Newsletter 44 - Autumn 2005

Big Roman Digs and Databases

The TIME TEAM recently ran their Big Roman Dig feature which aimed to get everyone involved, researching Roman evidence in their home area.  The fruits of these labours, which included a number of set piece excavations, can be visited on the web.

Hampshire didn’t have a site in a starring role in the programme but the county is no stranger to current big Roman digs.  Many members have already enjoyed the Field Club’s annual visit to Silchester to see the latest developments in the ‘Town Life’ project led by Professor Mike Fulford and Amanda Clarke of Reading University.  Their work is now beginning to reveal intriguing evidence of pre-Roman occupation and soon will be providing a much clearer picture about the origins of the Roman urban settlement.

A similar search for an early Roman foundation is the key question being posed by Professor Barry Cunliffe as he re-examines the Dunkirt Barn Roman villa, first explored more than 150 years ago.  The re-evaluations of a number of neighbouring villa sites over the past five or six years have generally produced a ‘start date’ in the 3rd century, and the hope is that the Abbotts Ann site will prove to be earlier, and possibly bridge the gap between later prehistoric settlements and the first real expressions of the Roman way of life in the area.

In addition, the site will offer the opportunity to join in as an excavator or pot-washer, or more particularly to research aspects of Roman occupation in this part of Hampshire.  The Andover Area Roman Research Project is an attempt to bring together all that is known about the Roman period in north-west Hampshire.  This information will then be presented in a database format which is exciting and accessible to all ages.  Key elements will be schools’ participation and a museum exhibition, planned for the Andover Museum in November, which will not only reveal the results of the Dunkirt Barn dig, but also outline the research opportunities. 

All this is being made possible by a Countryside Agency LHI grant obtained by the Andover Local History & Archaeology Society.  Anyone wishing to find out more about the dig (August 22 to September 10) and research requirements should contact David Allen, email musmda@hants.gov.uk.

The north-west of the county is not the only area to benefit from lottery success. Also in September the Liss Archaeological Group will be excavating Liss Roman villa under the auspices of the ‘Your Heritage’ scheme.

Dunkirt Barn Villa, Abbotts Ann

(From notes provided by Professor Cunliffe)

The settlement at Dunkirt Barn lies on gently undulating chalkland about 2km south-west of Abbotts Ann.  According to the Revd Sam Best, who excavated the villa in 1854, the fields containing the villa were ‘formerly an open down, but now cultivated and productive as corn ground.’ 

Sam Best was Rector of Abbotts Ann and made his investigations in May 1854, with the aid of several unemployed labourers.  His manuscript report passed into the hands of the Tasker family and a copy was subsequently acquired by the Winchester City Museum.  It described a plan made for the Women’s Institute Scrapbook, and this is now housed at the Hampshire Record Office.  The original manuscript and plan have not yet come to light.

Best records that when he began work the positions of five buildings were still clearly discernable as ‘mounds covered with the debris of tiles and building materials’.  On examining one of them he found what is clearly a corridor villa, whilst another yielded evidence for a building ‘on a very large scale’.  The recent geophysical survey shows that this began life as an aisled hall, 18m x 46m.

Small finds included coins, amulets, beads, a candlestick, knives and other utensils. Mosaic pavements were found in a number of locations, and three sections were lifted and taken to the British Museum for safe keeping.

Later antiquarian writers were unaware of Best’s manuscript and generally note only that a large villa had been discovered in the locality.  Haverfield’s summary in Victoria County History does add, however, that the masonry of the villa ‘is said to have been taken away to build latrines for the village school’.  Observations made as part of the Danebury area survey in the early 1980s show a complex, multi-phased settlement including a ‘banjo enclosure’ of probable Late Iron Age date and rectilinear paddocks.  The more recent geophysical surveys, carried out in advance of the dig, show the details of masonry buildings around three sides of a courtyard. The key question is whether or not any of these is earlier than the 3rd century, which would place it apart from other Roman buildings examined in the area and potentially have much to say about villa development in the region.

The Field Club Archaeology Section has organised a visit to the Dunkirt Barn dig on Sunday 4th September.

The Dunkirt Barn complex – the circular ‘banjo enclosure’ is upper right, the villa buildings are central.

Rockbourne Roman Villa
If you want to get steeped in things Roman, Legio II Augusta are at Rockbourne Roman Villa on the same weekend, between 11 am and 4 pm.  Dressed in full Roman costume, the soldiers of the Second Legion Augusta will demonstrate the core activities that made the Roman Army the supreme conquering force the Europe of two thousand years ago.  With close attention to historical accuracy, military drill, manoeuvres and weaponry will be demonstrated.  Experience the terror of a full Roman attack, marvel at their horsemanship and gasp at the skill at brutality of the gladiators.

Roman civilian life was no les skilful and impressive.  Advances in technology, medicine and law laid the foundations for centuries to come.  There will be talks and demonstrations on all aspects of Roman life, including the decorative arts, mosaic making, costume and cosmetics.  For the first time this year there will be a complete Roman street scene, including a Roman café.

Tea, cakes and refreshments will be available from the Friends of Fordingbridge Museum, or bring your own picnic and enjoy the attractive environs of the Villa site.

For more information contact Jen Anderson or Sandra Martin on 01725 518541.

Back to Contents List