EXCAVATING THE ROMAN EMPIRE IN BRITAIN

Transcription

1 EXCAVATING THE ROMAN EMPIRE IN BRITAIN 2014 FIELD REPORT Amazon Riverboat Exploration 2012 FIELD REPORT 1

2 Excavating the Roman Empire in Britain 2014 FIELD REPORT Background Information LEAD PI: Paul Bidwell REPORT COMPLETED BY: Nick Hodgson PERIOD COVERED BY THIS REPORT: 2014 Field Season DATE REPORT COMPLETED: :48:20 CHANGES TO: PROJECT SCIENTISTS: No RESEARCH SITE: No RESEARCH SITE LATITUDE / LONGITUDE: No PROTECTED AREA STATUS: No

3 Phone: Web: earthwatch.org facebook.com/earthwatch twitter.com/earthwatch_org Dear Earthwatch Volunteer, Thank you for the support and hard work that you have given freely to our research project. We have had a great season in We have made important discoveries, but above all have been impressed by the enthusiasm shown by Earthwatch volunteers. It was so enjoyable, as a scientist, to work alongside people who had a strong commitment to our research and an abounding interest in what we do and who we are. The work in 2014 has taken us into early, and as yet poorly understood, levels in the area we are excavating outside the walls of the Roman Fort at South Shields, and has brought us closer to solving the problem of exactly when and how the Roman occupation of the site began. Unexpectedly we found an early stone drain or aqueduct at a very deep level, which must have served some important building from the early part of the site s history. Not only did we encounter this unexpectedly early dimension to the site, but the stone channel itself has produced some spectacular individual finds, which you can read about in this report. At the other end of the chronological scale, this year we discovered that the big defensive ditch, close to the fort wall, is actually of post-roman date, belonging to a fifth-century re-fortification of the site after the collapse of the Roman empire. Many volunteers working in this ditch helped to uncover the fallen fabric from the fort wall which had collapsed in post-roman times. As in 2013, it has been a delight to see Earthwatch volunteers working closely with members of the local community in South Shields, participants in our community archaeology initiative, Hadrian s Wall and its legacy on Tyneside. Working alongside Earthwatch volunteers has fired the interest of these local volunteers and helped them learn about and appreciate the Roman heritage of their neighbourhood. You have helped make all this possible and I thank you again for having been part of our project. I hope that you enjoy reading this report and will continue to follow the progress of our research in the future. With best wishes on behalf of Paul Bidwell, Alex Croom and myself, Nick Hodgson, Principal Investigator

4 SECTION ONE: Scientific research achievements TOP HIGHLIGHT FROM THE PAST SEASON Right at the end of the season voluneers came face to face with a Roman goddess. A stone channel, either a drain or an aqueduct was found unexpectedly at a very deep level (Illus 1). It had been infilled in Roman times and in he backfill was found the carved head of a female statuette, with carefully depicted hair-style and white and pink paint still clinging to the stone (Illus 2). Her mural crown a crown in the form of a town wall with battlements shows that she is a tutela, or local protective diety, one of the finest found on Hadrian's Wall. REPORTING AGAINST RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Objective 1: to find further archaeological evidence for the transition from Iron Age to Roman Society at Arbeia The excavation in the present area has not yet penetrated to any possible levels which represent the transition from Iron Age to Roman society. Objective 2: to locate, date, and understand the origins of the Roman site at Arbeia In 2013 the excavations reached the earliest phase of activity yet seen on this part of the site. A road was found (a predecessor of the road line that survived here into the late-roman period, described below), accompanied by what seemed to be a roadside gully. The road ran on a slightly different alignment to that of the known stone fort which originated in c. AD 160 and was enlarged to bring its SW corner close to the present area in AD The misalignment resembles that of other structures pre-dating the known fort at South Shields. It is therefore becoming apparent that an earlier phase of Roman activity preceding the fort may slowly be coming to light in the current excavation. Illustration 1. The early drain or aqueduct channel found in 2014.

