Information for record number MWA7974:
RB Ditch at Old House, Watling St

Summary The site of a ditch, which may be Roman in date, was recorded in Witherley Road, Mancetter
What Is It?  
Type: Ditch
Period: Romano-British (43 AD - 409 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Mancetter
District: North Warwickshire, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 32 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 Four foundation trenches were excavated. A ditch seen in trench A, and partially in trench C, runs parallel to the NW end of the defensive bank which encloses Manduessedum. Although the absence of any contemporary dating evidence in its earliest fills casts doubt on it being of Roman origin, it is not entirely unreasonable to think that it was regularly and thoroughly cleansed during the forts occupation. If it were considered part of the defences, the total width of the defences would exceed 22m. The evidence suggests that the NW end of the defensive earthwork of Manduessedum comprised multiple ditches, possibly with an outer bank, which survived in some form until the Post Medieval period.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Archaeological Observation at the Old House, Watling Street, Mancetter
Author/originator: WM
Date: 1991
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
technique Earthwork Earthworks can take the form of banks, ditches and mounds. They are usually created for a specific purpose. A bank, for example, might be the remains of a boundary between two or more fields. Some earthworks may be all that remains of a collapsed building, for example, the grassed-over remains of building foundations.

In the winter, when the sun is lower in the sky than during the other seasons, earthworks have larger shadows. From the air, archaeologists are able to see the patterns of the earthworks more easily. Earthworks can sometimes be confusing when viewed at ground level, but from above, the general plan is much clearer.

Archaeologists often carry out an aerial survey or an earthwork survey to help them understand the lumps and bumps they can see on the ground.
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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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period Post Medieval About 1540 AD to 1750 AD (the 16th century AD to the 18th century AD)

The Post Medieval period comes after the medieval period and before the Imperial period.

This period covers the second half of the reign of the Tudors (1485 – 1603), the reign of the Stuarts (1603 – 1702) and the beginning of the reign of the Hannoverians (1714 – 1836).
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monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument FORT * A permanently occupied position or building designed primarily for defence. 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 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 EARTHWORK * A bank or mound of earth used as a rampart or fortification. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record