The Derbyshire Archaeological Journal 122

Excavations of the Roman fort and settlement were carried out in advance of redevelopment. On the site of the south-eastern defences, the first occupation consisted of three phases of timber buildings of the late-first to mid-second century AD, followed by a clay rampart and ditches in the late-second century. In the late-third or early-fourth century the rampart was fronted by a stone wall and a larger ditch cut further from the rampart front. At the extra-mural settlement, three successive metalled surfaces were identified, the latter two associated with stone-lined wells and metalled road surfaces on the projected line of Ryknield Street. Timber buildings and a substantial rectangular building of the late-third century with stone footings were also found. Occupation of both sites declined in the fourth century but in the late-sixth century the ruined extra-mural structures were succeeded by a Saxon cemetery of extended inhumations accompanied by grave goods. In the later Anglo-Saxon period a rubble platform may have supported a strengthening of the Roman wall or addition of a bastion. Timber buildings of a similar date were erected against the exterior of the wall and on the site of the Saxon cemetery. The report includes sections on the Roman pottery, including coarse wares, samian and mortaria; a Roman-Gaulish pipe-clay statuette; Roman coins; the Roman glass; Anglo-Saxon and medieval pottery; the copper alloy objects; the Roman brooches; the ironwork and evidence fro metalworking; worked bone objects; stone objects and coal; clay building materials; burned clay daub; mortar and plaster; wooden objects; unworked wood; soil samples; archaeobotanical evidence; and mammal and bird bones. Also included is a substantial section on