Trans Bristol Gloucestershire Archaeol Soc 111

Excavations in Oldbury at the site of the former Sabrina Cinema in 1972-73 complemented chance finds made in the town from the early-nineteenth century onwards: there was evidence of intermittent prehistoric settlement in the Neolithic and EIA, of intensive occupation in the first two centuries after the Roman Conquest, and of activity in the medieval period. Small trial trenches in the gasworks area, at Eagles Alley and at the Lex supermarket, provided further evidence of settlement in the Roman period; but whether Tewkesbury can be described as urban before the millennium is not clear. A large ditch cutting RB levels below the cinema lends support to the case for an AS occupation. Excavation in 1972-74 failed to produce significant information about the growth of the town in post-Conquest times. The report is divided into two sections: the first dealing with topography, history and site layout, the second with the finds. Part two begins with `Neolithic pottery' by I F Smith (46), plus notes on contemporaneous copper alloy and human remains. Romano-British material includes reports on `The samian stamps and decorated ware' by Felicity Wild (48-55), `Discussion of the coarse pottery' by Elizabeth MacRobert (62-3), `The amphorae' by D F Williams (63-4), `Copper alloy -- the brooches' by D F Mackreth (64-70) and `Coins' by George C Boon (70). Roman burials, along with brief details on finds from other sites, complete the report.

Re-exhibition of twelve ancient figurines from the museum's collection prompts this inventory. All are of some form of copper alloy, bar a silver cockerel.

Reports work during the year presented in alphabetical order and grouped by parish.