SECTION 2.2.4: CLAYDON PIKE TRENCH 29

INTRODUCTION
Phasing

PHASE 2

PHASE 3 (C EARLY/MID 2nd - LATE 3rd EARLY 4th CENTURY AD)
Subphase 1 (Phase 3a?)
Subphase 2 (E20;Phase 3a
Subphase 3 (Phase 3a/b)
Subphase 4 (Phase 3b/c)
Subphase 5 (Phase 3d to Phase 4)

TRENCH 29 INTERNAL FEATURES
Internal boundaries
Building 5
The waterholes
Structural Evidence
Miscellaneous features

INTERPRETATION OF THE ARCHAEOLOGY FROM TRENCH 29


Introduction (Fig. 2.2.19: Trench 29 composite plan)

Trench 29, measuring c 1620 m² with extension to the south, was located in the south-western part of the main excavation area, south of the east-west Roman road and west of the rectangular enclosures in Trench 19. It was separated from the latter area by another north-south road. In contrast to Trenches 13 and 17, this area was not as clearly defined. It was not a raised area and was not always clearly defined by boundaries. The cropmarks showed a triangular block formed by the east-west road, the north-south road adjacent to Trench 19, and by a diagonal boundary formed by a lower lying part of the field to the south-west. Excavation concentrated in the northern part of this area.
Preservation was poorer than in Trench 13, and the only surviving surface spreads overlying the gravel occurred on the north-west side, although occasional stone built features did survive elsewhere in the trench (see below). Trench 29 contrasts to the other areas in showing evidence of less intensive archaeological activity. The majority of features appeared to be defining boundaries, although there was a stone building foundation (B 5) and another possible structure at the north-eastern end. Certainly the quantities of domestic debris suggested occupation at some level. Quantities of pottery and animal bone were far smaller than from the other trenches. Building debris was scant, with little tile and no roof slabs. The tile derived principally from the later phase contexts, perhaps indicating that thatch was used for roofing. There were no box or floor tiles or window glass. Activity seems to have been either utilitarian or low status. The recovery from several features of iron slag may indicate smithing activity, although the quantity of such material was small compared to Trench 17 to the north.
The activity appears to have been largely confined to the 2nd-century with very little evidence of 3rd and 4th century occupation. But some late 3rd to early 4th-century ditch digging was undertaken, defining the north-south road. Dating the start of activity in this area was more difficult. Small quantities of early samian ware and late 1st century fabrics were recovered, but few were stratified in the early phase features and a high proportion derived from a section of a later Roman ditch (2818) and was obviously residual. As it could not be clearly demonstrated that activity started in the later 1st century AD on this part of the site, material from the first main enclosure phase suggests activity broadly dating from the first half of the 2nd century in Trench 29. This probably followed the radical structural modification occurring in Phase 3a of Trench 13.

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Phasing (Fig. 2.2.19-3a poss, -3a, -3b, -3c, -3d: Trench 29 sub-phases)

Trench 29 is here described by phase and feature type. The relationships between the major features allowed the construction of a sequence of subphases, primarily within Phase 3. This involved the sequence of boundary features in relation to the main east-west road. Activity within this area could not always be assigned to a specific subphase and some of features are described separately. The subphases are sometimes described in terms of a sequence of stratigraphy rather than a closely defined single phase of activity.

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Phase 2

The only Phase 2 feature is ditch 2930 in the north-east part of Trench 29. It was probably a continuation of a ditch which ran east-west to the north of Trench 19 before turning north in the western part of Trench 13, along the line of later ditch 2301 (Fig. 2.2.3: Longdoles Field Settlement: Outline of Phase 2). It was cut by all other features and contained no finds.

Phase 3 (c early/mid 2nd - late 3rd/early 4th century AD)

Phase 3 was divided into four subphases (and subphase 5 may also belong to the end of this phase). These saw the gradual formalization of boundaries culminating in a rigid rectangular block pattern mirrored inn Trenches 13 and 17.

