Information for record number MWA7277:
Romano-British Settlement, Billesley

Summary A large area of pottery dating to the Roman period was discovered whilst field walking. It probably indicates the site of a Roman settlement, possibly a rural farmstead. The pottery was found 500m west of Scotland Wood, Billesley. The agricultural settlement was subsequently evaluated and excavated, revealing a series of stone buildings, associated with at least two corndriers.
What Is It?  
Type: Settlement, Findspot, Corn Drying Oven
Period: Romano-British (43 AD - 409 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Billesley
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 15 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 Fieldwalking revealed a dense scatter of pottery and three coins covering an area of c.1.5ha, extending north of the Roman road. The pottery would seem to indicate occupation throughout the
1Roman period, perhaps from the late 1st century and with the peak of activity in the 2nd century. It is suggested that there is evidence for continued occupation in the late 3rd and 4th centuries and that the settlement was that of a rural farmstead.
2 Further evaluation of the S part of the site, involving a magnetometer survey and 3 trial trenches, tended to confirm the extent of the settlement suggested by the fieldwalking. The trial trenches revealed a high density of pits, ditches, postholes and gullies, some belonging to timber buildings, at least one of which had a tiled roof. The southernmost trench revealed the Roman road, which consisted of a limestone rubble surface 8m wide with Roman pottery and animal bone trampled into it.
3 Excavations revealed a Romano-British settlement whose occupation ended in the mid-late 4th century. Two main phases of activity were recognised, 2nd century activity comprised some stone walls and a sequence of pits whilst in the late 3rd/early4th century two substantial stone buildings were erected. The function of the settlement is likely to have been agricultural although its position on the road midway between Alcester and Tiddington means that it it may also have provided services to travellers.
4 Environmental samples taken from the corn driers were analysed by English Heritage. The most abundant cereal found was glume wheat, probably mainly spelt. Cereal waste was identified in samples taken from the two flues of the corn driers.
5Portable Antiquities Scheme find provenance information: Date found: 2001-09-30T23:00:00Z Date found: 2003-02-01T00:00:00Z Methods of discovery: Metal detector
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: A46 Environmental Assessment
Author/originator: Palmer N J
Date: 1994
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Ancient Monuments Laboratory Report Summaries 1999
Author/originator: English Heritage
Date: 1999
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Vols 26 & 27
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: The Excavation of a Romano-British Settlement at Billesley Manor Farm
Author/originator: Palmer S
Date: 2003
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report No 0308
   
Source No:
Source Type: Internet Data
Title: Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) Database
Author/originator: British Museum
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMA vol 37 (1994)
Author/originator: White, R (ed)
Date: 1995
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 37
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
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 Magnetometer Survey A magnetometer survey measures the earth's magnetic field and the effects that structures in the ground may have on it. For example, walls, pits and trenches might display different levels of magnetism than the surrounding ground. These differences can affect the readings taken during the survey. Once the readings have been recorded they are plotted out to produce a plan of features that exist below the ground. See also geophysical survey. 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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technique Trial Trench A small regular hole that is usually square or rectangular in shape. Archaeologists dig trial trenches to discover if there are any archaeological remains at a particular location. See also excavation. back
technique Environmental Sample Plant and animal remains, such as fish bones, seeds, snails and even beetles, are organic materials. They can survive in the ground for hundreds of years given the right conditions. Archaeologists collect these environmental remains from archaeological sites to find out about the past environment and activities such as farming.

Seeds, pollen, insects and wood all survive well in waterlogged soil, whilst shell and bone survive well in chalky soil. If seeds get accidentally burned, for example in an oven, they will survive for hundreds of years. It is difficult to spot these tiny remains in the soil so archaeologists take soil samples from archaeological sites. The soil particles are then washed in a special tank so that they can be separated from any seeds, pollen and insect remains. The environmental remains are kept in glass tubes and are taken to the laboratory to be identified and analysed.
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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 MANOR FARM * A farm on the estate of a manor. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument SETTLEMENT * A small concentration of dwellings. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument CORN DRYING OVEN * A heated stone, brick or iron chamber used for drying corn. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument FLUE * A passageway, duct or pipe use for the conveyance of heat, gasses, smoke or air. back
monument FINDSPOT * The approximate location at which stray finds of artefacts were found. Index with object name. back
monument FARMSTEAD * The homestead of a farm consisting of a farmhouse and working farm buildings, with yards, other working areas and usually a garden to the house. back
monument ROAD * A way between different places, used by horses, travellers on foot and vehicles. 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 WOOD * A tract of land with trees, sometimes acting as a boundary or barrier, usually smaller and less wild than a forest. 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 LABORATORY * A group of buildings or rooms equipped with apparatus for scientific experiments or other research, testing and investigations. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record