Etheridge, D.J. (2002) 79 Sea Mills Lane, Sea Mills, Bristol. Archaeological Watching Brief and...

Archaeological Watching Brief,

79, Sea Mills Lane, Bristol

Report BSMR 20976, BSMR 21077, BRSMG 2001/60 1

79 Sea Mills Lane, Sea Mills, Bristol.

Archaeological Watching Brief and Evaluation

(BSMR 20976, BSMR 21077, BRSMG 2001/60)

David Etheridge BA M.Phil. FSA(Scot)

Avon Archaeological Unit

Bristol, September 2002




Archaeological Watching Brief on 79 Sea Mills Lane residential development, Sea

Mills, Bristol.

David Etheridge BA M Phil FSA (Scot)

Avon Archaeological Unit

30 August 2014




CONTENTS

ABSTRACT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

NOTE

COPYRIGHT

1 INTRODUCTION

2 HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

3 DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS: WATCHING BRIEF

4 DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS: EVALUATION

5 THE SMALL FINDS

6 THE EVALUATION: CONCLUSIONS

7 THE WATCHING BRIEF: CONCLUSIONS

8 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES

9 PLATES

FIGURES

Figure 1 Site Location - Scale 1: 25,000

Figure 2 The Study Area - Scale 1: 2,000

Figure 3 Sea Mills as shown on OS Gloucestershire County Series Map, 1888

Scale 1: 2,500

Figure 4 The Site in Relation to Previous Excavations

Figure 5 The Trench and Features Location Plan

Figure 6 Trench 1, The Roman Road (104) in Plan

Figure 7 Cremation Urn 114 in section

Figure 8 Trench 2 in Plan

PHOTOGRAPHS

Cover (left to right)

Cremation cist from burial 121 in trench section

Kerb of Roman Road 104

Evaluation trench under excavation in the Coach House

PLATES

A Roman Road (Feature 104) during excavation

B Cremation Urn from Burial 122 in trench section

C Inhumation burial in cist, in floor of trench

APPENDICES

Appendix 1: Summary of the Roman Pottery by Jane Timby Appendix 2: The Small Finds and General Finds Catalogue




ST 55

ST 76

Figure 1: Site Location

Scale 1:25,000

Site Location N




Scale 1:2,000

Figure 2: The Study Area (hatched)

N




N

Figure 3 Sea Mills: as shown on the Gloucestershire County Series

Site Location

Scale 1:2,500




ABSTRACT

An Archaeological Watching Brief was undertaken on the site of 79 Sea Mills Lane,

Sea Mills, Bristol, between 28th

November and 12th

December 2001. The project was

undertaken to monitor residential development of the grounds as a Condition of the

Planning Consent (Bristol City Council reference 00/00304/P).

During the excavation of foundation trenches for two new houses, a cobbled surface

was excavated and recorded. This feature appears to represent part of a Roman road

or street and dates from the 1st century AD. It was buried and untraceable by the time

of the 1888 Ordnance Survey Map.

The cobbled surface is best interpreted as a road, indicated by the presence of a kerb

and external drainage ditch. The location, in an area known to be part of the Roman

town of Abonae, suggests that this was part of the town complex. The location of the

road fits well with a cobbled street excavated on the adjacent site of Abon House in

the 1960’s (Ellis 1987, pp 15-34, figs 3, 4, 6-8).

The road surface contained early Romano-British pottery and rotary quern fragments

in its make-up. Immediately above the road surface were found brooch fragments and

a silver coin of the 3rd

century AD, together with pottery dating from the 1st to 3

rd

centuries AD.

Two human cremation burials were located and recorded in a foundation trench.

These burials probably date from the 1st century AD. They had already been

disturbed by construction work.

As burial along major roads but outside the town limits was standard Roman practice,

the location of early Roman burials adjacent to a street indicates that an early Roman

cemetery has been located in an area once without the settlement, but later

incorporated into it.




At the request of the City Archaeologist, an Archaeological Evaluation was also

undertaken in the Coach House of 79 Sea Mills Lane, to the rear of the house (Figure

5), on the line of a proposed load bearing wall. A trench 3.1 m long by 800 mm wide

was opened and revealed several brick and stone-built features. The trench was

excavated to a maximum depth of 600 mm. All the features located could be dated to

the post-medieval period and probably relate to 18th

-20th

century use of the present

house and cellar.

On the basis of the results from the evaluation trench, no further detailed

archaeological work was considered necessary in the area of the Coach House

extension.




ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Avon Archaeological Unit wish to acknowledge the assistance given by the following

in the production of this report: Mr R H Jones, City Archaeologist, Bristol City

Council Planning Department; Mr Brian Chinn, the site developer. Thanks also go to

Archaeologists Lynn Hume and Raymond Ducker.

NOTE

Whilst Avon Archaeological Unit has taken every care to produce a comprehensive

summary of the known and recorded archaeological evidence, no responsibility can be

accepted for any omissions of fact or opinion, however caused.

COPYRIGHT

The copyright to the following text, drawings and photographs is, unless otherwise

credited, the property of the author and Avon Archaeological Unit. Full joint

copyright passes to the commissioners of the project upon the full settlement of the

project account. All enquiries should be addressed to:

Avondale Business Centre, Woodland Way, Kingswood, Bristol. BS15 1AW

Telephone and Facsimile: 0117 960 8487

e-mail: [email protected]

Plans based on the Ordnance survey Sheets are reproduced by the permission of the

Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright Reserved.

Licence Number AL100005802.

Visit our Website at www.avonarch.freeserve.co.uk

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.avonarch.freeserve.co.uk/




INTRODUCTION

1.1. The house, number 79 Sea Mills Lane, occupies a plot of land on the south east

side of Sea Mills Lane (See Figures 1 and 2 for location), situated at NGR ST 552759.

1.2. The house lies on the 10 m contour line. Behind it, the garden area rises in an

enclosed rectangle 70 m long by 19.2 m wide to a point above the 15 m contour.

1.3. Prior to commencement of the present works the garden was occupied by a

series of greenhouses and cold frames, associated with the house and commercial

market gardening undertaken in this area, all of which have since been removed.

1.4. The present work was undertaken following the issuing of a planning condition

for an Archaeological Watching Brief and an Archaeological Evaluation by Bristol

City Council Reference number 00/00304/P.

2. HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

2.1. Archaeological excavations were undertaken during 1965-6 on the site of Abon

House, in advance of its construction. The site is adjacent to 79 Sea Mills Lane. The

results were published in full (Ellis 1987) and are extremely pertinent.

2.2. The excavated evidence from Abon House showed there had been an initial

military occupation in the 1st century AD. In the early 2

nd century AD, a street

frontage was constructed with timber framed buildings along a cobbled road surface.

In the 3rd

and 4th

centuries these were superseded by stone walled structures along the

same frontage.

2.3. The results of these excavations, together with the results of previous

excavations, led the excavators to believe that a small military base had been

established on the mouth of the River Trym, within a decade of the Roman invasion

of Britain in AD 43 (Bennett, 1985).




2.4. Following this initial military occupation, probably to support the ferry crossing

to South Wales and regulate the export of lead from the Mendip lead mines, a civilian

settlement grew up around the base. During the 2nd

century AD this settlement grew

to the size of a small planned town, with a street grid and burgage plots. This grid

pattern continued into the 4th

century AD when the town houses were rebuilt in stone,

indicating a time of great prosperity, common to most of the province of Roman

Britain.

2.5. The basis of the town’s prosperity is not fully understood, as it may not have

been the only ferry crossing to South Wales. After the 1st century AD its military

importance seems to have declined, and the garrison may have been withdrawn

altogether. The site had little strategic advantage, and there has been no evidence for

any defensive features.

2.6. The end of Roman Sea Mills is unclear. In AD 407 the legions were withdrawn

from Britain for the defence of Rome and economic collapse followed this major loss

of income. Irish raiders plagued the western shores of Britain, whilst the Saxons

advanced westward. Without the Roman Fleet, Sea Mills was vulnerable to attack by

sea, as well as raiders using the roads from Gloucester and Bath. No evidence has

been found to suggest that any occupation continued at Sea Mills into the 5th

century

AD, nor is there any sign of catastrophic collapse. Its citizens appear to have realised

their predicament and abandoned their town for safety before calamity struck.

2.7. Since 1972 there had been no excavation work in Sea Mills until an

archaeological evaluation was undertaken on this same site in 1999 (Erskine 1999).

No significant archaeological features were recorded, although a relatively large

quantity of residual Roman pottery was retrieved, indicating settlement activity in the

vicinity.




2.8. A desktop study had not been undertaken for this site. The Ordnance Survey

1888 County Series map of Gloucestershire (Figure 3) shows the present house and

garden walls, with the addition of a further internal garden wall. The house is the

only settlement at this time along Sea Mills Lane. The lettering ‘Roman Camp’

indicates that the presence of archaeological remains was clearly already known about

at this date.

3. DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS: THE WATCHING BRIEF (Figures 4, 6, 7:

Plates A, B)

3.1. Initial clearing of the site commenced with the demolition of the garden cross

wall for machine access, and stripping of the topsoil for an access driveway.

Demolition of the glasshouses on site was also undertaken. Please see Figure 5 for the

location of all archaeological features described below.

3.2. Sherds of post-medieval pottery and clay tobacco pipe fragments were recovered

from the topsoil. Numerous broken ceramic flower pots were noted on the surface. A

number of Romano-British sherds were also retrieved.

3.3. An area of subsoil [Layer 102] was revealed to the southwest of the Coach

House; cleaning over this surface produced several sherds of Romano-British pottery.

No associated features were observable.

3.4. Two stone features were observed in the subsoil after the topsoil had been

stripped for the driveway. It was only possible to record these features

photographically before they were covered with plastic sheeting and a layer of gravel

and hardcore. It is possible one of these features may have represented the northern

kerb of the Romano-British road surface [104].

3.5. During stripping of topsoil in the area of the two new houses, several

archaeological features were observed. An area of subsoil [105] was cleaned and

yielded unabraded sherds of Romano-British pottery, either lying on or pressed into

the surface of the layer.




3.6. A rough line of stones [124] was observed on a parallel alignment with the long

axis of the garden. This is interpreted as the former garden wall shown on the map of

1888 (OS County Series, Gloucestershire; see Figure 3).

3.7. An area of cobbles [104] was observed beneath the topsoil in the northwest area

stripped for housing. Further cobbles were located to the east, and a selected area

(Trench 1) was cleaned by hand (see Figure 4 and Plate A). A very large proportion

of the finds from hand clearance of the overlying topsoil [103] were of Romano-

British date, with a few intrusive post-medieval sherds.

3.8. It was possible to trace the cobbled surface [104] in section during excavation of

the foundation trenches. Orientated NW-SE the feature was found to extend across

the full width of the garden (19.4) m, and clearly ran beneath the western garden wall.

It seems likely the feature also continued eastwards under the eastern garden wall.

3.9. The width of the feature could not be established precisely, as it extended

northwards beyond the limit of excavation. It was at least 4 m wide, but was not

exposed in plan or section during stripping nor during the excavation for the garage

foundations further northwards.

3.10. Surface 104 was formed of cobbles of rounded limestone, sandstone, and

sandstone conglomerate. The size of the rubble varied, with a significant proportion

of the larger stones placed on the southern edge of the feature. Included in these

larger stones were several fragments of rotary quern and other reused worked stone

that appeared to form a rough kerb along the southern edge.

3.11. Excavation of the surface revealed it to be between 90 and 100 mm thick. Finds

from hand excavation of the surface, coupled with those retrieved from section

cleaning of machine dug trenches through the surface, indicated a date in the

Romano-British period for the construction and primary use of the road.




3.12. The cobbles were laid over a layer of reddish-brown mixed clay/sand/silt soil

[117]. The layer was only exposed in section during the excavation of foundation

trenches. Cleaning revealed it to be between 260-330 mm thick, extending beneath

the exposed width of the cobbles in the westernmost (east facing) section. It was not

possible to trace this layer further, and it could not be found in the easternmost trench

section. Finds from this layer indicated a date of deposition during the Romano-

British period.

3.13. A camber was noted on the southern edge of Surface 104, and in section this was

seen to lead into a linear ditch cut [116]. The ditch was observed in the westernmost

and easternmost parts of the site, as well as in plan. In detail it consisted of a parallel

sided linear cut with steeply shelving convex sides, in places stepped, and with a

gently rounded base. It varied in depth between 520 and 800 mm, and appeared to cut

the underlying bedrock. The width at the top varied between 1.1 m and 1.18 m, whilst

the width at the base was found to be 340 mm. The feature was traced across the

width of the garden for a distance of 19.4 m. It was filled with a uniform dark

reddish-grey clayey silt, yielding finds indicating a date of backfilling during the

Romano-British period.

