Current Archaeol 3

[TR 3141] . Rescue work on the line of a relief road in the town revealed the long-sought position of the Saxon Shore fort. Its S wall has now been traced for 120 m of its length, and the W wall has been located by its robber trench, beyond which is a large V-ditch of late Roman date. The SW corner of the fort and two bastions were also examined. The fort is not rectangular, which may account for the difficulties previously experienced in finding it. Typologically the fort may be tentatively put in second half of 3rd century. Earlier (2nd century) military activity is indicated by masonry buildings, roads and a modest defensive wall and ditch belonging to the Classis Britannica on the evidence of many stamped tiles. The difference in character between this early naval base and the strongly defended late fort which cut through it is notable. A bronze hand holding a ball and eagle may have come from a ceremonial staff. Work continues on Roman, Neolithic, Saxon and medieval levels.

[SK 9771] Summary report on investigations at the W gate of the lower colonia. Flavian and earlier occupation of the site is attested by pits, gullies and scattered sherds and coins. The first defences, erected in ?mid-2nd century (much earlier than previously thought) were a narrow wall, clay rampart and multiple ditches. A simple gateway was later inserted, which towards mid-4th century was elaborated into a single-arched gateway flanked by rectangular towers, still 14 ft high in part and including re-used fine mouldings. In late 4th century a broad shallow ditch replaced the earlier ones, the rampart was raised and the wall thickened to S of the gate, rebuilt to N. The roadway was still in use in 5th century, but little remained of post-Roman levels.

[NX 9088]. Rescue excavation of this fortlet in Nithsdale revealed two timber barrack blocks in a 1/5th acre site defended by a rampart and inner ditch set in a larger ditched enclosure. Six large timbers at the inner entrance probably supported a gate-tower. Accommodation was suitable for one infantry century, which appears to have been in occupation during Antonine I, 142-58, after which the fortlet may have been slighted and burned; it was not reoccupied.

[SJ 0277]. Results of four seasons' excavation, mainly in the Norman town (of which a complete plan may be recoverable), are summarised. Rhuddlan's position on the River Clwyd, a natural frontier, lent itself to repeated fortification. Its Norman ditches enclosed c 20 acres and were frequently recut. The church has been located by magnetic survey and traces of the iron industry noted in Domesday Book and other industrial activities observed. For the 13th century, two houses of unusual plan were examined. Stratified in blown sand are deposits of Roman, Bronze Age and Mesolithic date, including a crude figurine from a possible Meso ritual context.

[SJ 292144]. Second interim report (see abstract 70/821). Fourteen months' work over two winters revealed a complex sequence of defence and occupation from LBA to late-Roman date. The first defence was a slight bank fronted by a double post-row. After a fire the posts were replaced by a continuous palisade and boulders revetted the rear of the rampart. Further renovations were made when rectangular houses with Malvern stamped pottery was in use. There eventually followed at least nine wattle-walled circular houses, 4-7m in diameter. Deserted for most of the Roman period, the site appears to have been refortified at end of 4th century, possibly with interval towers connected by raised timber walkways. Many LBA artefacts, nearly all domestic, belong to the rampart's earliest phases.

[NR 768261]. Excavations have proved Ardnacross II to be a chambered cairn of Clyde type, with portalled entrance, chamber and crescentic façade all of one build. The axis of the trapezoidal cairn is oblique to that of the chamber, from which came sherds of two Beacharra vessels and an Irish Bowl Food Vessel. Over the Neolithic work lies a round kerbed cairn of presumed Bronze Age date, and there may be burials yet to be discovered.