Table Of Content

Corb ridge Excavations of the Roman fort and town, 1947-80 Archaeological Report no 8 Cor bridge Excavations of the Roman fort and town, 1947-80 J M C Bishop and N Do re with contributions by L Allason-Jones, D Alien, J Bayley, P J Casey, B Dickinson, BR Hartley, K F Hartley, M Henig, A Lid don, DJ Rackham, and G Soffe Historic Buildings & Monuments Commission for England 1988 Contents 6 The defences .............................................. 87 Introduction .................................................... 87 Description ..................................................... 87 The eastern defences ........................................ 87 The western defences ....................................... 93 List of tables The ditches ..................................................... 94 List of figures The early defences below the third century com- Acknowledgements pounds .......................................................... 95 Structural sequence ...................................... 97 1 Introduction ................................................ 1 Outline history of excavations ............................. 1 7 Excavations in other areas ........................... 105 The examination and understanding of the site ....... 1 Introduction .................................................. 105 The documentary archive ................................... 3 Site 11 .......................................................... 105 The presentation of the evidence ...................... 4 Site 9 ........................................................... 105 Interpreting the site record .................................. 4 Site 4 ........................................................... 110 Presentation ..................................................... 4 The West Compound ...................................... 110 The components tables ................................... 5 The inter-compound area ................................ 110 Relationship tables ........................................ 5 Sites 20, 44, Temple 3 ...................................... 110 Microfiche .................................................... 5 8 General discussion .................................... 126 2 The setting .................................................. 7 The structural history ...................................... 126 The topography and geology of the site ................. 7 The reconstruction plans .............................. 126 The prehistoric remains ...................................... 7 Earlier occupation of the area ............................ 126 Roman Corbridge: the evidence of air photography 8 The primary fort: phase la ................................ 126 Background and introduction .......................... 8 The plan ................................................... 128 The fort ....................................................... 8 The 'headquarters building' (Building a) ......... 128 Buildings and streets in the military compounds The 'hospital' or store building (Building b) ..... 128 and civil town ............................................... 9 The granary (Building c) .............................. 128 The outer defences ....................................... 11 Building d ........... : ..................................... 129 The evidence for extra-mural features ............... 11 Building e ................................................. 129 Conclusion .................................................. 12 Building f .................................................. 129 Building g ................................................. 129 3 The principia (Headquarters building) ............ 13 Building h ................................................. 129 Introduction .................................................... 13 Interpretation ............................................ 129 (cid:103)(cid:126)(cid:115)(cid:115)(cid:99)(cid:126)(cid:126)(cid:126)(cid:126)(cid:126)(cid:126)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:32)(cid:105)(cid:126)(cid:32) The primary fort: phase lb ................................ 129 Building j .................................................. 131 Phase I ....................................................... 13 Building k ................................................. 131 Phase 11 ...................................................... 19 Interpretation ............................................ 131 Phase Ill ..................................................... 21 The secondary fort: phase 11 ............................. 131 Phase IV ..................................................... 21 The plan ................................................... 131 Post-fort activity ........................................... 22 The principia (Building a) .............................. 131 Structural sequence ...................................... 22 Building b ................................................. 133 Building c ................................................. 