Life and Labour in Late Roman Silchester: Excavations in Insula IX since 1997 [1] 0907764339, 9780907764335

Table of contents :
List of Figures viii
List of Tables xiii
Acknowledgements xv
Preface xvii
PART I: THE EXCAVATION
1. INTRODUCTION (Michael Fulford) 3
Context of the research (1): Silchester 4
Context of the research (2): the late Roman town in (Southern) Britain 7
Structure of the late Roman report: the development of a methodology 11
Silchester Insula IX: the late Roman archaeological resource 11
The excavation area: rationale 12
The late Roman occupation: introduction and methodology 13
Chronology 14
Pits and post-excavation strategy 15
Buildings and other contexts: post-excavation strategy 15
2. THE EXCAVATION (Michael Fulford, Amanda Clarke, Hella Eckardt) 16
The streets 16
The southern area 18
The northern area 47
The latest occupation: northern and southern areas (Object 122) Phase 6 75
PART II: THE FINDS
1. THE COINS POST A.D. 250 (Edward Besly) 81
2. THE POTTERY FROM THE LATE ROMAN DEPOSITS (Jane Timby) 86
Introduction and methodology 86
The pottery from the late Roman pits 87
General discussion 108
3. THE LATE ROMAN GLASS (Denise Allen) 116
Introduction 116
Joints 116
Vessel glass of the first and second centuries 117
Vessel glass of the later second and third centuries 118
Vessel glass of the later third and fourth centuries 118
Post-Roman glass 119
4. THE SMALL FINDS (Nina Crummy) 120
Introduction 120
The late Roman pits and wells (by object) 122
The assemblage in general 128
5. THE WORKED STONE (Ruth Shaffrey) 133
Rotary querns 133
Building stone 133
Whetstones 134
Conclusions 134
6. CERAMIC BUILDING MATERIAL FROM THE LATE ROMAN PITS AND WELLS (Peter W. Davies and Hella Eckardt) 135
7. IRON NAILS (Hella Eckardt) 139
PART III: IRONMAKING AND IRONWORKING
1. IRONMAKING AND IRONWORKING: THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT (Klare Tootell) 145
The pits and wells 146
The layers 151
Summary 158
2. THE SLAG BASINS (J. R. L. Allen) 160
Character in hand-specimen 160
Chemical composition 161
Discussion 162
PART IV: BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSES
1. THE ANIMAL BONE (Claire Ingrem) 167
The late pits and wells 167
The late Roman layers 184
2. THE DOG ASSEMBLAGE (Kate Clark) 189
3. THE OYSTER SHELLS (Sandie Williams) 196
Introduction 196
Late Roman oysters from Silchester 197
Conclusion 198
4. THE HUMAN REMAINS (Hilary Snelling) 200
Introduction 200
Methodology 200
Results 200
Discussion 202
Conclusion 205
5. THE MACROSCOPIC PLANT REMAINS (Mark Robinson with Nancy Fulford and Klare Tootell) 206
Introduction 206
Waterlogged plant remains 207
Charred plant remains 209
Mineralised plant and arthropod remains 212
Discussion 216
PART V: THE CHARACTER, CHRONOLOGY AND USE OF THE LATE ROMAN PITS: THE SILCHESTER FINDS ASSEMBLAGE (Hella Eckardt)
The character and use of the pits 221
The chronology of the pits 228
Pit assemblage composition 233
Conclusion 244
PART VI: DISCUSSION AND SYNTHESIS
(Michael Fulford)
Setting the scene: the reorganisation of the insula 249
Characterising the late Roman occupation 252
Buildings 1 and 5 255
Building 5 259
Building 7 261
Building 8 262
The north-west property 264
Change through time 266
The wider context 267
Behaviour 271
The latest occupation and the abandonment of Insula IX 273
Tebicatos and his milieu 278
The end of occupation 280
Conclusion: developing the late Roman urban profile 282
APPENDICES
1. THE SCHEDULE OF COINS (Edward Besly) 289
2. THE POTTERY (Jane Timby) 291
3. THE CATALOGUE OF THE GLASS (Denise Allen) 314
4. SUMMARY OF SMALL FINDS CATALOGUE (Nina Crummy) 328
5. WORKED STONE (Ruth Shaffrey) 337
6. THE ANIMAL BONE (Claire Ingrem) 339
7. THE DOG BONE (Kate Clark) 363
8. THE HUMAN REMAINS (Hilary Snelling) 370
9. THE MACROSCOPIC PLANT REMAINS (Mark Robinson with Nancy Fulford and Klare Tootell) 374
10. ANALYSIS OF THE PITS (Hella Eckardt) 380
BIBLIOGRAPHY 385
INDEX 399

