtyard' area c 10 by 6.5 m between them. This 'courtyard' was covered by a two layer deposit of black soil, 1929. Both layers respected the northern, eastern and southern boundaries, while to the west, only the lower layer respected robber trench 2102. This suggested that the western wall of the courtyard was removed prior to the demolition of B 9 in Phase 4c. An assemblage of pottery (c 3 kg) along with vessel glass and iron nails was recovered from these layers. In contrast to the main building, no animal bones were recovered.

Room 8

On the south-eastern corner of Building 8 a small room was added east of Room 4. Although no stonework survived (except part of the eastern wall 1587/1589) the robber trench, 2123, clearly indicated that it would have abutted the original east wall of Building 8, along the line of wall Trench 890. The room was rectangular and measured 5 by 2 m. No trace survived of the southern wall. Eastern wall 1587/1589 continued south beyond Building 8 for c 13 m forming a boundary wall associated with the `gateway structure' (see below). There were two distinct phases of robbing of this wall, robber trench 1579 being much deeper than 1559. The northern robber trench (2123) was cut along its length by mid Saxon grave 2104 (Fig. 2.2.17).
Layer 1908 appeared to be a contemporary infill of the room and produced ex situ fragments of mortar, probably from a floor. It overlay cobble spread 1990, which abutted wall 2107 of Building 7. Over 1.3 kg of pottery, along with a copper alloy finger ring (SF 1186) a small amount of vessel glass and 38 animal bones were recovered from layer 1908. Robber trench 1559 contained over 1.5 kg of pottery, 1.5 kg of tile, 150 animal bones and a range of other finds including window glass, mortar/plaster, fired clay, iron nails and coal

.Building 9: 'Gateway' structure (Fig. 2.2.16: Phase 4 building 9: The southern building )

Situated on the southern side of Trench 13, running parallel but cutting into the top ditch 547, was an arrangement of walling, of which at least part appears to have formed a structure distinct from the rest of Building 9. It was represented by a 7 m long east-west aligned wall, 2348, constructed of small limestone rubble set in at an angle. The footing width was 0.7 m. At the east end it turned north for 2 to 3 m, and another wall, 2320, came off 2348 at an angle, forming a diagonal supporting wall. A further angle of wall, 2311, almost completely robbed and apparently not connected to 2348, enclosed a small area c 1.25 m² against this eastern return. The chamber thus formed would have provided sufficient space for a person. A 1.8 m length of north-south aligned wall, 2344, lay between 2311 and 2310 but their relationship was not established. It was unclear if the east 'chamber' was part of the original design. Its construction technique of coursed, mortared masonry, and dimensions (0.3 m wide) were different, suggesting that it was a later addition.
The date and function of these features is uncertain. Wall 2348 seems to have formed the southern boundary of building 9, but the relationship between the two could not be proven, as the north-south robber trench of room 2 (2309) was very shallow, and could not be traced through to the junction with 2348. It is possible that the western part of 2348 was integral with the original construction of B 9, the eastern angled extension being a later addition, perhaps contemporary with the construction of the eastern wall leading from building 9, on which it was aligned Although tentative, this interpretation would place it in Phase 4b, as a possible gated entrance 1.4 m wide leading into the inner courtyard.
Wall 2348 appeared to have had two distinct phases of robbing. The earliest, represented by robber trenches 2310, 2320 and 2311, removed the east extension of the structure. The west wall, which served as the southern boundary of Building 9, was subsequently robbed by 2079. Robber trench 2079 and 2311 contained mortar flooring, presumably derived from Room 1 of Building 9. This entrance structure, therefore, went out of use during the mid to later 4th century when Building 9 was demolished and enclosure E 21 was dug. Other finds from the robber trenches included iron nails, vessel glass and window glass, a bone pin from 2311, and a copper alloy finger ring from 2310. Just over 0.9 kg of pottery and a small quantity of animal bone were recovered from the robber trenches.

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Phase 4c: mid - late 4th century AD (Fig. 2.2.13, 2.2.14: Trench 13 phase 4 sub-phase 4c and 2..2.15)

Building 8/9 At some point not long after the middle of the 4th century AD, the villa complex underwent drastic alteration The southern area, B 9, and eastern boundary wall, 1587/1589, were demolished, and the remaining building, B 8, were enclosed by a substantial enclosure, E 21. Modifications were made to B 8, including the addition of two rooms.