133 4 The area of the praetorium (Commanding Offi- The granaries (Building d) ............................ 133 cer's House) .................................................... 33 The barracks (Buildings e-j) .......................... 133 Introduction .................................................... 33 Building k ................................................. 133 (cid:103)(cid:55)(cid:58)(cid:99)(cid:126)(cid:126)(cid:126)(cid:58)(cid:126)(cid:126)(cid:126)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:32) (cid:126)(cid:126)(cid:32) The praetorium ............................................ 133 :::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::: ::::: ::: The secondary fort: phase Ill ............................ 133 Phase I ....................................................... 33 The plan ................................................... 135 Phase 11 ...................................................... 45 The principia (Building a) .............................. 135 Phase Ill ..................................................... 45 The granaries (Buildings band c) ................... 135 Phase IV ..................................................... 47 Building d ................................................. 135 Post-fort activity .......................................... .48 The barracks (Buildings e-j) .......................... 135 Structural sequence ..................................... .48 Building k ................................................. 135 The praetorium ............................................ 135 5 The barracks in the retentura ......................... 67 The secondary fort: phase IV a ........................... 135 Introduction .................................................... 67 The plan ................................................... 135 (cid:103)(cid:126)(cid:58)(cid:99)(cid:126)(cid:126)(cid:126)(cid:126)(cid:126)(cid:126)(cid:126)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:32) (cid:126)(cid:59)(cid:32) The principia (Building a) .............................. 135 :::::::::: ::::: The 'praetorium' (Building b) ......................... 135 Phase I ....................................................... 67 Building c ................................................. 137 Phase 11 ...................................................... 68 Building d ................................................. 137 Phase Ill ..................................................... 68 The western granary (Building e) ................... 137 Phase IV ..................................................... 68 The eastern granary (Building f) .................... 137 Post-fort activity ........................................... 68 Building g ................................................. 137 Structural sequence ...................................... 68 The barracks (Buildings h-m) ........................ 137 Building n ................................................. 137 Zusammenfassung ......................................... 296 The secondary fort: phase IVb .......................... 137 Bibliography ................................................ 298 The plan ................................................... 137 The principia (Building a) .............................. 137 Context no index ........................................... 302 The praetorium ('Commanding Officer's House') Finds group index .......................................... 307 (Building b) ............................................... 137 Section drawing index .................................... 320 The drain (c) .............................................. 139 The barracks (Buildings d-f) ......................... 139 Microfiche contents Post-fort ....................................................... 139 Context list Severan and later ........................................... 139 Introduction ............................................ l:A4 The dating of the phases .................................. 140 The contexts ............................................ l:A5 Conclusions .................................................. 140 Finds groups Introduction ............................................ 2:A3 9 The coins by P J Casey ................................. 142 The finds groups ...................................... 2:A4 Cataloguing conventions ................................. 142 Section drawings ......................................... 3:A3 Discussion .................................................... 142 Iron nails (compiled by L Allason-Jones) ............... 3:01 Coarseware (by J N Dare) 10 The small finds ....................................... 159 Finds groups 1953-73 ................................ 4:A3 1 Silver ....................................................... 159 From the 1980 season ................................. 4:B2 2 Copper alloy .............................................. 159 Samian (by J N Dare) 3 Iron ......................................................... 193 1947-73-Provenanced groups .................... .4:C1 Nails (see microfiche M301-E1) .................... 