Information for record number MWA3499:
Roman fortress defensive ditches 100m west of Mancetter Farm, Mancetter.

Summary Outer two Roman fortress defensive ditches 100m west of Mancetter Farm, Mancetter.
What Is It?  
Type: Defence, Ditch
Period: Romano-British (43 AD - 409 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Mancetter
District: North Warwickshire, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 31 96
(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 A 40m length of the outer Roman ditch has been emptied; if another season can be arranged, a gate position is likely to be proved.
2 Excavation has re-excavated the ditch section dug in 1978, (MWA 3495), continued this to the N. So far only the outer ditch has been dug, yielding pottery, bronze finds, etc., all dating to c. 60AD. It is thought that the ditch was open only for a very short time (c1 year).
3 Noted in Britannia (1984).
4 Plan.
5 Correspondence.
6 Archaeological trial trenching at Old Farm Road, Mancetter (SP 3177 9662), recorded the line of the outer two Roman defensive ditches in the NW corner of the fortress. These were of ‘military type’ and dated from the 1st century AD. This work confirmed the existence of an outer (fourth) ditch of similar form to that of the third.
7 ditch referred to within
1 and
2 is actually the third ditch of the defences, not the ‘outer’ ditch.
8 Noted, again as the 'outer' ditch.
 
Sources
Source No: 3
Source Type: Article in serial
Title: Britannia: Roman Britain in 1983
Author/originator: S S Frere, MWC Hassall and R S O Tomlin
Date: 1984
Page Number: 265-356
Volume/Sheet: 15
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Ditches, Mancetter
Author/originator:
Date: 1983
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Archaeological Evaluation at Old Farm Road, Mancetter, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Palmer S
Date: 2004
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 0413
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Plan
Title: Mancetter
Author/originator: Scott K
Date: 1983
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMA vol 26
Author/originator: Scott K
Date: 1983
Page Number: 110
Volume/Sheet: 26
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Roman Mancetter (notes and site gazetteer)
Author/originator: Scott K?
Date: 1983?
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: SMR Card
Author/originator: Thomson D J
Date: 1983
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: PRN 4402
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Verbal communication
Title: Comment on MWA 3499 - Roman fortress defensive ditches 100m west of Mancetter Farm, Mancetter.
Author/originator: Stocks A
Date: 2004
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
source Britannia Britannia, the journal of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies which contains articles about the archaeology of Roman Britain. It is published annually and copies are held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. 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
source WMA West Midlands Archaeology. This publication contains a short description for each of the sites where archaeological work has taken place in the previous year. It covers Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire. Some of these descriptions include photographs, plans and drawings of the sites and/or the finds that have been discovered. The publication is produced by the Council For British Archaeology (CBA) West Midlands and is published annually. Copies are held at 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.
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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.
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monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument FORTRESS * A major fortified place, often a town, capable of containing a large force. If Roman use LEGIONARY FORTRESS. back
monument ROAD * A way between different places, used by horses, travellers on foot and vehicles. back
monument DEFENCE * This is the top term for the class. See DEFENCE Class List for narrow terms. back
monument DITCH * A long and narrow hollow or trench dug in the ground, often used to carry water though it may be dry for much of the year. back
monument GATE * A movable stucture which enables or prevents entrance to be gained. Usually situated in a wall or similar barrier and supported by gate posts. back
monument FARM * A tract of land, often including a farmhouse and ancillary buildings, used for the purpose of cultivation and the rearing of livestock, etc. Use more specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record