Rooms 8 to 10

The addition of a block to the north-east corner reinstated Building 8 as a simple rectangular structure measuring 14 by 12 m. The new addition was formed by an 8 m length of north-south walling, 2648, which then turned west for 3 m to abut footings 2595. Only the footings of the smaller east-west section survived, and these were of obliquely pitched limestone rubble, contrasting in technique with the original construction. Internal wall 2276 was constructed in the same way and was probably contemporary. Wall 2594 abutted the original north-east corner of Building 8 and ran north for c 10 m, to end at the edge of ditch 700 (E 21), suggesting contemporaneity. Its function however, remains uncertain.
The additions to the north-east corner of Building 8 resulted in the creation of two new rooms, 8 and 9, and the modification of Room 8. The northern wall of Room 8, 2276, was moved 1 m further north and a pitched stone division, 1928, was built 2.5 m to the south, creating a c 2 by 2.5 m room, 9. Layer 1888 (equivalent to 1908) within this room was disturbed by later grave cuts, and human bone was spread throughout this layer. A large stone packed posthole, 1918, lay close to the western side of the room. Its relationship to grave 2279 was unclear and so it was difficult to assign the posthole to Room 9 with certainty. The addition of the pitched stone division, 1928, altered the size of Room 8 to 3 m by 2 m.
Room 10 in the north-east corner measured 5.5 m by c 2.25 m and was occupied by two large sunken chambers, 1909 and 1969.

Sunken chambers 1909 and 1969

The northern chamber, 1909, was 2.5 m square and 0.8 m deep (section 120). The north-east and west sides were near vertical, cutting close to the inside edge of the outer walls of B 8. The south side was less well cut with a tongue of gravel extending into the centre of the chamber, perhaps marking the position of steps. Traces of clay, 6, were found on the floor (not on section). The fill suggested rapid infilling but gave no clear indication of use or duration. The lower fill, layers 7 and 8, was made up of rubble and eroded gravel. The main fill was fairly homogeneous and only two separate fill were distinguished, the upper (1/2) a dark grey gravelly loam and the lower (4/5) a dark grey silty clay. No evidence of a revetment was found although it would probably have been necessary to prevent the collapse of the walls.
Most of the finds were of building debris. Two coins dated AD 330-35 and AD 350-400 were recovered from the top fill (1/2), and over 2.5 kg of pottery was found spread throughout the layers, providing a general 4th century date. Other finds included 1.6 kg of tile, building stone, nails, a bone gaming piece, vessel glass, a whetstone and 145 animal bones. The character of the fill and the lack of any substantial silting over the top suggested the chamber was backfilled prior to the abandonment of the building.
A smaller, deeper chamber, 1969 (section 121), occupied the southern part of Room 10, separated from 1909 by a small gravel baulk. It measured 2.5 m by 2 m and was 1.5 m deep, comparable to the wells. Like 1909, it was vertical sided with a flat base. There was no evidence of steps. The south edge lay c 1 m from wall 2276, dividing Room 9 from Room 10. The fill differed to that of 1909 in that the lower 0.5 m (layers 4-9) appeared to have silted during use. It consisted of a series of layers and lenses of clay, silt and gravel with no apparent organic matter. The upper 0.9 m of fill (layers 1-3) was a homogeneous brown loam with small quantities of limestone rubble and was possibly a deliberate backfill. There was no sign of a revetment.
Finds included two Roman coins from layer 4, dated to AD 335-41 and AD 345-53. Large numbers of iron nails were scattered throughout the fill. Vessel glass and stone roofing slabs were also present, the latter from 1, possibly deriving from the roof of this extension. Over 5.7 kg of pottery and 232 animal bones were recovered from layers 1 to 6. The lack of demolition rubble and later silting suggested that 1969 was infilled prior to the demolition of the building. The function of the two pits was unclear but they may have been used for the temporary storage of fish, as was suggested in the case of pit 1989 to the north (see discussion, print Chapter 6).