5 The supposed 'roadside gully' described last year proved in 2014 to be the demolition backfill of a large, deep, stone-lined channel, either a waste-water drain or an aqueduct. Whatever the true purpose of the channel, it must have served a nearby building or buildings of importance. Illustration 2. Carved head of a female statuette with mural crown TWAM

6 Illustration 3. Intaglio depicting Jupiter enthroned TWAM Last year it was not clear whether these structures are earlier than c. AD 160 or whether they accompanied the first unextended stone fort of c. AD 160- c The dating evidence (coins and pottery) recovered from these features in 2014 now makes it certain that the road and stone channel belong to the period c. AD 160- c. 205, meaning that they represent the earliest Roman activity yet seen on this part of the site. The backfill of the stone channel, which immediately preceded the fort extension of c. AD 205, contained later-second century pottery and various interesting finds which can therefore be dated to the second century AD: these included a carnelian gemstone (intaglio) from a finger ring, with an engraving depicting Jupiter enthroned (Illus 3), and the head of a female statue (tutela, or protecting deity) (Illus 2). These features were sealed by the clay bank desribed last year and now thought to be upcast from the defensive ditches of the fort extension of c. AD 205. If this was the case, very interestingly the clay dump seems to have deliberately left the road line clear.

7 Objective 3: the recovery of the complete plan of Arbeia Roman fort and supply-base its various periods, including the details of its envelope of defensive ditches and any annexes. Work on the outermost defensive ditch, cutting all the layers described above, was completed in In 2014 the next ditch in towards the fort wall was more fully exposed and partly emptied. This ditch dates to the extension if the fort c. 205 and was in open and use diring first half of the third cnetury AD. Its fill was rich in charcoal and other industrial waste derived from the gold- and silversmithing workshop immediately south-west, described in the 2012 field report. Volunteers recovered an important assemblage of animal bone from the ditch (when analysed this deposit will provide information on the meat diet of the Roman settlement and the origins of the slaughtered animals, which will be of particular value in being closely datable to the period Illustration 4. Complete Nene Valley third century AD roman scale-decorated pot TWAM

8 Illustration 5. Earthwatch volunteer with complete third century AD Roman pot TWAM The ditch also produced an important asemblage of pottery, including a complete Nene Valley beaker with all-over scale decoration (imported to the Hadrian's Wall area from the Nene Valley potteries near Cambridge in southern Britain) (Illus 4, 5). A large innermost ditch, immediately outside the Roman fort wall, was more fully revealed by volunteers in This proved to be of identical character to the large innermost ditch outside the south-west gate, excavated in the 1980s and published in That ditch cut earlier ditches themselves firmly dated by the latest types of Roman pottery to the end of the Roman period. The large innermost ditch is therefore almost certainly post-roman. It can be dated to the fifth century (since at the south-west gate it was overlain by a cemetery of later-fith century date).

