Archaeologia Aeliana Series 4

NT 977371 etc. Excavations were carried out in a number of rock shelters and overhangs along Fell Sandstone crag lines in the Wooler region. Site A at Goatscrag proved to be an EBA cemetery yielding four cremation burials, two in Enlarged Food Vessels, amidst abundant pits and ?post-holes. Numbers of probably earlier flints were found. Parallels for the site and pottery are discussed. Goatscrag B yielded similar flints and a number of rock-cut pits possibly connected with the activities at Site A. One site at Roughting Linn yielded only modern material. A second seemed unsuitable on geological grounds, and the same may apply to the Raven's Crag sites investigated. Overhangs at Bowden Doors produced a quantity of flints, and these and the Goatscrag flints are discussed. Some, and possibly all, of this flint material is Mesolithic. Au. Appendices treat pottery, flints, cremated bones and charcoals

NY 859711. Four periods of occupation were revealed, beginning with ploughmarks in the natural clay. There followed a ?work-camp for troops building Hadrian's Wall. The Vallum was next constructed across the site, and succeeded by the fort built later in Hadrian's reign. Evidence of two or three phases of rebuilding was noted in the praetentura in 1967. In the HQ building three phases of rebuilding were discovered (mid- or late 2nd century to 4th century). Limited investigation at the S gate showed a complete blocking. There was no evidence for destruction by enemy action at any time, and pottery demonstrates occupation into the last quarter of 4th century. Au(abr)

Recent writings (abstracts 68/067, 71/1042, 72/1451 & 72/1453) have disputed the orthodox view of invasion at AD 196-7, and have assigned the known damage to AD 205 or later. Re-examination of these arguments and the texts (principally Herodian) on which they are based reveals several flaws, and while there could well have been serious damage c 207, this does not preclude other damage ten years before when Lupus had to buy off the Maeatae.

Much of the ware described as "Rhenish" actually comes from Central Gaul, probably Lezoux. True Rhenish is always a fine, hard fabric, red or grey (or red/grey sandwich) with a glossy dark surface. In Britain this fabric occurs only in beaker forms, usually indented and rouletted, or with mottos. Dating is late 2nd/3rd centuries. The two-handled cups from Corbridge and elsewhere, and the barbotine-decorated beakers of Gillam form 48, are probably from Lezoux and of late Antonine to mid-3rd century date. There is some evidence for true Rhenish copies of Lezoux forms.

NZ 349070. Though there are literary references to Sockburn before the 10th century the sculpture from the ruined pre-Conquest church is not earlier than the Viking period. One of the hogbacks shows the story of Tyr and Fenrir. Such an interpretation is supported by eddaic depictions on two other carvings from the site, fragments of a hogback and of a shaft, showing the proffering of a drinking horn. Parallels on the Gotland stones suggest that these carvings reflect an heroic aristocratic cult at Sockburn associated with Odin. The interaction of pagan and Christian elements on carvings at Gosforth and Dynna (Norway) is also examined. R N B

A dish fragment found in site clearance is typical of the slipware made at Wanfried in Hesse, Germany, from c 1575-1635. This pottery occurs in several sites on the S and E coasts of England.