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Subphase 1 (Phase 3a?: Trench 29 sub-phase 3a possible)

This phase is somewhat tenuous and was defined by features earlier than the enclosure in subphase 2. The main feature was 2847, a shallow linear east-west boundary ditch 0.18 m deep and c 0.70 m wide. It was cut by ditch 2828 (section 65), which was part of subphase 2 E 20. The east end of ditch 2847 turned south beyond the trench edge prior to intersecting ditch 2801. It could not be clearly traced from the cropmarks but it appeared to lie within the line of the road running from the south adjacent to the enclosure in Trench 19. It could not be traced further west than ditch 2888, which cut it (see below).
Few other features were assigned to this phase. Gully 2909 ran north from 2847 and was certainly cut by the subphase 2 enclosure. Its northern extent was unclear and it may have continued as gully 2878, but a large well, 2867, removed the relationship. Ditches 2888 and 2902 represented a possible NE-SW aligned enclosure. Ditch 2888 was later than ditch 2847, but was cut by the subphase 2 enclosure E20. It ran south-east from E20 for four metres before running beyond the trench edge and reappearing for a further 3 metres further to the south. It was c 2 m wide and 0.54 m deep. Running perpendicular to 2888 further to the west was ditch 2902 (c 1 m wide, 0.38 m depth), which had been recut. The only other feature that may have belonged to this phase was ditch 2930 (1.8 m wide, 0.43 m deep), which ran east-west beneath trackway ditch 2834. It was a continuation of the ditch that ran in front of the rectangular enclosure in Trench 19, and may have belonged to either late Phase 2 or early Phase 3. Little dating evidence was recovered from these features, but suggested an early 2nd century date.

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Subphase 2 (E 20; Phase 3a: Trench 29 sub-phase 3a)

This phase was represented by a sub-rectangular enclosure (E 20) in the centre of the trench. Represented by ditches 2810, 2825, 2828, 2871 and 2890, it covered an area c 30 m east-west and 33 m north-south. Its southern ditch (2828) cut subphase 1 boundary 2847 (section 65) while the northern limit (2890) projected c 3 m into the line of the main east-west Roman road. The east limit (2825, 2810), which defined the edge of the north-south road, was a substantial ditch (0.9 m wide and 0.6 m deep) and showed traces of recutting (section 44). The western ditch (2871) was also substantial (up to 1.2 m wide, 0.5 m deep) but there was no obvious re-cutting. It was cut by Phase 4 ditches 2868 and 2870 (section 6). A terminal was exposed in the north-west side (not shown on plan) but other phases of the ditch continued across this point. Large segments of the enclosure ditches were cut by later features on the north and east sides that may have removed evidence of entrances.
Dating evidence provided by the pottery came principally from the top fills. The enclosure predated the construction of main east-west road. Its use/infill date was early to mid 2nd century and there was no evidence to suggest it had an earlier origin. It could therefore be regarded as broadly contemporary with the expansion of Trench 13. The function of the enclosure remains uncertain and associated finds were few. Aside from a small quantity of fired clay and iron nails, the only small finds were a fragment of vessel glass and a whetstone. Just over 100 animal bones were recovered and the c 2.5 kg of pottery included four fragments of 2nd century samian and 15 pieces of Dressel 20 amphora. The resolution of the ceramic dates was not sufficiently fine to date the internal features, and the overall quantities of debris from the ditch were generally not large enough to demonstrate that there was domestic activity within the enclosure.

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Subphase 3 (Phase 3a/b: Trench 29 sub-phase 3b)

Subphase 3 saw a more regular marking out of the area, with linear boundary ditches defining the north, east and west sides of a rectilinear enclosure (c 25m across east-west). The northern ditch (2836) appeared to have been the earliest of a sequence of east-west trackway ditches (section 41), the position of which scarcely changed throughout the remaining phases. It was c 0.3 m deep and a width of 1 m was visible, but it was cut by the later trackway ditch 2835 (see subphase 4 below). Running in a southerly direction from the trackway boundary were two further ditches, 2859 and 2801. Ditch 2859 ran north to south and curved to the south-east, and while its extent further south was unclear from aerial photographs, it did not appear to cross the line of the north-south road. It cut through ditches belonging to E 20, and became shallow towards the intersection with trackway ditch 2836, suggesting the two may have been contemporary. It was fairly broad and shallow (1.4 x 0.4 m) and was overlain by the eastern side of B 5 (see below). Finds from ditch 2859 included a small quantity (0.3 kg) of local pottery and fired clay. Gully 2898 ran east from 2859 for 11 m just south of 2847 before terminating.
Running approximately parallel to 2859 on the east side of the trench was a substantial ditch, 2801 (c 2.3 m width, 0.54m depth), which cut diagonally across the line of the north-south road. It was cut by both the sub-phase 4 and sub-phase 5 boundary ditches (section 62) and limited ceramic dating evidence (c 1.2 kg) from the ditch fill indicated a 2nd century date. Its relationship with 2859 and 2836 suggested contemporaneity. Another ditch, 2862/2879, ran west from 2859, possibly representing the southern boundary of an adjacent enclosure.
The spatial arrangement of features in this subphase suggested that the line of the east-west trackway was well established by this time, but this may not have been the case for the north-south trackway. The subphase is not well dated, but can be placed within the 2nd century AD. A series of inter-cutting internal boundaries probably also belonged to this general phase, although some cut ditch 2859, while others were demonstrably cut by it (see below).