9 Illustration 6. Plan of late Roman phase in vicus TWAM

10 Objective 4: recovery of more of the plan of the vicus (civilian settlement) outside the fort walls, and understanding of its sequence of development (Illus 6) Work in 2014 has confirmed the sequence of vicus development suggested on the basis of work in earlier years. The sequence begins with the building of the fort extension c and consists of: (a) A period of disuse: the dumping of the clay bank over the earliest phase of structures apparently left the early road line free, but the road was soon covered by silt and rubbish in a period of disuse. (b) The main third-century phase: the road was reconstituted at a higher level, over the rubbish dumping, and its surface was continuous with a paved walkway which cut into the clay dump and led to into the metalworking hollows for gold- and silversmiths found in Coins and pottery from the metalworking hollows were of third century date. (c) Late-third/early-fourth century phase: the demolition fill of the metalworking hollows contained pottery dated to after AD 250, yet was stratigraphically overlain by the many later resurfacings of the road and by a new stone building of the usual commercial or industrial type found in Roman fort civil settlements. This is important because with a few exceptions fort civilian settlements or vici in north Britain were abandoned or drastically reduced in size after c. AD 260, yet the final phase in this part of the vicus at South Shields must have been of the later-third or perhaps even the earlier-fourth century. Objective 5: to enhance our understanding of the economy and systems of supply of the frontier zone and how these fitted into the context of the Roman empire Earthwatch volunteers have not only excavated in 2014 but have helped with the cleaning, weighing, cataloguing, drawing and study of the large amounts of imported pottery that continue to be found in the excavations. Trade in pottery from diverse sources was possibly a by-product of much larger-scale importation of grain to northern England, which supports the hypothesis that local agriculture was only able to meet part of the requirements of the Roman army and helps to explain the need to maintain a permanent coastal supply-base at South Shields. In 2014 we collaborated with Durham University to facilitate isotope analysis by a postgraduate student, Jess Waterworth, on animal bones excavated in the Earthwatch excavations at South Shields. The study arrives at important conclusions about the places of origin of cattle consumed at South Shields Roman fort, showing that they were not all locally raised but driven on the hoof, possibly from north of Hadrian's Wall. The results are available in her MSc dissertation 'Food for thought: An investigation into South Shields as a major supply base in North-West Britain during the 3rd century AD' (MSc Archaeological Science Dissertation, Durham University, 2014). Objective 6: to assist in the management of the World Heritage Site by assessing the degree of archaeological survival in areas immediately outside the fort which might be subject to future development This year s work has further demonstrated the complexity and importance of the archaeological deposits surviving outside the fort. Objective 7: to engage local communities in recovering more information about the course of Hadrian s Wall through urban Tyneside and the extent and history of the Roman forts and settlements along the Wall This Earthwatch project at South Shields has been cloesley integrated with the community archaeology initiative WallQuest: Hadrian s Wall and Its Legacy on Tyneside, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and other bodies. Working alongside international Earthwatch volunteers has inspired local residents and helped them recapture a sense of pride and ownership in their Roman heritage and to appreciate the value of the archaeological resource represented by the Hadrian s Wall World Heritage Site. The Earthwatch project at South Shields plays an important part in this larger project and the experience of the Earthwatch volunteers has been enhanced by the locals that they have worked with and made friends with at South Shields Roman fort. CHANGES TO RESEARCH PLAN OR OBJECTIVES N/A

11 PARTNERSHIPS SECTION TWO: Impacts As stated above in the report on research objective 7, the most important partnership for the project has been with representatives of the local community through the community archaeology project 'Hadrian's Wall and its legacy on Tyneside'. The Arbeia Society continues to provide grant-aid towards our publication and dissemination costs. In 2014 we collaborated with Durham University to facilitate isotope analysis by a postgraduate student, Jess Waterworth, on animal bones excavated in the Earthwatch excavations at South Shields. See under results against research objectives. CONTRIBUTIONS TO CONVENTIONS, AGENDAS, POLICIES, MANAGEMENT PLANS International Arbeia is part of the UNESCO Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site and the Management Plan for the Hadrian s Wall section of the trans-national site recognises the research at Arbeia as improving understanding of the World Heritage Site and promoting a sense of ownership of the heritage asset among the local community. National or regional Our research project continues to set standards for archaeological research and training, recognised by the decision of the Council for British Archaeology to fund a one-year training bursary with the project for an early-career archaeologist wishing to specialise in community archaeology, as part of the CBA Skills for the Future initiative. The successful applicant for the bursary, David Astbury, worked alongside Earthwatch volunteers throughout the 2014 field season. We also publish archaeological data of national significance: see, for example, frequent citations of evidence of South Shields in the most recent book-length scholarly treatment of Roman Britain (Mattingly, D An Imperial Possession: Britain in the Roman Empire, London). At a regional level our contribution to the management of the Hadrian s Wall World Heritage Site is very important. Local We have built on the success and prestige of the Arbeia Earthwatch programme to develop our bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund and other funders for the WallQuest: Hadrian s Wall and Its Legacy on Tyneside project. Grants in support of this community archaeology project were agreed partly because of the approach to volunteer engagement which has been pioneered by Earthwatch; for example, in utilising the varied skills and life experiences of volunteers rather than relying on pedagogic methods. DEVELOPING ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS A total of approximately 50 local schoolchildren and their teachers participated directly either in excavation work or in activities such as pot-washing during the 2014 season (not including the Earthwatch Teen Team). ACTIONS OR ACTIVITIES THAT ENHANCE NATURAL AND/OR SOCIAL CAPITAL See below under Impacting Local Livelihoods CONSERVATION OF TAXA Not applicable CONSERVATION OF HABITATS Not applicable ECOSYSTEM SERVICES Not applicable