3.14. Ditch 116 appeared to be cut through Layer 117, which could not be found on

the south side of the cut. This indicates that both ditch and Surface 104 post-date this

layer, and are probably contemporary. The lack of silting layers in the fill of the ditch

may indicate the feature was recut and cleaned out on several occasions. The final

backfilling of the ditch may therefore have been a rapid event.

3.15. To the south of the cobbled surface [104], in the west facing section of the

easternmost construction trench, the remains of an in-urned human cremation burial

[114] were recorded and excavated (see Figure 6 and Plate B). This feature had been

partially truncated by machining, but it was possible to locate fragments of the burial

urn and associated bone from the spoil. The remainder was cleaned and excavated by

hand in the trench section.




3.16. The cremation urn appeared to be a re-used Black Burnished Ware cooking

vessel that had been placed inverted in a cut shaped to receive it. The base of the urn

(now at the top) had been damaged in the past, possibly by topsoil cultivation, and

was missing. The body of the urn was fragmented, partly by the machining, but the

presence of old fractures suggest it had broken in situ The soil contents of the urn

were excavated by hand, and finds of pottery, bone and iron retrieved. Some of this

probably represented intrusive material as the base was damaged. The remains of the

urn were then removed and further cleaning undertaken around its location. The rim

of the urn was found to be sealed by a basal sherd from another vessel, and beneath

this sherd was an identifiable fragment of human skull.

3.17. The soil in and surrounding the urn [Fill 114] was a friable dusky red clayey silt,

with flecks of charcoal, land mollusc shell, and decayed limestone. There were also

occasional limestone fragments. It filled a cut [118] seen only in section, whose north

side was convex and steeply shelving, and whose south side shelved gently at first,

but was then made steeper to receive the urn. The cut was 400 mm deep and over 330

mm wide.

3.18. South and up slope of the cremation pit [118], another cut was recorded in

section. Feature 111 appeared as a gently shelving bowl shaped scoop, probably

ovoid in plan, at least 1.65 m by 1.45 m, and up to 600 mm deep. It was bisected by

two foundation trenches forming the south-west corner of the western house, and was

visible in the west facing, south facing, and north facing sections.

3.19. Cut 111 was filled with a dark brown silt [110] with some flecks and occasional

mottles of charcoal, small lumps and fragments of limestone, and occasional flecks of

white lime.




3.20. A projecting sandstone slab was observed in the south facing section of the

deposit [110]. Cleaning revealed this to be the capstone of a small cist (stone built

box) which had been disturbed during machining. Excavation of the soil fill revealed

it to be of dry stone construction, with base and capstones of sandstone, and walls of

limestone rubble. External dimensions of the cist were approximately 400 by 400

mm, and 250 mm deep. Mottles of charcoal were observed in and around the fill, and

fragments of calcined bone were retrieved from above the base slabs. The basal sherd

of a Samian dish was retrieved from immediately beneath the cist base slab on the

south-west side. The feature appeared to represent the remains of a human cremation

burial.

3.21. A further cut feature was recorded in the north and south facing sections of a

foundation trench for the north wall of the easternmost house. Cut 113 was bowl

shaped in section, 2.4 m wide and 630 mm deep. It was filled by a reddish brown

clayey silt [112] with a few flecks of charcoal and some small lumps of limestone. As

far as could be ascertained the fill appeared to be overlain by the cobbled surface [104

above].

3.22. Excavation of the foundation trenches for the garages revealed two features. In

the northwest corner an sandstone slab, laid edge on in a linear cut, was exposed. A

horizontal slab of the same material was seen in section at right angles to it. Bones

were visible in the fill of the cut. It is thought likely that this feature represented a

second human burial in a stone cist, possibly a long cist with extended inhumation.

Excavation was ceased in this area and the feature was covered with a geotextile

membrane for preservation in situ.

3.23. In the northern foundation trench of the garage a clay bonded wall of sandstone

slabs was exposed. This was curvilinear in plan and appeared to have enclosed an

area filled with large blocks of calcified limestone. The limestone blocks were also

observed in the northern end of the eastern foundation trench. The feature appeared to

represent a large backfilled well.




Figure 4 The Site in Relation to Previous Excavations




Figure 7 Cremation Urn 114 in Section




Figure 8 Trench 2 in Plan




4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION: THE EVALUATION TRENCH (2)

(Figure 8, Plate C)

4.1 A single evaluation trench measuring 3.1 m long by 800 mm wide was

excavated to a maximum depth of 600 mm. The trench was located on the line of a

proposed load bearing wall in the Coach House building, to the rear of the house. The

location of the trench was agreed with the City Archaeological Officer prior to

commencement of the work.

4.2 Twelve archaeological contexts were identified and recorded. Beneath the

concrete floor [200] was a layer of compacted brick/tile rubble and cement/lime

mortar mix [201]. This in turn overlay a thin layer of mixed lime mortars [202] above

a reddish brown soil deposit [203].

4.3 Excavation of the soil deposit [203] revealed a brick surface [204]. The surface

had been broken into or collapsed at one place, revealing that this was indeed the

vaulted brick roof of a former cellar. The cellar had been backfilled with an

extremely loose and mixed deposit of soil, lime mortar, and brick/tile rubble. This

material was not excavated and the depth of the cellar could not be ascertained.

4.4 The roof of the cellar [204] was constructed of red brick bonded with lime mortar,

and appeared to spring from Wall 206. The was also built of brick with lime mortar,

using a course bond. North of the wall, on the north west side of the trench, a thin

layer of sandstone slabs [207]was revealed beneath a dumped deposit [210] of mortar

and brown silty clay. These slabs represent a floor surface laid between Walls 206

and 209 which, as it did not continue on the south east side of the trench, may have

formed a threshold. In that area Layer 210 overlay a reddish brown silty clay [208]

which contained flecks of charcoal and mortar, along with voids and cracks which

indicated the soil was redeposited. This soil was excavated to a depth of 600 mm by

hand.




4.5 Wall 209 was constructed of mixed brick and sandstone bonded with white lime

mortar. The coursing of the masonry was rough, and the wall appeared to turn or

extend towards the south-eastern corner of trench. In the north-east corner of the

trench lay a black deposit of soot, black mortar and silty clay [211], with quantities of

charcoal, brick/tile, and ceramic drain pipe.