The inner late Roman enclosure (E 21)

During the latter part of the 4th century the central area of Trench 13 was enclosed by a number of ditches, 700, 765, 780, 873, 894 and 1766. The enclosure ditch, E 21, ran close to the west side of Building 8 and cut across the middle of Building 9. The area enclosed by this enclosure was 32 m across, with Building 8 situated in the north-west corner. A 2 m wide causeway lay on the south side adjacent to the position of the 'gateway' structure (see above). There was evidence of at least two separate phases. The earliest was represented by ditch 765 on the north side and possibly by ditch 894 on the south-east side. It was unclear whether 765 continued round the entire circuit as the later ditches, 700, 780 and 1766, had removed all traces on the west, east and south sides.
Ditch 765 was small in comparison to the late phase ditches, measuring 0.8 m wide and c 0.5 m deep. It was cut by ditch 700 to the west and ditch 873 to the east, and cut rectangular pit 1989 (section 118). Wall 2594 of Building 8 extended to its southern edge. The ditch fill midway along its surviving length showed signs of deliberate infilling. Whether this represented an actual causeway across the ditch or was an episode of infilling was unclear.
Ditch 894, to the south-east, was larger at c 1.1 m wide and 1 m deep, and ran from the outer late Roman Enclosure (E 22) to 780. It was cut by both of these ditches and by rectangular pit 874 (see below). Although 780 cut 894, a shallow recut in the top of 894 cut 780, suggesting that this feature was visible during both phases of the enclosure (Section 145). To the east, adjacent to E 22, the upper layers had been infilled with rubble.
The later phase of the enclosure, defined by ditches 700, 780 and 873, and possibly 894, may have been open to the north, unless ditch 765 remained in use at this time. Ditch profiles and size were consistent at c 1.2 m wide and c 1 m deep (section 116). The western stretch of E 21 (700) continued north from 765, to the northern limit of the trench. Its relationship with ditch 501 of E 22 was not clear. The eastern arm, (873, 780 and 1766), formed an S-shape in plan. The northern terminal of 873 was cut away by linear boundary 500. It continued south and west to end just short of the terminal of 700, to form the southern entrance. Assuming that the recut of ditch 894 was contemporary, there would then have been two large enclosures to the east and north of E 21, although their exact extent is uncertain.
Ditch 700, which formed the south and west sides of E 21, was deliberately backfilled with limestone rubble and the south-western bend also contained debris eroded in from Building 9. The eastern side ditches of the enclosure did not contain this rubble component but had also been deliberately backfilled. An assemblage of over 33 kg of pottery was recovered from E 21, most dating to the 4th century, but was too mixed to provide a more precise date. Other finds included three coins dating from the later 3rd to later 4th century, vessel glass, ceramic tile (c 23 kg) quern fragments, spindle whorls and some of personal ornaments, including a brooch and pins. A total of 1966 animal bone fragments was also recovered.

Enclosure 1860, 1546, (1547), 819

An oval enclosure, c 20 m across, lay south-east of Building 9, cutting across the original trackway. It was represented by three unconnected lengths of gully, 1860, 1546 and 819. On average dimensions were 0.6 m wide and 0.4 m deep. The enclosure was open to the south with a 20 m wide gap. Another break in the gully was suggested on the north-western side. Gully 819 terminated on the southern edge of ditch 620, and gully 1860 could not be traced cutting across ditch 547, suggesting an opening on the same line as and with the same dimension as the trackway.
Finds of 4th century pottery (c 3.2 kg) and a coin dated to AD 300-335 confirmed a late Roman date but the spatial evidence suggested that it was more likely the enclosure belonged to Phase 4c. The southern trackway ditches were cut by the enclosure but the latest Roman enclosure ditch 501 (E 22) clearly cut it. A small quantity of animal bone came from gully 1546.

Well 697

Although well 697 was the latest of the excavated Roman wells, it was most poorly preserved. It had been cut through Room 1 of Building 9 during the later 4th century, but had been heavily disturbed by the construction of well 696 during the medieval period. It was slightly smaller than well 502, measuring 0.6 m in diameter and 1.7 m in depth, but was of similar stone lined construction. Little of the northern side remained intact and only the lowest levels were uncontaminated. Five coins were recovered from this lower fill with a date range of AD 260-341, all of which predate its construction. How long it was in use cannot be determined but its site must have been an influencing factor for the siting of the adjacent medieval well 696. Organic material was recovered from the surviving levels including part of a small wooden bowl. Over 2.7 kg of pottery and 245 animal bones were recovered from this feature.

