Information for record number MWA1999:
Site of Romano British Cemetery at Priory Road, Warwick

Summary The site of a Roman Cemetery. Cremations in Romano-British pottery urns were found at a site on the north side of Priory Road, Warwick, during an excavation.
What Is It?  
Type: Cemetery, Cremation, Burial
Period: Romano-British (43 AD - 409 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Warwick
District: Warwick, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 28 65
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Near the Priory are old sandstone quarries in which the rock has been quarried vertically to about 9m. In the exposed face of this escarpment 'several curious excavations may be seen'. In some of these were found pieces of burned bone mixed with ashes and charcoal, supporting the idea that the remains of human bodies had been deposited in these recesses after cremation.
2 Further excavations have been made on the S side of the Priory Hill. When the earth was cleared away it was found that the rock had been honeycombed by a 'series of rude openings' containing ashes and pottery. All but one of the cremations were destroyed before recording, and all but two or three of the urns destroyed. The recorded cremation was 'about 0.9m from the ground, 0.3m wide and 0.8m high. The keuper sandstone had been 'rudely' hollowed out to a depth of 0.5m - 0.9m and was filled with burnt material, surrounding a plain grey pot. The pot was broken and burned bones were scattered around. The pot appeared to be Romano British.
3 Traces of quarrying along the N side of Priory Road probably indicate the location of the sandstone quarries in which the Romano British cremations were found.
4 OS Card.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Warwick A S
Author/originator: O'Callaghan
Date: 1867
Page Number: 9-11
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Arch J
Author/originator: Burgess T
Date: 1876
Page Number: 376-7
Volume/Sheet: 33
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card 14NE9
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 14NE9
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Site Visit
Title: SMR Card
Author/originator: Hingley R C
Date: 1985
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: PRN 1999
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
back to top

Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
source Arch J The Archaeological Journal is published by the Royal Archaeological Institute. It presents the results of archaeological and architectural survey and fieldwork on sites and monuments of all periods as well as overviews of such work. The journal is published annually. back
source OS Card Ordnance Survey Record Card. Before the 1970s the Ordnance Survey (OS) were responsible for recording archaeological monuments during mapping exercises. This helped the Ordnance Survey to decide which monuments to publish on maps. During these exercises the details of the monuments were written down on record cards. Copies of some of the cards are kept at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. The responsibility for recording archaeological monuments later passed to the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments. back
source SMR Card Sites and Monuments Record Card. The Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record began to be developed during the 1970s. The details of individual archaeological sites and findspots were written on record cards. These record cards were used until the 1990s, when their details were entered on to a computerised system. The record cards are still kept at the office of the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
technique excavation Archaeologists excavate sites so that they can find information and recover archaeological materials before they are destroyed by erosion, construction or changes in land-use.

Depending on how complicated and widespread the archaeological deposits are, excavation can be done by hand or with heavy machinery. Archaeologists may excavate a site in a number of ways; either by open area excavation, by digging a test pit or a trial trench.
more -> 		back
period Roman About 43 AD to 409 AD (the 1st century AD to the 5th century AD)

The Roman period comes after the Iron Age and before the Saxon period.

The Roman period in Britain began in 43 AD when a Roman commander called Aulus Plautius invaded the south coast, near Kent. There were a series of skirmishes with the native Britons, who were defeated. In the months that followed, more Roman troops arrived and slowly moved westwards and northwards.
more -> 		back
monument CREMATION * A funeral rite in which the human body is burnt, usually on a pyre, leaving fragmentary charred or completely combusted remains. Often found buried, occasionally in a container associated with grave goods. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument URN * A garden ornament, usually of stone or metal, designed in the the form of a vase used to receive the ashes of the dead. back
monument PRIORY * A monastery governed by a prior or prioress. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, FRIARY, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument ROAD * A way between different places, used by horses, travellers on foot and vehicles. back
monument CEMETERY * An area of ground, set apart for the burial of the dead. back
monument BURIAL * An interment of human or animal remains. Use specific type where known. If component use with wider site type. Use FUNERARY SITE for optimum retrieval in searches. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record