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Subphase 4 (Phase 3b/c:Trench 29 sub-phase 3c)

This phase includes a stratigraphic sequence defining a set of coherent boundaries to the west and east of the platform, while to the north they were also associated with the east-west road. As in subphase 3, a rectangular area was defined, but on a slightly different alignment, and with the possible appearance of a double ditched boundary similar to Trench 17. An area c 24 m east to west was defined. The west side was represented by two major ditches, 2868 and 2870 (section 6). The inner ditch, 2868, comprised two cuts (section 7). The earlier cut (2869) turned west 3 m short of the east-west road, and was subsequently cut by 2870. The late cut (2868) ran parallel to 2870 (between 2 and 3 m apart) but terminated at the point where 2869 curved west. Both 2870 and 2868 were of similar proportions (c 1 m wide, 0.4 - 0.5 m deep), and the ditches may have been contemporary, forming a double boundary. Aside from a few sherds of pottery (0.47 kg), there were no finds from these ditches.
The east side of Trench 29 was defined by three separate ditches which all converged with the east-west aligned road ditches. The latest ditch, 2837 (equivalent to cut 2835 of the road ditch), was a foreshortened version of its earlier form, extending only 5 m south of the road before terminating. It showed signs of re-cutting and was relatively deep (0.8 m and c 1.7 m wide; section 43). The upper layers had been infilled with rubble. The other two ditches, 2818 (2826) and 2815 (2856, 2822, 2824) probably joined the east-west boundary 2836, which continued in use from subphase 3. They ran south for 24 m and did not intercut (section 44). Ditch 2815 was shallow (0.3-4 m deep) and the north end had been recut (2824, 2822). It was cut by subphase 5 ditch 2821 (section 44). It had been filled with rubble and there were rubble spreads across the northern extent of these ditches. Boundary 2818 was more substantial (c 1.2 m wide, 0.4-0.5 m deep), but it shallowed to the north (section 44). It cut subphase 2 enclosure ditch 2825 and ditches 2816, 2817, which may have belonged to Phase 3 (see internal boundaries below).
Ditch 2445 ran north-south within the southern extension of the trench. It had been recut (2445, 2447 - 2449, 2493) and terminated several metres short of 2818, 2815. At least five recuts were visible and varied in dimensions (0.5 m - 0.8 m deep, c 0.5 - 1 m deep; section 67). The subsidence hollow at the top had been levelled with rubble and domestic debris dating to the 4th century (layer 2444).Pottery from the ditch (c 3.2 kg) was mostly 2nd and 3rd century in date, in contrast to layer 2444, which produced over 15 kg of mainly late 3rd and 4th century material. Other material was uncommon from the lower ditch fills, and included iron nails, coal, vessel glass, quernstones, and a small number of animal bones.
Aside from the apparent redeposited material in subphase 5, this subphase produced the largest quantity of pottery (c 17 kg) suggesting that activity was at its most intense during this period, although less intensive than in trenches 13 and 17. The small finds included three late 3rd century coins along with some industrial and domestic debris.
Activity in this subphase seems to have ceased around the middle of the 3rd century. There was a notable absence of Oxford colour-coated ware from the ditch fills. The start date was more difficult to determine but was probably during the latter part of the 2nd century at the earliest. The end of this sub-phase also marked the end of any significant domestic or `light industrial' activity on this part of the site. It is likely that Building 5 and at least two of the wells (2906, 2867) were contemporary with this phase (see below).

