Information for record number MWA8038:
The Northwest defences of Mancetter Roman Fort

Summary Investigations have revealed the northwest defences of the Roman Fort in Mancetter. They are located between Manor Road and Victoria Road.
What Is It?  
Type: Fort
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 Trial excavations in 1996-7 in advance of redevelopment on the north side of the 1st century fort area were carried out by the Atherstone Archaeological and Historical Society. The trenches located several components of the northwest corner defences, showing an inner rampart and double ditch with a berm to an outer ditch. The alignments of the excavated segments suggested possible discontinuities in the outer ditch, a feature which has also been observed in the southern defences.
2 Further archaeological work was carried out on the site between July and December 1997 by Souterrain Archaeological Services. The investigations revealed what was interpreted as a Punic ditch and the outer most defence of the fort, 24 sherds of pottery dated this feature to the 1st century AD. A number of other ditch sections were also identified and are thought to represent four defensive ditches. Prior to these investigations it was thought that the fort only had three defensive ditches.
 
Sources
Source No: 2
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Mancetter Roman Fort, North Warwickshire: Archaeological Evaluation and Salvage Recording 1997
Author/originator: Wilson, M D & Smith, D J
Date: 1998
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report 1/98
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Mancetter: Defences for a C1 Fort
Author/originator: Scott, K
Date: 1998
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
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 FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument FORT * A permanently occupied position or building designed primarily for defence. back
monument RAMPART * A protective earthen mound, often the main defence of a fortification. 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 MANOR * An area of land consisting of the lord's demesne and of lands from whose holders he may exact certain fees, etc. 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 BERM * A horizontal surface separating the base of a rampart or earthwork from an associated ditch or moat. Can also refer to a continuously sloping bank of earth against a wall, as in a fortified city wall. back
monument SOUTERRAIN * An underground chamber, store room or passage. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record