Information for record number MWA449:
Roman boundary ditch, Alcester.

Summary A ditch was found during an excavation. It was Roman in date and numerous human burials were found within it. Sherds of Roman pottery were also found. The site was located in the area of Newport Drive, Alcester.
What Is It?  
Type: Boundary Ditch, Inhumation, Findspot
Period: Romano-British (43 AD - 409 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Alcester
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 08 56
(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 large ditch runs across the Birch Abbey site following the contour and may have served a dual purpose as a drainage and a boundary ditch. In places the ditch had been used for the burial of numerous skeletons of late and post-Roman date.
2 A watching brief was carried out at No 36 Newport Drive (SP 0860 5690) to determine if the construction of a lounge extension and garage disturbed any archaeological remains. No significant archaeological deposits were observed in the trenches, and only a few sherds of Roman pottery were seen.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: WMANS
Author/originator: Mahany C
Date: 1964
Page Number: 8
Volume/Sheet: 7
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Watching Brief Report
Title: Watching Brief at Newport Drive
Author/originator: Jones R
Date: 1996
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
source WMANS West Midlands Archaeological News Sheet, a publication that was produced each year, this later became West Midlands Archaeology. The West Midlands Arcaheological News Sheet contains reports about archaeological work that was carried out in the West Midlands region in the previous year. It includes information about sites dating from the Prehistoric to the Post Medieval periods. It was produced the Department of Extramural Studies at Birmingham University. 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 INHUMATION * An interment of unburnt, articulated human remains. Use specific type where known. back
monument FINDSPOT * The approximate location at which stray finds of artefacts were found. Index with object name. back
monument ABBEY * A religious house governed by an abbot or abbess. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument DRIVE * A road/carriage way giving access from the main road to the house, stables. back
monument BOUNDARY DITCH * A ditch that indicates the limit of an area or a piece of land. back
monument TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. 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 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
monument GARAGE * Use only for buildings which house motor vehicles. Includes garages for vehicle repair. For petrol sales use PETROL STATION. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record