5 THE SMALL FINDS

5.1 THE METALWORK

5.1.1 The Coins

5.1.1.1 Two coins were retrieved during hand excavation. Small Find 1 from Layer

103, which overlay cobbled surface 104, is a Roman debased silver (billon) radiate

(also known as a antoninianus, officially worth two denarii). The obverse carries a

right profile bust of a clean shaven male wearing a radiate crown typical of the 3rd

century AD. The surrounding Inscription reads: IMP VALERIANUS AUGG which

may be translated as: ‘[of the] Emperor Valerian [Caesar] Augustus and his son

[Gallienus]. The reverse carries the figure of Sol (the sun god) running left with globe

and whip, bearing the legend: ORIENS AUGG, which may be translated as: ‘Sunrise

Augusti’ or ‘[Caesar] Augustuses of the East’.

5.1.1.2 The radiate crown is indicative of a 3rd

century AD date as the series ran from

AD 215 until the reforms of Diocletian in AD 294 (Reece 1994, 10). The obverse

inscription makes it plain this coin is undoubtedly an issue of the Emperor Valerian

(AD 253-260).

5.1.1.3 The reverse inscription is telling, and somewhat ironic. Valerian left his son

Gallienus in charge of the Western Empire, whilst he campaigned in the east. He was

finally captured in AD 260 by King Shapur I of Persia (Salway 1981, 273).




5.1.1.4 Small Find 2 from layer 106 is a silver coin with a heavily corroded surface.

It bears a raised and milled rim on the obverse and reverse, but the surface is obscured

by dirt and corrosion. The obverse bears a bust in high relief of a female monarch.

The legend around it reads: ANN[A] [DEI] GR[A]TIA (Anne, by the Grace of God).

5.1.1.5 The reverse bears a celtic cross surmounted by a crown above each arm. The

date 1711 is visible. The size, shape form and date of the coin are in keeping with a

silver shilling minted during the reign of Queen Ann (1702-1714, after whom Queen

Square Bristol was named). Comparable examples are published in Seaby, 213-215.

5.1.2 The Brooches

5.1.2.1 Small Find 3 was a single fragment of a catchplate of a cast copper alloy

brooch, with the fastening grip for the pin. The dimensions were: 43 mm long,

maximum width 13 mm, maximum thickness 5mm. The object is decorated with

amorphous polygonal hollows.

5.1.2.2 The object closely resembles the base of brooch number 8 in Ellis 1987, 46

and Figure 18. This was thought to be of the ‘Polden Hill’ type, and dated to the

second half of the 1st century AD.

5.1.2.3 Small Find 5 is a copper alloy brooch of Romano-British pattern, 50 mm long

and 9.5 mm wide, with a T shaped head 15.5 mm long. It is no more than 1.5 mm

thick. The sides of the brooch bear moulded denticulations surrounding a central

panel with two broad elongated grooves. The brooch tapers to a fine rounded point,

with the fastening plate on the underside. The ‘bow’ of this brooch is unusually

shallow. The pin is missing.

5.1.2.4 There are many varieties and forms of Romano-British brooch. This object

does not appear to fall within any of the main typological styles of brooch occurring

in Britain. Whilst the manufacture and style are undoubtedly Romano-British, the

object cannot be more closely dated.




5.1.2.5 Small Find 8, is a copper alloy rounded pin shaft 34 mm long and 1.5 mm

thick, terminating in a flattened triangular head with adhering iron corrosion. The pin

is bent in places, but intact. This was probably a brooch pin with an attached iron

spring from a bow brooch of Romano-British date.

5.1.2.6 Small Find 11 is a hooked copper alloy cylindrical pin with a flattened

notched head and blunt point (possibly broken in antiquity). The flattened head with

curved notch indicates attachment to another artefact, probably a brooch. It is similar

in form to the pin of artefact 5 from the Nazareth House excavations (Bennett 1985

29, Fig 15), a brooch of Hod Hill type dated AD 60-70.

5.1.3 Miscellaneous

5.1.3.1 Small Find 4 is a folded copper alloy strip with rivet hole and hook. The

fragment represents one end of the elongated artefact. The strip appears to have been

folded around an organic artefact of elongated shape, now missing, and probably

provided the mechanism with which to attach it to another or hang it from a wall. The

artefact appears to have been prised open in antiquity. The crumb of pottery

associated with it is of a pinkish fabric, and is not out of place in a Romano-British

context.

5.1.3.2 This artefact may possibly be the fastener from a suit of lorica segmentata (de

la Bédoyère 2001, 95, colour plate 3), or a military horse harness.

5.1.3.3 Small Find 6 is the copper alloy rounded shaft of a moulded dress pin or

toiletry implement. It is 34.5 mm long, with a maximum thickness of 4 mm. The

shaft tapers at one end and appears to split into two branches before breaking. The

opposite end widens out, then narrows before the break. Neither break is recent.

5.1.3.4 The tapered split indicates this artefact was a nail cleaner. For comparison see

Mills 2000 pp 93-4, RC282, example dated to the 1st century AD.




5.1.3.5 Small Find 9, a solid curved cylindrical artefact of moulded copper alloy, 16

mm long and 7 mm diameter. One end is flat, the other shows signs of breakage from

a rectangular extension 3 mm thick. Possibly the terminal of a bracelet, the form of

which is known from the Romano-British period. .

5.1.3.6 Small find 10, a curved lead or lead alloy strip 64 mm by 45 mm, and up to 5

mm thick. The short sides are ragged as if torn, with a tapered end. The metal of the

long side is bent over to the inside, to form a rough rim. This fragment is undated, but

may represent the remains of a lead or pewter vessel of coarse construction.

5.2 THE GLASS

5.2.1 Please see Appendix 2 for a full list of the glass small finds.

5.2.2 Small Find 7, Short rod of opaque green glass, 13 mm long, 7 mm broad and

up to 4 mm thick, with rolled sides. Initially thought to be the rim of a vessel, but

more likely to be extruded material from glass working. The rod bears elongated air

pockets and striations indicating it was stretched along its length then its sides were

folded in before cooling.

5.2.3 The lack of lamination and evidence for hand working indicates a date pre-12th

century AD rather than a modern artefact.

5.2.4 Small Find 12, is a group of four shards of aqua blue transparent glass. Three

sherds are approximately the same size, two, 3 g and 2 g in weight, are conjoined.