Citation preview

SILCHESTER ROMAN TOWN THE INSULA IX TOWN LIFE PROJECT: VOLUME 1

LIFE AND LABOUR IN LATE ROMAN SILCHESTER EXCAVATIONS IN INSULA IX SINCE 1997

LIFE AND LABOUR IN LATE ROMAN SILCHESTER EXCAVATIONS IN INSULA IX SINCE 1997

BY

Michael Fulford, Amanda Clarke and Hella Eckardt

With contributions by Denise Allen, John Allen, Edward Besly, Kate Clark, Nina Crummy, Peter Davies, Claire Ingrem, Nancy Fulford, Mark Robinson, Ruth Shaffrey, Hilary Snelling, Jane Timby, Klare Tootell and Sandie Williams Principal Illustrator: Margaret Mathews

Britannia Monograph Series No. 22 Published by the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies Senate House Malet Street London WC1E 7HU 2006

BRITANNIA MONOGRAPH SERIES NO. 22 Published by the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU

This monograph was published with the aid of grants from The Haverfield Bequest and the University of Reading

Copies may be obtained from the Secretary of the Roman Society

© Copyright Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies 2006

British Library Catalogue in Publication Data A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 0 907764 33 9 978 0 907764 33 5

Cover illustration by Margaret Mathews: Reconstruction view of Insula IX in the fourth century: the south elevation of Building 1 looking northwards across the insula, North Gate in the background

Produced by Short Run Press Limited, Exeter Printed in Great Britain

CONTENTS

List of Figures List of Tables Acknowledgements Preface

Page viii xiii xv xvii

PART I: THE EXCAVATION 1. INTRODUCTION (Michael Fulford) Context of the research (1): Silchester Context of the research (2): the late Roman town in (Southern) Britain Structure of the late Roman report: the development of a methodology Silchester Insula IX: the late Roman archaeological resource The excavation area: rationale The late Roman occupation: introduction and methodology Chronology Pits and post-excavation strategy Buildings and other contexts: post-excavation strategy

3 4 7 11 11 12 13 14 15 15

2. THE EXCAVATION (Michael Fulford, Amanda Clarke, Hella Eckardt) The streets The southern area The northern area The latest occupation: northern and southern areas (Object 122) Phase 6

16 16 18 47 75

PART II: THE FINDS 1. THE COINS POST A.D. 250 (Edward Besly)

81

2. THE POTTERY FROM THE LATE ROMAN DEPOSITS (Jane Timby) Introduction and methodology The pottery from the late Roman pits General discussion

86 86 87 108

3. THE LATE ROMAN GLASS (Denise Allen) Introduction Joints Vessel glass of the first and second centuries Vessel glass of the later second and third centuries Vessel glass of the later third and fourth centuries Post-Roman glass

116 116 116 117 118 118 119

vi

LIFE AND LABOUR IN LATE ROMAN SILCHESTER

4. THE SMALL FINDS (Nina Crummy) Introduction The late Roman pits and wells (by object) The assemblage in general

120 120 122 128

5. THE WORKED STONE (Ruth Shaffrey) Rotary querns Building stone Whetstones Conclusions

133 133 133 134 134

6. CERAMIC BUILDING MATERIAL FROM THE LATE ROMAN PITS AND WELLS (Peter W. Davies and Hella Eckardt)

135

7. IRON NAILS (Hella Eckardt)

139

PART III: IRONMAKING AND IRONWORKING 1. IRONMAKING AND IRONWORKING: THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT (Klare Tootell) The pits and wells The layers Summary

145 146 151 158

2. THE SLAG BASINS (J.R.L. Allen) Character in hand-specimen Chemical composition Discussion

160 160 161 162

PART IV: BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSES 1. THE ANIMAL BONE (Claire Ingrem) The late pits and wells The late Roman layers

167 167 184

2. THE DOG ASSEMBLAGE (Kate Clark)

189

3. THE OYSTER SHELLS (Sandie Williams) Introduction Late Roman oysters from Silchester Conclusion

196 196 197 198

4. THE HUMAN REMAINS (Hilary Snelling) Introduction Methodology Results Discussion Conclusion

200 200 200 200 202 205

5. THE MACROSCOPIC PLANT REMAINS (Mark Robinson with Nancy Fulford and Klare Tootell) Introduction Waterlogged plant remains

206 206 207

CONTENTS

Charred plant remains Mineralised plant and arthropod remains Discussion

vii

209 212 216

PART V: THE CHARACTER, CHRONOLOGY AND USE OF THE LATE ROMAN PITS: THE SILCHESTER FINDS ASSEMBLAGE (Hella Eckardt) The character and use of the pits The chronology of the pits Pit assemblage composition Conclusion

221 228 233 244

PART VI: DISCUSSION AND SYNTHESIS (Michael Fulford) Setting the scene: the reorganisation of the insula Characterising the late Roman occupation Buildings 1 and 5 Building 5 Building 7 Building 8 The north-west property Change through time The wider context Behaviour The latest occupation and the abandonment of Insula IX Tebicatos and his milieu The end of occupation Conclusion: developing the late Roman urban profile

