The Priory Field excavation was a research, training and engagement project that investigated a large courtyard store-building in the legionary fortress of Isca at Caerleon. This was the first legionary store excavated to modern standards in the Roman Empire. The excavation exposed the building’s main entranceway and two small adjoining rooms, as well as four squarer storerooms. The coins and pottery provide an excellent chronological sequence for the store, which was constructed around AD 90-110 and remained in use until the end of the 3rd century, after which it fell into a derelict state before being partially demolished and levelled by around 350. Debris from the building’s collapse and demolition sealed the floors of two store rooms, one of which was littered with military finds, many of which survived in a very fragile condition. These included the highly fragmentary remains of a rare example of an elaborately decorated horse’s headpiece, at least one set of dismantled lorica segmentata body armour, as well as another set of unusual scale armour. Two new buildings were constructed among the ruins of the old and partially demolished legionary store, including one 3 room cottage-like building. Radiocarbon dates demonstrate this building was constructed and in use between 430 and 600. This is the first new structure at a Roman site definitively dated to the post-Roman 5th and 6th centuries from Wales (and, arguably, from Britain), and it has an important story to tell about life in Isca after the ending of Britannia, c. 410.
Contents
Summary
Crynodeb
Résumé
Zusammenfassung
Chapter 1: Introduction and Background
From Caerleon to Isca
The Priory Field excavation summary
Post-excavation: assessment, conservation and analysis
Excavation archive
Final research questions
Chapter 2: Overview and Discussion of Key Themes
The fortress of Isca and the Second Augustan Legion at Caerleon
Site formation processes, phasing and chronology
Architecture of the Legionary Store Building
‘Post-Roman’ buildings and occupation
Themes in Roman archaeology
Chapter 3: History of the Legionary Store and Post-Roman Occupation in Priory Field
Introduction
PHASE 0: Pre-legionary store building
PHASE 1: Construction of the masonry store building
PHASE 2: Occupation and alteration of the store
PHASE 3: Dereliction and demolition of the store building
PHASE 4: Post-Roman masonry buildings
PHASE 5: Wall robbing
PHASE 6: Medieval and early-modern occupation
PHASE 7: Modern activity
Chapter 4: Finds Catalogues and Specialist Reports
Introduction and discussion
Registered Artefacts Reports and Catalogues
Soil Blocks lifted from Room 2
Building Fabric
Ceramics
Animal Bone (Murray Andrews)
Botanical Remains (Astrid E. Caseldine and Catherine J. Griffiths)
Summary of the Archaeometallurgical Residues (T.P. Young)
Chapter 5: Bibliography
Appendix: Radiocarbon dates from the Priory Field excavation
Appendix: Soil Blocks Lifted from above Phase 2 floor in Room 2
Appendix: Evaluation Excavations in Golledge’s Field and Priory Field, 2007
Appendix: Summary of Community Engagement Activities, 2007-10
Appendix: Excavation Teams 2007, 2008 and 2010
Appendix: Archaeometallurgical Residues (T.P. Young)
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