They appear to be from the neck of a mould blown bottle. The neck had a 20 mm

internal diameter and was over 33 mm tall, with walls varying between 5 and 2 mm

thick, presumably increasing towards the rim. The third shard, 5 g weight, appears to

be part of a handle attachment to a mould blown bottle. The fourth shard is smaller

and thinner, the weight is less than 1 g, the size is 9 mm by 8 mm and less than 1 mm

thick, but with the same hue as the others, so it may well be from the same vessel.




5.2.5 Elongated air bubbles in the glass, together with outer rough surface and inner

smooth surface, indicate these shards are from a mould blown vessel. Lack of

lamination indicates either an extremely modern piece or a 1st to 12

th century AD date

for manufacture.

5.2.6 One sherd of Romano-British pottery was collected with this finds group.

5.2.7 Small Find 19 is a shard of aqua blue transparent glass, 26 mm by 27 mm,

varying in thickness from 6 mm on one side to 4mm opposite. Rounded air bubbles

in the glass, together with one rough surface and one smooth surface, indicate this

shard is from the base of a mould blown vessel, possibly a storage jar. Lack of

lamination indicates either an extremely modern piece or a 1st to 12

th century AD date

for manufacture.

5.2.8 The squared shape of the shard does not seem consistent with normal breakage

patterns, and suggests this piece has been deliberately shaped. Possible re-use could

be as a gaming counter or a mosaic tessera.

5.3 THE STONE

5.3.1 Please see Appendix 2 for a full list of the stone small finds

5.3.2 Small Find 14, is a large fragment (over half) of the lower stone of a rotary

quern, the diameter is 364 mm, the maximum thickness is 102 mm, tapering to a

rounded edge on the underside with a sharp break between the upper and lower

surfaces. The socket for the central spindle is 45 mm diameter and 24 mm deep.

5.3.3 The underside of the stone has been coarsely chipped, indicating it was not

laid on a flat surface, but probably supported in a framework. The upper face has lost

nearly all trace of any cross hatching (dressing), suggesting heavy wear in use prior to

breaking. Sandstone was the material used.

5.3.4 This stone is typical of examples from Roman Britain and was found in

association with artefacts datable to the 1st century AD.




5.4 THE POTTERY

5.4.1 Please see Appendix 1 for an assessment of the Romano-British pottery by Dr.

Jane Timby.




6 THE WATCHING BRIEF: CONCLUSIONS

6.1 The information gathered during the watching brief has added to our knowledge

and understanding of the Romano-British settlement of Abonae, the remains of which

underlie present day Sea Mills.

6.2 The cobbled surface 104 and the associated parallel ditch [116], represent a

Romano-British road and ‘fosse‘ (drainage ditch) running in a north-westerly

direction from the settlement, up the Trym valley. Existence of such a route had been

postulated by Bennett (1985 28), who suggested a route running from Abonae to

Gloucester, the site of two fortresses, later a Colonia (Roman ‘Colonia Glevensis’).

Careful comparison with the published plans of excavations undertaken on the

adjacent site of Abon House (Ellis 1987), indicate that the cobbled road [104] is a

continuation of the cobbled street F70 identified by Ellis and shown in Figure 4 of

that report (see Figure 8).

6.3 Comparison of Figure 4 with Figure 6 in Ellis 1987 show street F70, with a fosse

on the southern side, in the same location and on the same alignment with the frontage

of Abon House. It follows that cobbled surface 104 and ditch 116 are continuations

of these features.

6.4 Romano-British buildings were found on the site of Abon House (Ellis 1987),

downslope and to the north of Street F70. No stone-built structures or buildings were

identified during this Watching Brief. However, during excavation of the access track

some stone rubble associated with unabraded Romano-British pottery was observed in

places north of the Cobbled Surface [104]. These were not excavated further, but

preserved in situ. It is possible that parts of Building 3 (Ellis 1987, Figures 6 and 11),

extended eastwards into the unexcavated garden area of 79 Sea Mills Lane. It is also

possible that further structures line the north side of the road [Feature 104], as

suggested by these patches of exposed rubble.




6.5 One undated charcoal filled post-hole [125] was observed to the south of Road

104. No dating evidence was retrieved, but the feature was cut into the subsoil [102],

and possibly indicated the presence of timber structures on site.

6.6 The two cremation burials suggests a Romano-British cremation cemetery was

located to the south and upslope of the Roman Road [104]. Romano-British

cremation burials are usually dated to the 1st and 2

nd centuries AD (de la Bédoyère

1989, 171). The sherd of Samian ware found beneath the cist in Cut 111, which is

datable no later than the 3rd century AD (de la Bédoyère 1988, 5), seems to support

this. The crude Black Burnished Ware urn (Plate B) used as a cremation vessel can

also be dated to between the 1st and 3

rd centuries AD (Swan 1988, 28-29).

6.7 It was Roman common practice, enforced by law, to bury the dead outside areas

of settlement, and usually along major routes (de la Bédoyère 1989, 171). The

cremations would appear to confirm that Feature 104 represents a road, outside the

area of settlement. In that case, at the time the burials were made, the limit of

Romano-British settlement would lie to the south of the road. It is possible that later

Romano-British settlement expanded into this area. The buildings from period 4B to

the north of the road on the Abon house site were dated to the early 4th

century (Ellis

1987, 23-5, Figure 6). This is at least 100 years after cremation burial went out of

use. Building remains have been reported further east of the site at 32 Branscombe

Road and 75 Sea Mills Lane (Ellis 1987, 44, Figure 17), roughly aligned with the

Roman Road [104]. No burials were previously reported from this area of Sea Mills.

It is therefore possible that later Romano-British settlement did encroach on the area

of the cremation cemetery.




6.8 The cisted inhumation burial [Feature 126] exposed during excavation of the

garage foundations (Plate C), is the first to be reported from Sea Mills. No dating

evidence was retrieved, neither was the full form of the cist. It is possible that the

feature represents a Bronze Age short cist, although the width of the cut implied an

extended inhumation more usually dating from the later Romano-British period. Un-

cisted inhumation burials dated to the 4th

century were excavated at 87 Sea Mills Lane

(Ellis 1987, 34-41). Extended inhumations in long cists are usually dated between the

5th

and 7th

centuries inclusive, but are known to occur from the late 4th

century.

