Antiq J 53 (2)

Attention was concentrated on two town houses and a late Roman cemetery. The houses, in Insula XII, date to second half of 3rd century and contain a total of 12 mosaics variously preserved. One house yielded iron-working evidence; both continued in use into 4th century, perhaps also 5th. The cemetery contained over 260 inhumations, two in stone coffins, on which a brief report is included. Examination of a considerable length of road near the amphitheatre has raised questions on its alignment and structure. Appended are discussions on mosaics and inscriptions. See also Curr Archaeol, 4, 1974, 216-19 on 1973 work.

[NX 7447]. Study of the surviving remains of the Cistercian abbey reveals that the monks undertook a massive remodelling of the eastern portions in late 12th century. This was intended to give greater height and space by the addition of a third storey, and inspiration for the new ideas is traced to N English Cistercian houses such as Kirkstead, Roche and Byland. Au(abr)

SK 627396. (See abstract 69/513). The wheel has now been conserved and a 14C date obtained for the dugout canoe which lay over it; this suggests a date in 2nd century BC for the wheel itself. It is compared metrically with other EIA-RB wheels; its multifelloe construction (six felloes each with two spokes) renders it unique among EIA wheels although similar to modern examples. Details of materials and constructional techniques are provided.

Publication of notable finds from burials inserted in the villa ruins: a fine engraved buckle with relief overlay, unique in complexity but of mid-7th century date, silver pins with twin-spiral heads (late 7th century), a pierced buckle and other small personal items.