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Subphase 5 (Phase 3d to Phase 4: Trench 29 sub-phase 3d)

The final phase of activity in Trench 29 was confined largely to the south-east corner. A series of short lengths of gully (2800, 2803, 2804, 2805, 2808) ran NE-SW at a slight angle to the earlier boundaries. They varied from 7-10 m in length and were variable in profile from narrow and deep cuts (2804; 0.7 m wide, 0.7 m deep) to broad and shallow (2805; 0.3 m deep, c 0.9 m wide; section 63). Many of the gullies showed some signs of recutting, and relationships were not always clear. They converged towards the line of the north-south road. Almost 5 kg of pottery was recovered from these gullies, along with 225 animal bones, vessel glass, iron nails, iron shears, a copper alloy brooch (2nd century) and a bone pin. The terminal of gully 2808 cut elongated pit 2809 which contained 0.4 kg of pottery and some iron slag.
South of these gullies, linear boundary 2445 may still have been in existence but visible only as a hollow. Its upper fill (2444) contained large quantities of pottery (c 15 kg) and 60% of the small finds from the entire phase, including vessel glass, a quernstone, a brooch and pin, two 4th century coins and 124 animal bones. It appears to have been dumped along with stone rubble, probably from another part of the trench or from further afield. Although this material wass mixed, it generally dates to the later 3rd and early 4th century, a similar date range to the material from gullies 2800 and 2808. The dumping of domestic and structural material during this phase is paralleled in Trenches 17 and 19, and must relate to the phase of major reorganisation across the whole site.
Other features belonging to this phase included 2834, the latest re-cut of the east-west trackway ditch, which was c 1.8 m wide and 0.35 m deep (section 41). It contained a small amount of pottery (0.09 kg) and a few animal bones. Just to the south of its eastern terminal was north-south ditch 2821, traced for c 7 m before ending in a shallow terminal. This appeared to have been the latest in the series of north-south cuts defining part of the trackway in this area (section 44). A total of 0.6 kg of pottery was recovered from the ditch. Lying less than 1 m to the west was pit 2846 (c 1.6 x 1.9 m across) which cut Phase 4 ditch 2836 and may belong to phase 5. A small pottery assemblage (0.1 kg) was recovered from its fill.

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Trench 29 Internal Features

Many of the features Trench 29 could not be accurately assigned to specific subphases, but all may have belonged to Phase 3.

Internal boundaries

A sequence of ditches and gullies were situated in the central and southern part of Trench 29, although the relationships between them were not always that clear. Their general alignment suggested contemporaneity with eastern ditch 2801 of subphase 3, but many cut ditch 2859 of that same subphase. Two substantial ditches (2861/2831 and 2849) ran east-west, cutting ditch 2859 to the west and 2817 to the east. Ditch 2861/2831 (1.5 m wide, 0.4 m deep; section 60) was cut by a number of north-south gullies (2882, 2884, 2866) and was traced westwards out of the trench, while 2849 further north (1.2 m wide, 0.4 m deep; section 59) was later, cutting features with the exception of well 2839. To the south of 2831 lay gully 2814, which ran east from 2859 before turning south along the line of the later ditch 2445. Two L-shaped ditches, 2838 and 2883, were also located within the central southern part of Trench 29 as was a later feature, 2844/2882. They both ran west from the eastern trench limit for c 12 m before turning south, neither extending beyond ditch 2847. It was unclear what they defined. The pottery (1.6 kg) suggested a 2nd century date, and it is likely that they were broadly contemporary with the subPhase 3 features, probably defining internal boundaries. Other finds included fired clay and iron nails. A fragment of 2nd century vessel glass and a dress pin were also found and a small amount of smithing slag suggests minor industrial activity.