‘Long’ cist burials usually occur in sub-Roman and early post-Roman contexts, when

they are found in the West of England and Romanised South East Wales.

6.9 Post Roman burials were found in the ruined villa at Llantwit Major (Hogg 1974,

237, 240-1) and early medieval burials overlay Romano-British features in Caerwent

(Edwards and Lane 1988, 35-8). Long cists were also found in the vicinity of a late

Romano-British industrial site at Rodway Hill, South Glos (Hume, forthcoming). By

this period Roman practice of burial outside settlement areas appears to have broken

down, so the presence of a burial is not indicative of Roman settlement limits, and

could represent post-Roman settlement in the vicinity (Etheridge 1990, 34-39; 1993,

26-7, 32-3, 60-62).

7 THE EVALUATION: CONCLUSIONS

7.1 The evaluation trench opened in the Coach House building revealed that a cellar

roof [204] lay beneath the present concrete floor and probably extends to the south

western wall of the Coach House. This cellar was previously unrecorded. It appears

to date from the 18th

or early 19th

centuries, and was probably blocked and backfilled

in the late 19th

or early 20th

centuries.

7.2 Walls 206 and 209 may represent a passage way or porch floor with sandstone

slabs [207]. They appear to have been demolished in the 19th

century, presumably to

make way for the present Coach House structure. The other features in the trench

appear to relate to the demolition of these features and the construction of the Coach

House floor.




7.3 All the archaeological features recorded in the evaluation trench were considered

to be of 18th

century date or later and of low archaeological potential.




8 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES

de la Bédoyère, G 1988 Samian Ware. Aylesbury.

de la Bédoyère, G 1989 The Finds of Roman Britain. London.

de la Bédoyère, G 2001 Eagles over Britannia. Stroud.

Bennett, J 1985 The Roman Town of Abonae: Excavations at Nazareth House Sea

Mills, Bristol, 1972. Bristol.

Edwards, N and Lane, A (eds) 1988 Early Medieval Settlement in Wales AD 400-

1100. Cardiff.

Ellis, P 1987 'Sea Mills, Bristol: the 1965-1968 excavations in the Roman town of

Abonae'. Trans Bristol Gloucestershire Archaeological Soc 105, 15-108.

Etheridge D J 1990 Early Medieval burial Practice in Wales and the Marches AD

400-1100. Unpublished Undergraduate Dissertation. London

Etheridge D J 1993 Early Medieval Burial Practice in Southern Scotland AD 400-

1100. Unpublished M.Phil. Thesis. Glasgow.

Erskine, J G P 1999 79 Sea Mills Lane, Sea Mills, Bristol: Riverside House,

Archaeological Evaluation. Bristol

Hogg, A H A 1974 'The Llantwit Major Villa, a Reconsideration of the Evidence',

Britannia 5, 225-50.

Hume, L forthcoming

Mills, N 2000 Celtic and Roman Artefacts. Witham




Reece, R and Jones, S 1994 Identifying Roman Coins: a practical guide to the

identification of site finds in Britain. London.

Salway, P 1981 Roman Britain: Oxford History of England. Oxford.

Seaby, H A 1979 17th

ed Coins of England and the United Kingdom. Standard

Catalogue of British Coins Volume 1. London.

Swan, V G 1988 (4th

ed.) Pottery in Roman Britain. Aylesbury.

Webster, P 1996 Roman Samian Pottery in Britain: Practical Handbook in

Archaeology 13. York.




9. PHOTOGRAPHS

The Plates

A

B




C




APPENDIX 1

Summary of the Roman Pottery by Jane Timby

For: Avon Archaeological Unit

Site: 79, Sea Mills Lane, Sea Mills, Bristol

Status: assessment

THE POTTERY

1 Introduction

1.1 The archaeological work at Sea Mills resulted in the recovery of 666 sherds of

pottery weighing 9125 g largely dating to the Roman period but accompanied by 16

sherds of post-medieval material.

1.2 The assemblage was broadly scanned to assess its condition, composition, date

and potential. A count and weight was made for each recorded context. The resulting

data can be found summarised in Table 1.

1.3 The assemblage was generally in quite good condition reflected in an overall

average sherd size of 13.7 g. The surface preservation was less good, presumably the

result of local ground conditions.

1.4 The assemblages, generally speaking, appear quite mixed. Of the 12 contexts

recorded, three had post-medieval sherds mixed in with the Roman and at least two

seemed to contain a chronological mix of Roman wares.

1.5 No further work has been carried out for this assessment to consider the

assemblage in its local context or to compare it against material previously excavated

from Sea Mills.

2 Roman

2.1 The bulk of the assemblage appears to date to the early Roman period, in

particular the 1st century AD. Imports are very well represented with fine wares,

amphorae and mortaria. In total the fine wares comprise 48 sherds of samian, both

South and Central Gaulish, one sherd of Cologne colour-coated ware and several

sherds from a platter in Gallo-Belgic terra nigra (Camulodunum type 16) . The

mortaria include several North Gaulish types and the amphorae include Spanish

(Dressel 20), Rhodian and Gallic types.

2.2 The South Gaulish samian, terra nigra, North Gaulish mortaria and some of the amphorae are all likely to be 1

st century imports, the high numbers reflecting Sea

Mills status as a port and early military base.




2.3 Native wares are also well represented, in particular grog-tempered wares,

possibly early variants of the Severn Valley industry in both handmade and wheel

made forms, calcite-tempered wares and limestone/shell tempered grey wares.

2.4 The cremation vessel from (114) consists of several body sherds and base sherds

from a large grog-tempered jar; unfortunately the rim is missing. This is likely to date

to the second half of the 1st century AD.

2.5 The cist group (110) contained two large fragments of a white-slipped oxidised

flagon, one sherd of North Gaulish mortaria and some small fragmentary pieces. It is

unclear whether these wares represent backfill or the remains of more complete

deposited vessels. Again a 1st century date is likely.

2.6 Local oxidised Severn Valley wares or Severn Valley type are also well

represented in the assemblage alongside various local oxidised and grey wares. These

have a relatively long life span and are difficult to date closely although it is clear the

late 1st-2

nd century is well represented.

2.7 Later Roman products are sparsely represented by odd sherds, for example a

Dorset black burnished ware flanged bowl and a sherd of Oxfordshire colour-coated

ware from (103) dating to the later 3rd

-4th

century. Sherds of South-west white slipped

ware from (103) attest activity from the later 2nd

-3rd

centuries, whilst some of the

Central Gaulish samian indicate 2nd

century activity.

