WROXETER, THE CORNOVII AND THE URBAN PROCESS FINAL REPORT ON THE WROXETER HINTERLAND PROJECT 1994-1997 VOLUME 2: CHARACTERIZING THE CITY R. H. White, C. Gaffney and V. L. Gaffney with Arnold Baker and contributions by A. Bayliss, L. Bevan, H.E.M. Cool, C.J. Evans, R. Gale, J. Greig, P. Grinter, R. Ixer, E. Murray, D. Williams and S. Willis
Archaeopress Gordon House 276 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 7ED www.archaeopress.com ISBN 978 1 905739 61 5 Archaeopress, R. H. White, C. Gaffney and V. L. Gaffney 2013 Aerial photographs Arnold Baker Printed in England by Information Press, Oxford Published with the support of English Heritage All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owners
Contents CHAPTER 1: BACKGROUND...1 1.1 THE RESEARCH CONTEXT OF THE WROXETER HINTERLAND PROJECT...1 1.2 REVIEW OF PREVIOUS REMOTE SENSING AT WROXETER...2 1.3 THE NEED FOR PROSPECTING WITHIN THE ROMAN TOWN OF WROXETER...5 1.4 A HISTORY OF GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY AT WROXETER...6 1.5 TECHNIQUES USED AT WROXETER...8 Magnetometry...8 Fluxgate Gradiometry the geophysical base map of Wroxeter...9 The Use of Novel Magnetometers at Wroxeter...17 Caesium Vapour Sensors17 Cart and GPS Driven Systems 17 SQUID Sensors 19 Resistance and Resistivity...21 Area Survey 21 Investigation using individual traverses / depth sections 26 Electromagnetic 27 Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)...28 Seismic...30 1.6 CONCLUSION...31 CHAPTER 2: EXCAVATIONS...32 2.1 INTRODUCTION...32 2.2 EXCAVATIONS IN ADVANCE OF WATER MAIN RELINING AT WROXETER...32 Introduction...32 Methodology...32 Site narrative...32 Lining Hole 1 (Figures 2.3, 2.4) 33 Phase X: Early Roman (later 1st century) 33 Phase Y Roman (end 1st century-2nd century) 35 Interpretation 36 Lining Hole 2 (Figure 2.6) 36 Phase Y: Roman 36 Dating evidence 37 Interpretation 37 Lining Hole 4 (Figure 2.7) 38 Phase Y: Roman 38 Dating Material 38 Interpretation 38 Lining Hole 5 (Figures 2.8, 2.9, 2.10) 38 Phase Y: Roman 39 Sub-phase Y1 (Figures 2.9, 2.10)...39 Sub-phase Y2 (Figures 2.8, 2.10, 2.11)...39 Sub-phase Y3 (Figure 2.9, 2.10)...39 Dating Material 40 Interpretation 40 Lining Hole 6 (Figure 2.1)...41 Lining Hole 8C (Figure 2.1)...41 Phase Y: Late or Post-Roman 41 Dating material 41 Interpretation 42 Lining Hole 11A (Figure 2.12)...42 Phase Y: Roman 42 Interpretation 42 Lining Hole 12 (Figures 2.13-2.19) 42 Phase X: Early Roman 44 i
Sub-phase X1 (Figures 2.13, 2.14, 2.19)...44 Sub-phase X2 (Figures 2.15, 2.19)...44 Phase Y: Roman 45 Sub-phase Y1 (Figures 2.16, 2.19)...45 Sub-phase Y2 (Figures 2.18, 2.19)...45 Dating evidence 47 Interpretation 48 Lining Hole 15 (Figure 2.20) 49 Phase Y: Roman / Medieval 49 Dating evidence 49 Interpretation 49 Lining Hole 16 (Figure 2.1) 49 Phase Y: Roman or Medieval 49 Lining Holes 7, 8, 8D, 10, 11 (Figures 2.1, 2.12) 50 Lining Holes 17, 18, 19 50 Phase Y: Roman? 50 2.3 CULTURAL MATERIAL FROM THE PIPELINE EXCAVATIONS...51 ROMAN POTTERY...51 by C. Jane Evans Methodology...52 The fabrics 52 Discussion by Lining Hole...53 Petrographic Reports...57 Introduction 57 The Palaeozoic limestone tempered ware...58 by Rob Ixer Petrographic analysis of a single sherd 58 The origin of the Wroxeter Palaeozoic-limestone-tempered ware 58 A note on the petrology of two sherds of Severn Valley Ware from the Wroxeter Pipeline Project...58 by David Williams The graffiti...59 by C Jane Evans SAMIAN POTTERY FROM THE WROXETER PIPELINE (WST 99)...59 by Steven Willis Discussion by Lining Hole...59 General Discussion...61 CATALOGUE OF SAMIAN, WROXETER PIPELINE (WST99)...63 ROMAN GLASS...65 by Lynne Bevan with Specialist Identifications by Hilary Cool 65 Catalogue...65 METAL FINDS FROM THE WROXETER PIPELINE (WST)...66 by Lynne Bevan 66 Copper Alloy...66 Iron...66 Catalogue...66 WORKED BONE...67 by Lynne Bevan 67 Catalogue...67 COIN REPORT...67 by Roger White 67 Wroxeter pipeline (WST99)...67 Coin list 67 BUILDING MATERIALS...67 by Lynne Bevan Wall Plaster 67 Mortar 68 THE ANIMAL BONES FROM WROXETER PIPELINE (WST)...68 by Emily Murray Introduction...68 ii