249 252 255 259 261 262 264 266 267 271 273 278 280 282

APPENDICES 1. THE SCHEDULE OF COINS (Edward Besly)

289

2. THE POTTERY (Jane Timby)

291

3. THE CATALOGUE OF THE GLASS (Denise Allen)

314

4. SUMMARY OF SMALL FINDS CATALOGUE (Nina Crummy)

328

5. WORKED STONE (Ruth Shaffrey)

337

6. THE ANIMAL BONE (Claire Ingrem)

339

7. THE DOG BONE (Kate Clark)

363

8. THE HUMAN REMAINS (Hilary Snelling)

370

9. THE MACROSCOPIC PLANT REMAINS (Mark Robinson with Nancy Fulford and Klare Tootell)

374

10. ANALYSIS OF THE PITS (Hella Eckardt)

380

BIBLIOGRAPHY

385

INDEX

399

LIST OF FIGURES

Page Fig. 1.

Fig. 2. Fig. 3.

Fig. 4. Fig. 5.

Fig. 6. Fig. 7. Fig. 8. Fig. 9.

Fig. 10.

Fig. 11. Fig. 12.

Fig. 13.

Fig. 14. Fig. 15.

Silchester: simplified Roman town-plan showing location of Insula IX and excavation area, also with present-day buildings (black), lanes to north-west and south-east, and droveway (broken lines) across the walled area. Plan of Insula IX after the excavation of 1893–94, also showing the current area of excavation (after Fox 1895, pl. 45). Insula IX showing the plan of 1893–94, buildings plotted from aerial photography (shaded outlines), and the current area of excavation (after Bewley and Fulford 1996, folding plan). The ogham stone, photographed outside the site hut soon after discovery, probably in 1893. (Courtesy, and copyright, of the Museum of Reading) Location of the Society of Antiquaries’ trenching of 1893 and, perhaps, of Joyce in 1866 (grey), in relation to the principal late Roman buildings, post-holes, and the east–west lines of pits across the site of ‘House 1’ (black), and the late second-century phase of ‘House 1’. Sections across the main, north–south and subsidiary, east–west streets, showing late Roman build-up. Principal features pre-dating the construction of Building 1 (Phase 1). Plan of Building 1, early fourth century (Phase 2). View of the site of Building 1 from the south in 1997, cleaned after removal of the ploughsoil. The Victorian trenching (of 1893) is beginning to appear and the remains of the north wall of Building 6 are clearly visible in the foreground. Building 1 from the south, its foundation trenches in the course of excavation in 1999. Timber shuttering marks the location of the pre-building well 1750. Victorian trenches of 1893 cut obliquely across the excavation area. Plan of Building 1 extended, early fourth century (Phase 3). Building 1 from the south in 1998: the remains of the walls of the secondary wing rooms and linking corridor (Phase 3). The wall-defining trenches and the location of the earlier well (1750) excavated in 1893 are clearly visible. The remains of the gravel-filled foundations of the original (Phase 2) house are just visible. The north-facing, Phase 3 elevation of Building 1 from the east. Trenches of 1893, including wall-defining trenches and the site of the earlier well (1750), are clearly visible. Plan of Building 5 (Phase 2) and associated pits. Building 5 from the east, cleaned after removal of the ploughsoil in 1997, showing the foundations of the east, north, internal and west walls. The north-facing elevation of Building 1 is to the left. Traces of Victorian trenching of 1893 cut obliquely across the building.

3 4

5 6

13 17 18 20

21

22 23

24

25 26

27

LIST OF FIGURES

Fig. 16. Fig. 17. Fig. 18.

Fig. 19. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig.

20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.

Fig. 28. Fig. 29. Fig. 30. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig.

31. 32. 33. 34.

Fig. 35. Fig. 36. Fig. 37. Fig. 38. Fig. 39. Fig. 40.

Fig. 41. Fig. 42.

Fig. 43. Fig. 44. Fig. 45.