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Phase 4d: later 4th century AD (2.2.14: Trench 13 phase 4 sub-phase 4d)

Building 8 (Fig. 2.2.15: Phase 4 building 8: The late Roman ‘cottage villa’ )
Room 2 and drain 720/1922

At some stage following the construction of the sunken chambers, a drain was cut through the west wall (719) of Building 8 into Room 2 (section 720). The drain, 720, 1922/708, ran westwards cutting across E 21. The earlier cut, 1922/2708, petered out and was lost, while the later cut, 720, ran into a large well or sump, 2721, which measured c 2.8 m across and 1.2 m deep. Both phases of the drain measured 0.6 m across and ranged from 0.2 to 0.3 m deep. This modification was the latest change to Building 8 and may have involved major rebuilding since the surviving walls either side of the drain were of different widths. Wall 719 was 0.45 m wide and wall 1556 was 0.55 to 0.60 m wide. Furthermore, wall 1556 was well constructed with a faced outer corner, in the area just to the south of where the drain entered the building, possibly suggesting that the room was left partly open to the west. It appeared that wall 1912, between rooms 1 and 2, was removed at this time, as an area of hard standing, 1913, in the north-east corner of Room 2 overlay it.
The various cuts of the drain produced a large assemblage of finds, including over 4 kg of pottery, almost 2 kg of ceramic tile, 335 animal bones, iron nails, mortar and plaster, stone roofing slates, glass beads, a quernstone and part of a limestone column. A large number of finds also came from sump 2721, including over 5 kg of pottery, 1.1 kg of tile, 366 animal bones, three 4th century coins (latest issue AD 388 - 402), vessel glass, stone roofing slabs and a copper alloy bracelet. Large numbers of iron nails and some wooden planking were also recovered.

The outer late Roman enclosure (E 22)

The latest Roman phase was marked by a large subrectangular enclosure, E 22, represented by ditch501, clearly visible on aerial photographs. It was roughly concentric with E 21, but was much larger, measuring c 50 m across. A shallow shelf ran along the inner edge of the ditch (section 501). Along some stretches of the southern and western sides a narrow dry stone wall survived up to three courses. The ditch was on average between 1.5 and 3 m across and 0.6 to 1.2 m deep. The shelf in places was up to 0.8 m across and c 0.25 m deep. There was an apparent gap of c 5 m in the wall on the southern side, aligned on the entrance to the inner enclosure. The wall may have continued on the north and east sides, judging by the presence of a rubble-filled robber trench. The outer side of the wall was faced, the inner face left rough, and was c 0.4 m wide. There was no evidence of a bank behind the wall, but modern ploughing had cut into the Roman ground surface and may have removed any evidence. An entrance gap of 7.5 m was identified on the north-west side of the enclosure. The ditch was originally continuous but was modified later to construct the entrance.
The upper fill of ditch 501 was a distinctive alluvial deposit up to 0.3 m deep. It produced 13th century pottery and a coin dated to AD 1205-1215. Roman finds from the lower levels included a bone pin, copper alloy thimble, brooch, querns and vessel glass along with building debris. An assemblage of 16 kg of pottery, 5 kg of ceramic tile and over 2000 animal bones were recovered from the enclosure ditch.
This enclosure ditch clearly survived as a prominent earthwork well into the medieval period and formed the focus for later activity on the site (see below).

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Phase 5: Saxon and Medieval Activity

Summary

After the villa complex fell into disuse, in the late 4th or early 5th century AD, renewed activity is attested by a number of finds and features, although many of these were not well dated. A group of burials cut through the eastern walls of B 8, and two pits, 1905 and 1906, were dug within Rooms 1 and 7, apparently while the outer walls were still standing to some extent (Fig. 2.2.17: Trench 13 phase 5 features). Two distinct medieval ceramic phases were identified, dating broadly to the 13th - 15th centuries. A stone-lined box well, 696, and section of walling, 1999, were the only structural features associated with this medieval phase.