12 CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE As part of the overall programme of site interpretation and research, the Earthwatch project contributes to the continued maintenance and intellectual enhancement of Arbeia, which is a component of the Hadrian s Wall World Heritage Site. Increased knowledge of the buried archaeology in the fort area informs planning decisions on local building developments so that impacts on the buried archaeological heritage can be mitigated. IMPACTING LOCAL LIVELIHOODS The mobilisation of members of the local community in this research project via the WallQuest: Hadrian s Wall and its legacy on Tynesdie community archaeology project involves training and experience of a range of transferable skills that will enhance employability in an area that has one the highest rates of unemployment in the United Kingdom. LOCAL COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES See the points covered in the entries above. Local community volunteers clearly appreciated the opportunity to work alongside the international Earthwatch volunteers. DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH RESULTS Scientific peer-reviewed publications An interim report on the 2013 season was published in the journal Britannia vol. 45 (2014), pp , where the Earthwatch Institute is fully acknowledged. The following PI publications since the last report draw on the results of the Earthwatch sponsored work at Arbeia: Bidwell, Paul, 'The Roman names of the fort at South Shields and an altar to the Di Conservatores', in R Collins and F McIntosh (eds), Life in the Limes: studies of the People and Objects of the Roman Frontiers, Oxford, 2014, pp49-58 Hodgson, Nick, 'The accommodation of soldiers' wives in Roman fort barracks on Hadrian's Wall and beyond', in R Collins and F McIntosh (eds), Life in the Limes: studies of the People and Objects of the Roman Frontiers, Oxford, 2014, pp18-28 Hodgson, Nick, The British Expedition of Septimius Severus, Britannia 45 (2014), pp31-51 Hodgson, Nick, and Bidwell, Paul, South Shields as a late Roman naval base, in Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum (ed.), Honesta Missione: Festschrift für Barbara Pferdehirt (Monographien des Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums Band 100), pp Croom, Alex, A group of finds from outside the south-west gate of South Shields Roman Fort, in R Collins and F McIntosh (eds), Life in the Limes: studies of the People and Objects of the Roman Frontiers, Oxford, 2014, pp18-28 Grey literature and other dissemination Project is publicised and disseminated through the website: A conference was held by the Arbeia Society and WallQuest project on Saturday 15 November 2014 to discuss the results of the Earthwatch-sponsored project at South Shields. This was attended by 120 scientists and members of the public. The project was featured in the magazine Current Archaeology (issue 297, December 2014) and has been extensively coveed by the local press in 2014.

13 PROJECT FUNDING SECTION THREE: Anything else The Earthwatch-sponsored work at Arbeia forms part of the larger community archaeology initiative WallQuest: Hadrian s Wall and its legacy on Tyneside, which is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and a number of other grant-giving bodies. The Earthwatch contribution has acted as a matching funding element which has made the application for the larger grants (amounting to over 550,000 over three years, ) possible and thus has been pivotal in opening up improved opportunities for local people in north-east England to engage with their archaeological heritage. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to acknowledge assistance in the 2014 season from the Arbeia Society, South Tyneside Council and thank the Heritage Lottery Fund and other funders of the WallQuest: Hadrian's Wall and its legacy on Tyneside initiative. Above all we thank the volunteers, both those from Earthwatch and those from the local community. APPENDICES Illustration 7. Earthwatch volunteers in 2014

14 Illustration 8. Earthwatch and local community volunteers work side by side in the field.

15 Earthwatch Institute 114 Western Avenue Boston, MA U.S.A earthwatch.org facebook.com/earthwatch twitter.com/earthwatch_org