198 The 1980 season-by context ....................... 4:06 4 Lead ........................................................ 198 5 Pewter ..................................................... 202 6 Glass ........................................................ 203 7 Bone and antler (materials identified by D J Rack- ham) ......................................................... 205 8 Shale ........................................................ 212 9 Pottery objects (fabrics identified by J N Dare) ...... 213 10 Stone (Not illustrated) ................................. 214 11 Flint by A Liddon ......................................... 216 12 Leather (Not illustrated) .............................. 218 13 Wood ....................................................... 218 14 Intaglio by M Henig ..................................... 218 15 Examination and analysis of small finds from List of tables Corbridge by J Bayley ................................... 218 11 The pottery by J N Dare, with contributions by B 1 Excavations 1947-73 ....................................... 6 Dickinson, BR Hartley and K F Hartley .................. 219 2 Principia components table ............................. 24 The samian ..................................................... 219 3 Components table for the area of the praetorium 49 Introduction .................................................. 219 4 Barracks components table ............................. 72 The destruction deposit ............................... 220 5 Defences components table ............................ 98 1 Samian potters' stamps from Corbridge by B 6 Site9table ................................................. 116 Dickinson and B R Hartley .............................. 221 7 West Compound components table ............... 118 2 Decorated ware from the 1947-73 seasons ....... 228 8 Inter-compound components table ................ 121 3 Decorated ware from the 1980 and 1976 sea- 9 Site 20 components table .............................. 122 sons ......................................................... 237 4 Selected Or 29s by B Dickinson and BR Hartley ... 243 10 Site 44 and Temple 3 components table ........... 123 11 Possible evidence for the primary fort from outside The coarseware ................................................ 247 the central area .......................................... 128 Introduction .................................................. 247 12 The evidence for the dating of the fort at 1 Coarseware from the seasons 1953-73 ............ 249 Corb ridge ................................................. 140 Mortaria from the 1953--73 seasons by K F 13 Corbridge coins, 1947-73: coin list by issuer and Hartley ...................................................... 265 period ...................................................... 143 2 Coarseware from the 1980 season .................. 269 14 Hoard 11 ................................................... 153 Stamped mortaria from the 1980 season by K F 15 Hoard 7 .................................................... 154 Hartley ...................................................... 286 16 Index to Corbridge coins catalogue numbers by Material from the 1976 season ....................... 286 find date ................................................... 154 17 Index to Corbridge coin catalogue by find lo- 12 Roman glass from Corbridge by D Alien ....... 287 cation ....................................................... 155 1 Blue-green and coloured .............................. 287 18 Coins found on Site 9 in 1980 ........................ 156 2 Colourless ................................................. 292 19 Samian totals ............................................. 220 20 Coarseware: vessel class and fabric totals ........ 250 (cid:105)(cid:126)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:126)(cid:58)(cid:46)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:58)(cid:32)(cid:126)(cid:126)(cid:126)(cid:32) 21 Catalogue of coarseware from the 1953--73 seasons .................................................... 251 List of illustrations 41a Component relationship table for the barracks in the retentura 41b Component relationship table for the barracks in the retentura 1 Key to sections and plans 42 Plan showing the area of the defences 2 Location plan 43 Sections 175, 177, 178 3 W H Knowles plan showing the excavations of 44 Sections 179, 180 1906-14 45 Sections 182, 200 4 Plan showing the excavations o£1947-80 46 Section 220 5 Plan of the immediate area around the Roman 47 Plan of the area of Temple 3/Site 44 showing the site at Corbridge fort phases 6 Plan of the area of the principia showing all 48 Plan of the 1966 excavation of the East Gate phases 49 Plan showing two postholes in the defences 7 Section 141 50 Component location plan for the defences 8 Phase I plan of the area of the principia 51 Component relationship table for the defences 9 Phase II plan of the area of the principia 52 Plan showing the location of the other exca- 10 Phase Ill plan of the area