Quantity and Methods of Retrieval...69 Context...69 Assessment of Faunal Remains...69 Methods of Assessment 69 Preservation 69 Range & Variety 70 POLLEN AND PLANT REMAINS...70 Introduction...69 Assessment of archaeobotanical material (pollen and plant macrofossils) from Wroxeter WST 99 LH 15, Shropshire...71 by James Greig The Site...71 Samples...71 Laboratory work...71 Plant macrofossils 71 Pollen analysis...71 Results...71 Acknowledgements...72 The charred plant remains from Wroxeter Pipeline Excavation, Shropshire...72 by Pam Grinter Aims...72 Method...72 Results...73 Conclusions...73 Charcoal from Wroxeter Pipeline excavation, Shropshire...73 by Rowena Gale Introduction...73 Materials and methods...73 Results...74 Discussion...74 Conclusion...74 2.4 INSULA X: AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION, 2005...75 by K. Colls and R. H. White Introduction...75 Background to the project 75 Archaeological background...75 Aims and Objectives...76 Methodology...76 Fieldwork 76 Results...78 Introduction 78 Trench 1...78 Trench 2...81 Trench 3 (Figure 2.37)...82 An AMS Radiocarbon date from WR463 (Table 2.16)...82 by Alex Bayliss Dating evidence...83 by Roger White Methodology 83 Small finds...83 Coins 83 Pottery 84 Objects of personal adornment. 85 Horse furniture 85 Glass 85 Discussion...85 Interpretation...87 iii
CHAPTER 3: THE WROXETER ATLAS...88 3.1 DEPOSIT MODELLING...88 3.2 INTERPRETING AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY...89 3.3 INTERPRETING THE GEOPHYSICS...89 3.4 GAZETTEER BY INSULA....92 CHAPTER 4: CHRONOLOGICAL OVERVIEW...157 4.1 INTRODUCTION...157 4.2 PREHISTORY...159 4.3 ROMAN: THE MILITARY PHASE (c. A.D. 57-87)...160 The fortress metrology and layout...160 The fortress road system...163 The fortress buildings...164 The environs of the fortress...166 The northern annexe...167 The western annexe...168 The settlement at the ford...170 The cemeteries...170 The road system beyond the fortress...171 4.4 THE EARLY CIVIL PERIOD, AD 87 190. INTEGRATING THE TOWN WITH ITS LANDSCAPE...171 Existing models...171 Establishing the town grid...173 The relationship between the early Roman town and the hinterland...175 The buildings of the early town...177 Hadrianic Modifications...178 4.5 THE TOWN MADE VISIBLE: AD 190-490...179 The perimeter and beyond...179 The defences 179 The late defences 183 The riverside and possible quayside 184 INSIDE THE DEFENCES...185 Zonation...185 Sub total...189 Housing...190 Temples and other public buildings...191 Theatres...192 Water supply...192 4.6 THE LATEST TOWN (AD 490-650)....194 CHAPTER 5: BUILDING AN INTERPRETATION OF WROXETER...199 5.1 ANALYSIS: BECOMING ROMAN...199 The impact of the military...199 The first civilian town: becoming Roman...201 The mature town: keeping the plates spinning...204 The late Antique town: a precarious survivor...206 5.2 THE FUTURE: WROXETER AS AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL LABORATORY...206 SUMMARY...208 RÉSUMÉ FRANÇAIS...208 DEUTSCHE ZUSAMMENFASSUNG...209 6. BIBLIOGRAPHY...211 Abbreviations...222 iv