A group of archaeologists from Cotswold Archaeology and Kier Construction has uncovered the remains of a previously unknown Roman military site — either a fort occupied by a military unit, or a defended depot or compound — in Exeter, Devon, England.
Archaeologists uncovering Roman ditches in Exeter, England. Image credit: Exeter City Council.
“The unexpected nature of this discovery and the significance of uncovering previously-undocumented Roman military features in this area of the city, have made this a challenging and interesting project,” said Derek Evans, an archaeologist in the Exeter Office of Cotswold Archaeology.
“This discovery of yet another new Roman fort within the city does demonstrate, along with that of the fortress and baths back in the 1970s and of several other new major military sites in the last decade, just how pivotal a role the Exeter area played in the first decades of the Roman conquest and subjugation of Britain, and how crucial development led archaeology has been in revealing this,” added Andrew Pye, of Exeter City Council.
The archaeologists also found Roman coins, local pottery and fine red Samian tableware imported from France.
A reconstruction drawing of what the Roman fortress defenses would have looked like. Image credit: Archaeological Field Unit, Exeter City Council.
“First to be uncovered was a Roman ditch at the top end of the site between Bampfylde Street and Cheeke Street,” they said.
“Further excavations revealed two further large Roman ditches running parallel to each other. Both are typical Roman military ditches.”
“The outer, eastern one has a steep V shaped profile, with a deep ‘ankle breaker’ trench along the bottom.”
“The inner, western one is larger and deeper, and would have been immediately in front of a rampart above it to the west. It has a much steeper, near vertical, outer side, which was designed to trap any attackers who got this far and to leave them at the mercy of the defenders on the rampart above. It also has a deep ankle breaker trench.”
The inside of the fort, or depot or compound, was to the west of these ditches. The other sides of it have yet to be discovered.
“This is a very important, and completely unexpected, discovery, in an area that has been heavily changed by previous post war redevelopment,” Pye said.
“Along with other recent work in Exeter, it demonstrates just how much of the city’s history can still survive in unlikely places, despite damage caused by bombing and modern concrete foundations.”
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This article is based on text provided by Exeter City Council.
Source link: https://www.sci.news/archaeology/roman-military-site-exeter-07643.html