of the principia vated areas 11 Phase IV plan of the area of the principia 53 Sections183, 186,188,201,213 12 Post-fort phase plan of the area of the principia 54 Plan of the 1980 excavation of Site 9 13 Component location plan of the area of the 55 Plan of the hearth in trench 1 of Site 9 principia for phases I-IV 56 Schematic diagram showing floor levels within 14 Component location plan of the area of the the stone buildings on Site 9 principia for the post-fort phase 57 Component relationship table for Site 9 15 (cid:67)(cid:111)(cid:126)(cid:112)(cid:111)(cid:95)(cid:110)(cid:101)(cid:110)(cid:116)(cid:32)relationship table for the area of the 58 Plan of the 1961 excavation on Site 4 (precise prznczpza location unknown) 16 Plan of the area of the praetorium showing all 59 Plan of the West Compound area showing all phases phases 17 Sections 4, 5, 10, 56, 62, 68, 70 60 Component location plan for the West Com- 18 (cid:83)(cid:101)(cid:99)(cid:116)(cid:105)(cid:111)(cid:110)(cid:115)(cid:55)(cid:49)(cid:44)(cid:55)(cid:50)(cid:44)(cid:55)(cid:53)(cid:44)(cid:55)(cid:54)(cid:44)(cid:55)(cid:126)(cid:57)(cid:50)(cid:44)(cid:57)(cid:56)(cid:32) pound area 19 Sections102, 106,110,111,113,114 61 Plan of excavations in the street between the 20 Sections115, (cid:49)(cid:49)(cid:126)(cid:32)121,122, (cid:49)(cid:50)(cid:126)(cid:49)(cid:50)(cid:56)(cid:32) compounds 21 Plan of the area of the praetorium showing 62 Plan of the 1956 excavation of Site 20 phases la/b 63 Plan showing the 1971 excavation north of Site 22 Phase II plan of the area of the praetorium 20 23 Phase Ill plan of the area of the praetorium 64 Plan of the area of Temple 3/Site 44 showing all 24 Phase IV a plan of the area of the praetorium phases 25 Phase IVb plan of the area of the praetorium 65 Plan of the area of Temple 3/Site 44 showing the 26 Reconstructed plan showing the changes to the post-fort phase phase IV store building in the area of the 66 Plan of the area of Temple 3/Site 44 showing the praetorium Severan phase 27 West section of trench E5 showing the south 67 Component location plan for the area of Temple wall of the praetorium surviving higher than the 3/Site 44 north wall of the store building to its south 68 Component relationship table for the area of 28 Component location plan for the area of the Temple 3/Site 44 praetorium showing phases I-HI 69 Reconstructed plan of the phase la primary fort 29 Component location plan for the area of the 70 Reconstructed plan of the phase Ib primary fort praetorium showing phases IV a-b 71 Reconstructed plan of the phase II secondary 30 Component relationship table for the area of the fort praetorium 72 Reconstructed plan of the phase Ill secondary 31 Sketch plan of the 1947 excavations in the car fort park to the west of Site 12 73 Reconstructed plan of the phase IVa secondary 32 Plan of the barracks in the retentura showing all fort phases 74 Reconstructed plan of the phase IVb secondary 33 Phase I plan of the barracks in the retentura fort 34 Phase II plan of the barracks in the retentura 75 Small finds, objects of silver 35 Phase Ill plan of the barracks in the retentura 76 Small finds, objects of copper alloy 36 Phase IV a plan of the barracks in the retentura 77 Small finds, objects of copper alloy 37 Phase IVb plan of the barracks in the retentura 78 Small finds, objects of copper alloy 38 Component location plan for the barracks in the 79 Small finds, objects of copper alloy retentura showing phases I-II 80 Small finds, objects of copper alloy 39 Component location plan for the barracks in the 81 Small finds, objects of copper alloy retentura showing phases III-IVa 82 Small finds, objects of copper alloy 40 Component location plan for the barracks in the 83 Small finds, objects of copper alloy retentura showing phase IVb and the post-fort 84 Small finds, objects of copper alloy phase 85 Small finds, objects of copper alloy 86 Small finds, objects of copper alloy 87 Small finds, objects of copper alloy 88 Small finds, objects of copper alloy 89 Small finds, objects of copper alloy 90 Small finds, objects of iron 91 Small finds, objects of iron 92 Small finds, objects of iron 93 Small finds, objects of lead and pewter 94 Small finds, objects of glass 95 Small finds, objects of bone and antler 96 Small finds, objects of bone and antler 97 Small finds, objects of bone and antler 98 Small finds, objects of jet and shale 99 Small finds, objects of pipeclay 100 Small finds, objects of worked flint and wood 101 Intaglio 102 Totals of selected forms of samian from the principia, area of the praetorium, and Site 9 103 Samian 104 Samian 105 Samian 106 Samian 107 Samian 108 Samian 109 Samian 110 Samian 111 Samian 112 Samian 113 Samian 114 Samian 115 Samian 116 Totals of vessels in BB1 and BB2 from seasons 1953-73 and 1980 117 Coarse ware 118 Coarseware 119 Coarse ware 120 Coarseware 121 Coarse ware 122 Coarse ware 123 Coarse ware 124 Coarse ware 125 Coarse ware 126 Coarse ware 127 Coarseware 128 Coarse ware 129 Coarse ware 130 Coarse ware 131 Glass vessels, Nos 1-27 132 Glass vessels, Nos 28-46