Building 5 from the east after the excavation of the foundation trenches in 1999. Victorian trenches of 1893 criss-cross the area. Plan of Buildings 1 and 5 and the shared backyard (Phase 3): fourth-century occupation with associated surfaces, pits, and the well 1170. (a) Plan of the backyard of Buildings 1 and 5 with associated pits (Objects 115–117 and 121); (b) the depths of the southern pits and wells by object group (Objects 115–117 and 121). Backyard of Buildings 1 and 5: view of pits of Object 115 and well 1170 from the west. Pit 1246 (Object 115) with near complete Alice Holt bowl. Pit 1571 (Object 115): lower fill of flint nodules. Pit 1571 (Object 115): upper fill of blocks of ironstone and flint nodules. Sections of pits associated with Building 1 (Object 116). Pit 3251 (Object 116): lower fill with part of an articulated dog skeleton. Pit 3251 (Object 116): upper fill with tile, cattle skulls, etc. Pit 3235 (Object 116): remains of neonate. Pit 3102 (Object 116): remains of flint-wall foundations of Building 6 (view to south). General view of pits in Objects 117 and 118 cutting the foundations of ‘House 1’ (view from the east). Sections of pits associated with Building 5 (Object 117). Pit 1707 (Object 117): articulated skeleton of a dog leaning against the side of the pit. Pit 1537 (Object 117): view after excavation. Plan of Buildings 1 and 5: the latest occupation, fifth to sixth(?) century. Building 1 (Phase 4): tiled-surface, view from west. View north along the main, north–south street. The very late pit 2224 is visible in the middle ground to the north of the construction trench of the east wall of Building 1. Fifth-century pits 2634 and 1354 are also visible in the eastern rooms of Building 1. (a) Pits and wells in the northern area (Objects 118–121); (b) with depths indicated. The central group of pits in Object 118 cutting the foundations of ‘House 1’ (view from west). Deposit of chopped and split cattle bone from pit 2827 (Object 120). Sections of wells 1044 and 1300 (Object 121) and of pit 1611 (Object 119) in the northern area. View of the topmost fills of well 1044, cleaned after removal of the topsoil in 1997; Victorian trenches visible around the well. The context of the development of the northern area from the later third century: the location of post-pits and associated drainage gullies flanking the edge of the streets. The development of Building 7: (a) the larger property; (b) detail of Building 7; (c) the latest occupation. Building 7 from the east in 1998 (north–south street in foreground): padstone (right); remains of hearths (centre); possible wall foundations (left). Building 7 from the east in 1999 with trial trenches cutting through the remains of the building. Building 8: Victorian trenching in relation to the principal late Roman features. Building 8: the structural evidence.

ix

28 29

31 31 32 33 33 34 35 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43

44 48 49 51 52 53

54 56

57 58 59 61

x

LIFE AND LABOUR IN LATE ROMAN SILCHESTER

Fig. 46.

Fig. 47.

Fig. 48. Fig. 49. Fig. 50. Fig. 51. Fig. 52.

Fig. 53. Fig. 54. Fig. 55.

Fig. 56. Fig. 57. Fig. 58. Fig. 59. Fig. 60. Fig. 61. Fig. 62. Fig. 63. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig. Fig.

64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76.

Fig. 77.

View of Building 8 in 1999 from the intersection of the north–south and east–west streets looking south-west. Late pits, post-holes, and ditch 1598, etc. cut the surface of the streets. Victorian trenches 1032, 1066, and 1272 are visible towards the top right. View of the north-west corner of the excavation area and southwards along the north–south street from its intersection with the east–west street in 1999. Late features cutting the street are visible in the foreground. Building 8: view of structure 3121, possibly forming the southern side of the building, in 1999 (view from the east); street in the foreground. Building 8: remains of hearth 1432 from the south. Building 8: fourth-century internal and external features and occupation: (a) earlier; (b) later. Building 8: end of fourth- and fifth-century occupation. Building 8 in 1998 from the east (north–south street in foreground, east–west street on right). Victorian trenches are visible to left and in background. Possible late phase of the building visible as cuts 1221 and 1373 in the middle ground. Shallow construction trench 1225 in right foreground. The north-west area of the excavation: sequence of development: (a) Phase 2; (b–c) Phase 3. North-west corner of the excavated area (view from the west): alignments of fence-posts of Phases 2 (right) and 3 (left). The northern area west of Building 8 in 2000. View south to the remains of ‘House 1’ from the east–west street. Victorian trenches and late Roman features are visible in the middle ground; possible re-cuts of street-side ditch, 2526 and 2323, in the foreground. The latest pits (Object 122). Sections of the latest pits 1897 and 2596 from the northern area. Coins of the House of Theodosius from Insula IX (Scale 2:1). (Copyright National Museums of Wales) Location of pits in Object 115. Pottery from pits in Objects 115 and 116 (Nos 1–17) (Scale 1:4). (Drawn by Jane Timby) Location of pits in Object 116. Location of pits in Object 117. Pottery from pits in Objects 117–120 and 122 (Nos 18–40) (Scale 1:4). (Drawn by Jane Timby) Location of pits in Object 118. Location of pits in Object 119. Location of pits in Object 120. Location of wells in Object 121. Pottery from pits in Objects 121 and 122 (Nos 41–56) (Scale 1:4). (Drawn by Jane Timby) Location of pits in Object 122. Pits with a high percentage of drinking vessels. Pits with a high proportion of first-century .. pottery. Pits with poorly preserved pottery (average sherd weight: