Information for record number MWA486:
Roman cemetery, Alcester.

Summary The site of a Roman cemetery which was associated with the Roman town of Alcester. The cemetery was situated in the area of Hadrians Walk, Alcester.
What Is It?  
Type: Cemetery, Burial
Period: Romano-British (43 AD - 409 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Alcester
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 08 57
(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 This field [field 275], the site of an excavation of Ryknield Street in 1958, has now been developed as a housing estate. Builders' trenches have exposed over 100 burials, a few in rough stone lined graves, but in no cases could the burials be accurately dated. A series of walls were plotted, late first and early second century pits were cut into, and many interesting finds were made including a small uninscribed altar.
2 site 26 on page 3 of site list refers to H V Hughes excavation in 1962 and quotes a grid ref of 085572. Page 3 of the report, under paragraph 6. The Cemeteries states "The cemetery at site 26 etc seems to have been themajor one for the town but is now largely destroyed by housing development and the railway line. Its precise extent is quite unclear."
 
Sources
Source No: 2
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: Index of Alcester sites compiled c.1983 and typescript of a state of knowledge document for Alcester
Author/originator: Booth P M
Date: 1983
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Roman Alcester
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: WMANS
Author/originator: Hughes H V
Date: 1962
Page Number: 4
Volume/Sheet: 5
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
back to top

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.
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 SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument HOUSING ESTATE * A residential district planned as a unit. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument GRAVE * A place of burial. Use more specific type where known. back
monument WALK * A place or path for walking in a park or garden. Use more specific type where possible. back
monument PIT * A hole or cavity in the ground, either natural or the result of excavation. Use more specific type where known. back
monument FIELD * An area of land, often enclosed, used for cultivation or the grazing of livestock. back
monument CEMETERY * An area of ground, set apart for the burial of the dead. back
monument TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. 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 ALTAR * An elevated table or podium on which to place or sacrifice offerings to the deities. back
monument RAILWAY * A line or track consisting of iron or steel rails, on which passenger carriages or goods wagons are moved, usually by a locomotive engine. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back
monument TOWN * An assemblage of public and private buildings, larger than a village and having more complete and independent local government. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record