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Middle Saxon Activity

Burial group (702, 799, 1970, 2104, 2128, 2278/2279)

A group of five east-west aligned inhumation burials overlay the late Roman villa (800, 1971, 2105, 2129, 2277), and another inhumation burial (702) lay c 4 m to the west (Fig. 2.2.17: Trench 13 phase 5 features; see Witkin section 4.1). All lay within grave cuts and most were in good condition apart from skeleton 2277, which had been extensively disturbed post-mortem, probably because it occupied a shallower grave. A child burial, 702, was represented only by parts of the skull, vertebrae, pelvis and femora.
The four adult graves cut the eastern part of Building 8. Three were fully extended supine burials but 2777 was too disturbed to be certain. An isolated crouched juvenile burial, 800, was cut into the hypocaust room of Building 9 just to the north of late Roman enclosure E21. It may have had stones deliberately placed around the head. The infant burial was also isolated, cutting Phase 3 cobbled surface 687 to the east. There were no finds associated with any of the burials, although radiocarbon dating of three adult skeletons, 2129, 1971 and 2105, confirmed a mid to late Saxon date (see below). The isolated infant and juvenile burials may have been earlier, possibly contemporary with the Phase 4 settlement, as infant burials are well attested within Roman settlement sites (eg Barton Court Farm: Miles 1986, 15).

Pits 1905, 1906

A complex of pits, 1905 and 1906, cut the northern side of Building 8. They cut through the internal wall dividing Rooms 1 and 7 but otherwise appeared to respect the Roman building plan. They were subrectangular in plan, measuring between 1 m and 2 m across and c 0.5 m deep, with a fill of stone and silt. The pits clearly intercut but most had initially cut into natural gravel rather than adjacent pit fills. They may have been gravel extraction pits as the sterile fills suggested no other function.
The pits were not fully backfilled or had subsided, leaving and a depression that was levelled by gravel free silt, probably alluvial, which contained pottery of the 11th - 13th century AD. A Saxon coin of Alfred was also recovered from this late silting layer, 694. A short distance to the west another late Saxon coin of Baldred of Kent, dated to AD 823-824, was recovered from the rubble layer (693) immediately below the topsoil. The pits were broadly dated to between the destruction of Building 8 in the late 4th/5th century and the late Saxon/early medieval activity. The coins may have been contemporary with the burials, allowing a more precise date in the 9th century.

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Medieval activity (Fig. 2.2.17: Trench 13 phase 5 features)

The spatial and ceramic evidence allowed the medieval activity on the site to be divided into two distinct phases. The focus of both phases of activity was identified within Trench 13 and it may be significant that the late Roman enclosure (E 22) would have been a visible earthwork during this period. The poor preservation of the southern side of Building 8 may be explained by the later activity on the site.

Phase 1

The earliest phase of activity was represented by several features and a scatter of domestic pottery, centred on the site of Building 8. The pottery was derived from layer 694, which sealed pits 1905 and 1906, the southern part of Building 8 and the area between Building 8 and Building 9.
Three postholes, 2296-2298, which cut the southern edge of Building 8 contained earlier medieval pottery, and a nearby posthole of similar dimensions may have been contemporary. A small pit, 1926, which cut the south-western corner of the robber trench of Building 8, contained similar pottery. No structures were defined but the pottery suggested limited domestic activity.

Phase 2 (1999, 696)

The 13th to 15th century date of the later medieval phase, based on ceramic evidence, was confirmed by two stratified coins dated to 1205-1215 and 1473-7. Pottery of this phase was more scattered but still confined to Trench 13. Sections across the west, south and east sides of the late Roman enclosure ditch produced this type of pottery. In every case it was recovered from the top ditch fill and in three cases was associated with alluvial deposits. A 13th century cut half penny also came from the top fill.
Two features within the central area of Trench 13 were also assigned to this phase. A wall fragment, 1999, which ran NE-SW across the south-east corner of Building 8, sealed a deposit containing domestic pottery of the earlier medieval phase. Well 696 lay some distance to the south-west of the wall but was constructed on the same axis and cut the late Roman well 697. It was constructed by inserting a stone-lined box, 0.6 m², in the bottom of an excavated hollow. A series of steps led down from the north-east side The well was 1.9 m deep, the box occupying the lower 0.7 m.
A post-Roman date was confirmed by the recovery of a 15th century coin from the lowest level of the well. It also produced well preserved organic material.

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