2.8 A small number of ceramic building fragments were present in amongst the

pottery with single recognisable examples of roofing tile (imbrex and tegula).

3 Post-medieval

3.1 The post-medieval sherds consist of types typical of the 18th

-19th

century, for

example, tin-glazed ware, English stoneware, china, Devon gravel-tempered ware,

glazed and unglazed red earthenwares and iron glazed kitchen ware.

J R Timby

March 2002




Table 1

Cont Amphora Mortaria Samian Native SVWOX Other Pmed Tot No Tot

Wt

Date

US 10 2 3 2 9 40 3 69 1932 C1 st. AD/Pmed

100 4 4 4 0 2 4 0 18 804 C1/C2

101 0 0 8 1 0 8 2 19 115 C1/C2/PMED

102 3 1 2 24 5 29 6 70 568 C1/C2/PMED

103 1 6 17 0 5 253 0 212 2352 C1-C3

104 1 1 6 8 24 63 0 103 957 C1

106 0 0 4 0 3 2 5 14 84 Roman/Pmed

108 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 4 C1

110 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 13 275 C1

112 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 3 25 Roman

114 8 0 1 90 9 25 0 133 1891 C1-?C3

115 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 6 42 Roman

117 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 4 79 C1

TOTAL 28 16 48 128 60 431 16 666 9128




APPENDIX 2

Small Find Record Sheets and General Finds Catalogue

-

SMR:

BSMR 20976 Museum Accession

Number: BRSMG 2001/60

Small Find Number:

1

Site Name:

79 Sea Mills Lane

Watching Brief

Co-ordinates:

Not Recorded Reduced Level:

Not recorded

Simple Name: Coin

Context:

103 Material(s):

Ag (Silver) Completeness:

Whole

Count:

1 Weight:

3g

Associated Finds: None

Condition:

Good, slight surface

corrosion in patches

Site Treatment:

Poly bagged with air holes Siting Description:

Over cobbles 104

Drawing/Photograph

Descriptive text:

Silver coin less than 25 mm in diameter and less than

1mm thick rounded rim. Stamped in high relief. Some

cuprous corrosion products on surface indicate slight

debasement of the metal with copper

The obverse carries a right profile bust of a clean shaven

male wearing a radiate crown typical of the 3rd

century

AD. The surrounding Inscription reads: IMP

VALERIANUS AUGG which may be translated as: [of

the] Emperor Valerian [Caesar] Augustus.

The reverse carries the figure of Sol (the sun god) running

left with globe and whip, bearing the legend: ORIENS

AUGG, which may be translated as: Sunrise Augustus or

Augustus of the East.

Provisional Period/Date: AD 253-260

Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:

Initials/Date: DJE 16/07/02




SMR: BSMR 20976

Museum Accession

Number:

BRSMG 2001/60

Small Find Number:

2

Site Name:

79 Sea Mills Lane Watching

Brief

Co-ordinates:

Not Recorded Reduced Level: Not recorded

Simple Name: Coin

Context: 106

Material(s):

Ag (silver) Completeness: Whole

Count: 1

Weight: 3 g


Condition: surface heavily corroded

Site Treatment: Poly bagged with air holes

Siting Description:

Drawing/Photograph

Descriptive text: Circular silver coin 23 mm in diameter and 2 mm

thick. Edge raised and milled.

The obverse bears a bust in high relief of a female

monarch. The legend around it reads: ANN[A] [DEI]

GR[A]TIA (Anne, by the Grace of God).

The reverse bears a celtic cross surmounted by a crown

above each arm. The date 1711 is visible.

Provisional Period/Date: 1711 AD

Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:





SMR: BSMR 20976

Museum Accession

Number:

BRSMG 2001/60

Small Find Number:

3

Site Name:


Brief

Co-ordinates:


Simple Name: Brooch

Context: 103

Material(s):

Ae (Copper Alloy) Completeness: Fragment

Count: 1

Weight: 5 g


Condition: Good

Site Treatment: Poly bagged with air

holes

Siting Description: Over cobbles 104

Drawing/Photograph

Descriptive text: Single fragment of a moulded Cu alloy brooch.

The base of the brooch with fastening grip for the

pin. Dimensions, 43 mm long, maximum width 13

mm, maximum thickness 5mm. The object is

decorated with amorphous polygonal hollows.

The object closely resembles the base of brooch

number 8 in Ellis 1987, 46 and Figure 18. This was

thought to be of the ‘Polden Hill’ type, and dated to

the second half of the 1st century AD.

Provisional Period/Date: 1st century AD

Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:





SMR: BSMR 20976

Museum

Accession

Number:

BRSMG 2001/60

Small Find Number:

4

Site Name:


Brief

Co-ordinates:


Simple Name: fastener

Context: 103

Material(s):

Ae (Cu Alloy) Completeness: Fragment

Count: 1

Weight: 8 g

Associated Finds: Small crumb of pottery

adhering to artefact on

excavation.

Condition: Bent and cracked, with fragments

missing.

Site Treatment: Poly bagged with

air holes


Drawing/Photograph

Descriptive text: Folded Copper alloy strip with rivet hole and

hook. The fragment represents one end of the

elongated artefact. The strip appears to have been

folded around an organic artefact of elongated

shape, now missing, and probably provided the

mechanism with which to attach it to another or

hang it from a wall. The artefact appears to have

been prized open in antiquity. The crumb of

pottery associated with it is of a pinkish fabric,

and is not out of place in a Romano-British-

British context.

This artefact may possibly be the fastener from a

suit of Lorica Segmentata (de la Bédoyère 2001,

95, colour plate 3), or a military horse harness.

Provisional Period/Date:

Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:





SMR: BSMR 20976

Museum Accession

Number:

BRSMG 2001/60

Small Find Number:

5

Site Name:

79 Sea Mills Lane

Watching Brief

Co-ordinates:


Simple Name: Brooch

Context: 103

Material(s):

Ae (Copper Alloy) Completeness: Pin missing

Count: 1

Weight: 2 g


Condition: surface corrosion

Site Treatment: Poly bagged with air holes


Drawing/Photograph

Descriptive text: Brooch of Romano-British pattern, 50 mm long and 9.5 mm

wide, with a T shaped head 15.5 mm long. It is no more

than 1.5 mm thick. The sides of the brooch bear moulded

denticulations surrounding a central panel with two broad

elongated grooves. The brooch tapers to a fine rounded

point, with the fastening plate on the underside.

