GLOUCESTERSHIRE

(1) Cheltenham, Whaddon Flood Alleviation Scheme (SO 9739 2280): excavation identified a Roman settlement that was in use from the late Iron Age/early Roman period to the fourth century a.d. Extensive evidence of recutting indicates numerous phases of activity, characterised by enclosures, small paddocks and drainage channels. Several stream channels were remodelled into substantial drainage ditches during the early Roman period. A dense area of drainage features and a small number of pits were located to the north-east of these channels, and evidence of stone rubble dumped within several indicates that this was probably an uninhabitable waterlogged area. To the south-west of the palaeochannels was an area of successive enclosure systems and ditches. The finds assemblage from the site may reflect ritual activity and included coins and metalwork, including several brooches with unusual forms, a large quantity of pottery spanning the late Iron Age/first century a.d. to the fourth century and a decorated stone mortar fragment. Of particular note was a fragment of a Roman face flagon made in Oxfordshire, probably at the kilns at Baldon or Rose Hill in the period c. a.d. 350–400. Pot forms of this type are typically associated with towns or temples. The settlement fell out of use during the fourth century and several buried soil horizons broadly datable to this period subsequently sealed the earlier activity.Footnote ¹⁵¹

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

(1) Stoke Gifford, former Dings Crusaders rugby ground (ST 60926 77694): an excavation identified the remains of a late Iron Age/early Roman transition period settlement and a subsequent multi-phase Roman villa. The earliest remains were of a late Iron Age oval enclosure which surrounded a roundhouse. Roman activity began in the first to second centuries with the creation of fields, paddocks and droveways, all apparently bounded to the west by a substantial ditch. Two graves also date to this period, as does a timber building containing at least two rooms, which was later replaced by the main residence associated with the extensive remodelling of the settlement in the second to third centuries, when a villa complex was constructed over the earlier settlement. This included a main house which underwent at least three phases of extension, including the installation of heated floors and a kitchen. A walled courtyard was provided, beyond which was a secondary courtyard containing ancillary buildings which are likely to have been used for industrial and agricultural processing, including lead smelting.Footnote ¹⁵²

(2) Thornbury, land at Post Farm (ST 6435 9140): an excavation and watching-brief identified a series of Roman enclosures and a trackway. Thirteen inhumation burials were also present, as well as two cremation burials redeposited in ditches. Evidence of wattle impressions on daub indicates the presence of structures in the vicinity and the finds assemblage suggests a main focus of activity in the first and second centuries, with more limited activity continuing into the third and fourth centuries.Footnote ¹⁵³

BATH AND NORTH-EAST SOMERSET

(1) Bath, Roman Baths Museum, Archway Project (Phase 1–3), York Street (ST 7050 6475): work in the basements of the Roman Baths Museum identified numerous floor surfaces, make-up deposits and foundations, including an area of previously unrecorded in-situ paving. The southern wall of the Great Bath, a continuation of the southern wall of the paved court to the south of the Period 1 baths, and a continuation of a drain in the stoke-hole area between the laconicum and tepidarium were all recorded. At least two phases of remodelling of a wall were identified in the corridor to the south of the circular bath into the apodyterium, and a stone-lined culvert draining from the bath was identified. Additional red mortar floor surfaces and wall render deposits previously identified in the 1960s were identified in the Period 1 and Period 2 baths, and a possible continuation of an east–west road to the south-west of the baths, represented by a succession of metalled surfaces, was also identified.Footnote ¹⁵⁴

NORTH SOMERSET

(1) Whitchurch, The Mead (ST 61879 67261): excavation recorded a late Iron Age and Roman rural settlement. A square enclosure contained pits, tree-throw holes and an occupation layer. Several ditches were present in the vicinity of the enclosure. Three probable first- to second-century a.d. burials were sited within the disused enclosure.Footnote ¹⁵⁵

DEVON

(1) Exeter, Quintana Gate and Mary Arches Street (SX 9171 9257): an excavation located within the north-west corner of the Roman legionary fortress and the later walled Roman town identified evidence for military and civil period occupation. The fortress ditch was partly excavated, as well as the truncated rampart, post-holes for an interval tower, the intervallum, the intervallum road (via sagularis) and post-trenches for barrack blocks. A significant find was that of an antefix of a type previously found in association with the legionary bath-house (of legio II Augusta) at Exeter; it depicts a human face (?female) framed by hair, the design possibly deriving from classical gorgoneia. Subsequently, the site was occupied by a large Roman town-house, the partial remains of which could be seen in outline formed by largely robbed out foundation trenches. One room contained a hypocaust and among the finds of this period were numerous tesserae and fragments of painted wall-plaster.Footnote ¹⁵⁶

(2) Ipplepen, Dainton Elms Cross (SX 8400 6600): trench excavations continued c. 200 m south-west of the 2016 excavations.Footnote ¹⁵⁷ Exposed were part of a roundhouse, a four-post granary and two wells which contained a large assemblage of late first- to early second-century pottery. A square enclosure, possibly used for ritual purposes, and several pits and ditches containing large amounts of iron-smithing slag were also excavated, whilst another trench established that a trackway leading to the site from the south-west was Roman in date, with a hobnail burial having been inserted into one of its flanking ditches.Footnote ¹⁵⁸