Roman activity at Nethermayne (EHER 80032)

Roman activity is characterised by a series of enclosures that seem to represent different foci of activity through the period, and continuing from the Late Iron Age. Although no tangible structural remains were found within any of the enclosures, evidence of domestic refuse, kiln furniture, and structural fired clay fragments suggest that there was a domestic settlement in the vicinity of the site during the Roman period. Evidence for quarrying and crop processing also support the suggestion of a nearby settlement.

September 2020. Archaeological excavation of phases 2A, 2B and 3C. Evidence for intensive land use continuing from the Late Iron Age into the Roman period is evident, and a sequence of development phases spans the Early Roman (AD80-150) and Middle Roman (AD150-299) periods. A series of enclosures were constructed, one in each phase, that seem to represent different foci of activity through the period. Although no tangible structural remains were found within any of the enclosures, evidence of domestic refuse, kiln furniture, and structural fired clay fragments suggest that there was a domestic settlement in the vicinity of the site during the Roman period. Evidence for quarrying and crop processing also support the suggestion of a nearby settlement. Unphased Roman activity (AD43-409): Each area contained features that have been assigned only to the general Roman period rather than to a specific Roman phase. Most of these features were unremarkable, with irregular shapes, single fills and one to two fragments of undiagnostic Roman material. Early Roman (AD80-150): Land use across the site significantly increased during the Early Roman period. The early enclosure ditch in Phase 2A was infilled where it curved ESE and the remaining NW-SE extent partially repurposed with a recut. Domestic and/or industrial activity in the southeast corner of this area is demonstrated by multiple, well-stratified pits and gullies with charcoal-rich fills, many of which produced charred cereal seeds through bulk soil sampling. Land division was demonstrated in Phase 2B by two further linear features. Both areas contain isolated pits that did not exhibit any patterning or clustering. Early Roman activity was at its most intense in the Phase 3C excavation area, where multiple inter-cutting ditches define part of a roughly oval enclosure in which other short linear segments, pit clusters and three large quarry pits are located. The lack of demonstrable occupation evidence within these enclosed spaces would suggest they were used for non-domestic activities, perhaps animal keeping in the smaller spaces to the northeast, while mineral extraction was performed in the central area. Middle Roman (AD150-299): Activity appears to be less intense and to concentrate in the Phase 2A and 2B areas during the Middle Roman period. The ditched enclosure formed and used previously in Phase 3C appears to fall into disuse as the focus shifts to the southeast. A new enclosure, partially excavated in the preceding Phase 3B investigations, replaces it. Earlier gullies in Phase 2A are reused or reconfigured in this remodelled landscape. Quarrying continues in Phase 2B and earlier quarry pits are steadily filled in during this period, if not before. In keeping with the site-wide trend, Roman period activity appears to end in these areas after this phase. With the exception of one Late Roman period pit recorded during the Phase 3B excavation, no other remains post-dating the Middle Roman period was encountered in the 2A, 2B or 3C areas. <1>