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Building 5 (Fig. 2.2.20: Trench 29 building 5 )

Situated on the west side of the trench and overlying subphase 3 ditch 2859, was a square structure measuring c 2.5 m² internally. It probably had two phases of use. The first phase was represented by two short lengths of parallel wall, 2895 and 2887, defining the east and west sides. Wall 2895 was constructed of small stone rubble and the faces were disturbed. Quantities of rubble in the upper layers of adjacent ditch 2868 suggest that the ditch may have been only partially infilled when the structure was demolished. Wall 2887 cut ditch 2859. It had deep foundations and was coursed. Overlying the central section of this foundation were burnt flat limestone slabs (2885), which projected eastwards for 0.5 m. They were covered by a layer of burnt material, and were linked to a stoke-hole on the western side of the wall (2886). It may have been part of an oven structure, probably inserted into the wall at a later date, but no evidence for a superstructure has survived. This second phase of B 5 may be related to two postholes (2900, 2901) on the northern and southern sides, sited off-centre towards wall 2887 and opposing each other. They were aligned with two limestone slabs that may have formed post pads c 1 m to the east, creating a rectangular, possibly open sided, building 3 m by 1 m in size around the oven. No other features associated with the structure were recognised. Dating was based on the stratigraphic position, post-dating ditch 2859, allowing a construction date some time in the later 2nd/early 3rd century and possibly contemporary with the subphase 4 boundary ditch 2868, possibly in use into the early - mid 3rd century.

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The waterholes

Four small waterholes were situated within Trench 29. Three within the central area were late, cutting subphase 3 ditches. The fourth (2906) lay further south, beyond the main area of Trench 29. In two cases (2839, 2906) steps into the waterholes were exposed, both on the east side but only the west sides of the other two (2867, 2877) were excavated. A similar feature, 1318, with on the east side was located in Trench 17 to the north. All of the waterholes probably belonged to the same subphase (4), but may not all have been directly contemporary.

Feature 2839

Feature 2839 lay towards the eastern part of the trench, cutting ditch 2849. Its was 2.2 m in diameter and 1.1 m deep (section 192). No indication of a revetment was found and the fill showed evidence of erosion from the sides. It appears to have been deliberately infilled, with large quantities of occupation material in the central fills, above the waterline. This included 0.72 kg of pottery and 128 animal bones. Ceramic dating suggests it was filled by the mid 3rd century.

Feature 2867

Waterhole 2867 lay adjacent to the west platform boundaries towards the south-west corner, cutting ditches 2861, 2866 and 2859. It was oval in plan and 3 m across and c 1.06 m deep (section 188). In contrast to the other two waterholes in the central area, the top fill was a thick alluvial deposit, suggesting that it remained a substantial hollow into the post-Roman period. A late 3rd century coin was retrieved from this fill, but most of the material from the lower fills indicates use from as early as the late 2nd century. The fill was more homogenous than that of feature 2837, suggesting that the silting process continued with little interruption. Finds included a fragment of vessel glass (c 2nd-early 3rd century), 0.68 kg of pottery and 121 animal bones, including dog, pig and bird.

Feature 2877

Well 2877 lay to the east of 2867 and was of similar size (2.6 m by 1.02 m deep; section 189). It cut east-west gully 2876. Small quantities of stone and domestic material (0.12 kg pottery and 57 animal bones) came from the clay, silt and gravel fill. Dating evidence suggested that it was infilled by the mid 3rd century.

Feature 2906

Well 2906 lay to the south of the boundary ditches in the main part of Trench 29 and was exposed in a trial trench c 30 m south of the other waterholes. The top hollow had filled with an alluvial deposit, which produced late Roman finds (section 190). It was slightly larger than the other waterholes (c 3 m across, 1.15 m deep) and ten steps in a damaged condition curved downwards on the east side. The feature had been filled with stone and other refuse. Finds included 0.6 kg of pottery, 1.2 kg of ceramic tile, 47 animal bones, fired clay and a quern fragment. A cone of Pinus Pinea (Calne 4426) came from a lower deposit of dark grey organic material (see also environmental report, section 4.4). Dating evidence from the well, although sparse, suggests that it was probably open from early to late 3rd century, making it slightly later than the other waterholes.

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Structural Evidence

A number of features in the north-east corner of the trench suggested the presence of one or more structures (Fig. 2.2.19: Trench 29 composite plan). The evidence took the form of a concentration of postholes, most stone packed, and an L-shaped slot associated with carved stonework. It was not clear if the postholes and slot were contemporary or represented two distinct phases of activity. The postholes were confined to an area 7 m by 4 m but no apparent structure could be discerned. The relationship with timber slot 2893 was not clear but one small posthole was cut by the slot.
The L-shaped slot, 2893, was shallow and relatively wide (0.2 m deep, 0.6 m wide) with a flat base (section 50). A line of coursed stonework, 2928, 0.2 m wide lay inside the angle and ran 1 m east to west and then 0.6 m to the south (not shown on plan). Two courses survived, faced on the outer edge but the inner edge face was ragged. It appeared to be associated with the slot but its function was unclear. The nature of the stonework did not suggest that it was a replacement in stone of a timber building as in Trench 17. If 2893 represented a beam slot the stonework might represent an internal feature. It was impossible to date these features with any precision. However it was cut by gully 2892 running N-S and an oblong pit 2850 at its east end (section 50), indicating an early date. Both of these features contained material dating to between the late 1st century AD and the beginning of the 3rd century.

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Miscellaneous features

Pits

Nineteen pits were excavated in Trench 29. They seemed to concentrate around the boundary ditches and in some cases cut them, particularly in the south-west and north-east corners. The pits to the south-west (2889, 2920, 2933, 2923) were similar in form, c 1 m in diameter and from 0.7 to 0.9 m deep. They were amongst the latest features in the area, most probably belonging to subphase 4. Their function was unclear and they produced few finds but they appeared to have been deliberately infilled.
The majority of the pits were circular in plan but some were long shallow scoops. Pit 2874, in the central part of the trench, was somewhat different to the rest. It was rectangular in plan (2.4 x 1.5 m, 0.5 m deep), with steep sides and a flat base (section 11), but with no evidence of waterlogging. It had been deliberately infilled and the soil was charcoal blackened and contained pottery (0.74 kg), stone, animal bone and daub fragments. Most of the other pits contained few finds, with the exception of oval pit 2832, which cut ditch 2831. It was 0.9 x1.6 m in size and 0.4 m deep, and contained almost 1 kg of pottery, along with animal bone and fired clay.

Stack rings

Two circular gullies with a small diameter, described as stack rings, were exposed in Trench 29 (2881 and 2875). They were 3 m across with gully dimensions of 0.6 m wide and 0.2 m deep (section 10) with sloping sides. The southern half of 2875 had been removed by pit 2874. There was insufficient evidence to date them precisely.

Feature 2940

Feature 2940 was a short slot with a flat base running east-west for 4 m in the north of the trench. It was 0.08 m deep and 0.25 m wide. It may have held a timber beam, but no other features appeared to be associated. It contained no finds.

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Interpretation of the archaeology from Trench 29

An east-west aligned ditch running along the southern boundary, dating to the early 2nd century, appears to represent the earliest activity in the trench. This was succeeded by a large sub-rectilinear enclosure of early to mid 2nd century date. It defined one side of the main north-south trackway, but intruded into the southern part of the east-west trackway and was unlikely to have been associated with domestic or industrial activity. During the mid to late 2nd century, the enclosure was replaced by a more regular pattern of linear ditches forming a rectilinear enclosure open to the south. The northern boundary was the first of these and defined the east-west trackway. A succession of north-south and east-west boundaries in the southern part of the trench may have belonged to this subphase, but dating evidence was equivocal. They probably represented a constant shifting of internal boundaries within the area, and although slight, the small quantities of domestic and light industrial material hinted at a new phase of activity.
From the later 2nd to early/mid 3rd century, a series of substantial boundary ditches were laid out on the north, east and west sides. The northern and eastern ditches defined sides of the main trackways through the site, while those to the west probably formed a double ditched arrangement, similar to 667 and 670 in Trench 17. Near to the western boundary lay the only building identified within the trench (B 5). It was a two phase structure, and the latest version included an oven structure. Another possible structure indicated by postholes, a construction slot and building stone lay in the north-east of the trench, and may belong to the same phase or possibly earlier. Comparatively large quantities of pottery and small finds suggest low status domestic and light industrial activity during this phase.
In the later 3rd to early 4th century, activity was largely confined to the south-east corner of the trench, where a series of linear gullies were cut. A spread of late Roman material over ditches further to the south was probably the result of dumping of refuse from other areas, and was probably contemporary with the reorganisation associated with the construction of the masonry villa in Trench 13. A major recut of the east-west road ditch also probably belongs to this period. Aside from a few sherds of medieval or post-medieval pottery, there was no indication of activity beyond the early/mid 4th century.

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