| Abstract: |
The
location of the excavation area was agreed with Andrew Armstrong (GCC), informed
by the results of the previous work at the site. The
archaeological excavation was carried out sequentially in four phases (Phases 1–4)
throughout an area which totalled approximately 3.7ha in size.
. Two hotspots with elevated levels of contamination were identified during ground
investigation works within Trial Pits 43 and 48 and, subject to prior written
agreement from Andrew Armstrong (GCC), these areas were removed in advance of
the archaeological works under archaeological watching brief. Between April and July 2019, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological excavation
of land off Denmark Road, Gloucester, followed by a short watching brief in August and
September 2020. An area of 3.7ha was excavated, comprising the former Civil Service Playing
Field and an area of hard standing to the south of the A38 (Estcourt Road) and to the north of
Denmark Road.
In an area of extensive post-medieval quarrying, features dating to the mid 1st to 2nd century
AD were recorded. Contemporaneous with the establishment and occupation of Kingsholm
fortress immediately to the west, these features included a stone-lined waterhole, numerous
pits and a ditch. The ditch may share its alignment with the defences of the military fortress at
Kingsholm. Some distinctive activity was located in the north-eastern corner of the site,
comprising four pits and two gullies, possibly dating to the 2nd or 3rd centuries AD. In the
south-eastern corner of the site, a disarticulated skeleton, radiocarbon dated to the Late
Roman period, was recovered from a post-medieval quarrying pit, and likely represents the
remains of a Late Roman burial disturbed and then redeposited during quarrying. A large
assemblage of unstratified Roman finds was recovered, particularly in the western half of the
site. Including Early Roman coinage, fragments of armour and other items of military
metalwork, these finds probably originated in features disturbed by quarrying activity.
Small stratified assemblages of biological remains were recovered, including animal bone,
charred plant remains, insect remains and pollen. The animal bone suggests that animals at
the site were culled for meat, with animals probably provisioned from elsewhere. The botanical
and insect evidence suggest that the local environment during the Roman period was an area
of dry, waste ground, with possible grazed grassland and arable land nearby. |