No clear parallel. Not an Aucissa as the bow is very

shallow and the T-bar is not a scroller. Fits closest to the

Hod Hill type (1st century AD), but not a close match.


Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:





SMR:



Small Find Number:

6

Site Name:

79 Sea Mills Lane Watching Brief Co-ordinates:


Not recorded

Simple Name: Nail cleaner

Context:

103 Material(s):

Ae (Copper Alloy) Completeness:

Fragment

Count:

1 Weight:

2 g


Condition:

Broken at both ends Site Treatment:

Poly bagged with air

holes

Siting Description:

Over cobbles 104

Drawing/Photograph

Descriptive text:

Copper alloy rounded shaft of moulded toiletry

implement. Length 34.5 mm, maximum

thickness 4mm. The shaft tapers at one end and

appears to split into two branches before

breaking. The opposite end widens out, then

narrows before the break. Neither break is

recent.

The tapered split indicates this artefact was a nail

cleaner. For comparison see Mills 2000 pp 93-4,

RC282 dated to the 1st century AD.

Provisional Period/Date: 1st to 3

rd century AD

Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:





SMR:



Small Find Number:

7

Site Name:



Not recorded

Simple Name: Glass working residue

Context:

103 Material(s):

Glass Completeness:

Fragment

Count:

1 Weight:

>1 g


Condition:

Good Site Treatment:


holes

Siting Description:

Over cobbles 104

Drawing/Photograph

Descriptive text:

Short rod of opaque green glass, 13 mm long, 7

mm broad and up to 4 mm thick, with rolled

sides. Initially thought to be the rim of a vessel,

but more likely to be extruded material from

glass working. The rod bears elongated air

pockets and striations indicating it was stretched

along its length then its sides were folded in

before cooling.

The lack of lamination and evidence for hand

working indicates a pre-12th

century AD date

rather than a modern artefact.

Provisional Period/Date: Romano British

Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:





SMR:



Small Find Number:

8

Site Name:



Not recorded

Simple Name: Brooch Pin

Context:

103 Material(s):

Ae (Copper Alloy) and

Fe (Iron)

Completeness:

Broken from brooch

Count:

1 Weight:

1 g


Condition:

heavily corroded in places. Site Treatment:


holes

Siting Description:

Over cobbles 104

Drawing/Photograph

Descriptive text:

Copper alloy rounded pin shaft 34 mm long and

1.5 mm thick, terminating in a flattened

triangular head with adhering iron corrosion.

The pin is bent in places, but intact. Probably a

brooch pin with iron spring.


rd century AD

Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:





SMR:



Small Find Number:

9

Site Name:


Brief

Co-ordinates:


Not recorded

Simple Name: Bracelet

Context:

103 Material(s):


Fragment

Count:

1 Weight:

3 g


Condition:

Broken, surface corrosion Site Treatment:

Poly bagged with air holes Siting Description:

Over cobbles 104

Drawing/Photograph

Descriptive text:

Solid curved cylindrical artefact of moulded copper

alloy, 16 mm long and 7 mm diameter. One end is

flat, the other shows signs of breakage from a

rectangular extension 3 mm thick. This matches a

form of bracelet known from the Romano-British

period. Possibly a bracelet terminal.


rd century AD

Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:





SMR:

BSMR 20976 Museum

Accession

Number: BRSMG

2001/60

Small Find

Number:

10

Site Name:

79 Sea Mills Lane Watching Brief Co-

ordinates:

Not

Recorded

Reduced

Level:

Not recorded

Simple Name: Vessel

Context:

103 Material(s):

Pb (Lead or

lead alloy)

Completeness:

Fragment

Count:

1 Weight:

85 g

Associated

Finds: None

Condition:

Corroded, broken, bent Site

Treatment:

Poly bagged

with air

holes

Siting

Description:

Over cobbles

104

Drawing/Photograph

Descriptive text:

Curved lead or lead alloy strip

64 mm by 45 mm, and up to 5

mm thick. The short sides are

ragged as if torn, with a

tapered end. The metal of the

long side is bent over to the

inside, to form a rough rim.

This fragment is undated, but

may represent the remains of

a lead or pewter vessel of

course construction.

Provisional Period/Date: Romano-British

Drawing Numbers:

Photo

Numbers:





SMR:



Small Find Number:

11

Site Name:

79 Sea Mills Lane

Watching Brief

Co-ordinates:


Not recorded

Simple Name: Brooch Pin

Context:

103 Material(s):


Possible broken end, missing

from brooch.

Count:

1 Weight:

1 g Associated Finds: None

Condition:

Corroded Site Treatment:


holes

Siting Description:

Over cobbles 104

Drawing/Photograph

Descriptive text:

Hooked copper alloy cylindrical pin with a flattened

notched head and blunt point (possibly broken in

antiquity).

The flattened head with curved notch indicates attachment

to another artefact, probably a brooch.

Similar in form to the pin of artefact 5 from the Nazareth

House excavations (Bennett 1985 29, Fig 15), a brooch of

Hod Hill type dated AD 60-70.


Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:





SMR:

BSMR 20976 Museum

Accession


Small Find Number:

12

Site Name:



Not recorded

Simple Name: Glass Vessel fragments

Context:

103

Material(s):

Glass Completeness:

Broken, most missing

Count:

4 Weight:

10 g

Associated Finds: Pot sherd

Condition:


Poly bagged with

air holes

Siting Description:

Over cobbles 104, in close

proximity to each other.

Drawing/Photograph

Descriptive text:

Four shards of aqua blue transparent glass.

Three sherds are approximately the same size,

two, 3 g and 2 g in weight, are conjoined. They

appear to be from the neck of a mould blown

bottle. The neck had a 20 mm internal diameter

and was over 33 mm tall, with walls varying

between 5 and 2 mm thick, presumably

increasing towards the rim. The third shard, 5 g

weight, appears to be part of a handle

attachment to a mould blown bottle. The fourth

shard is smaller and thinner, weight is >1 g, size

is 9 mm by 8 mm and less than 1 mm thick, but

the same hue as the others, so may well be from

the same vessel.

Elongated air bubbles in the glass, together with

outer rough surface and inner smooth surface,

indicate these shards are from a mould blown

vessel. Lack of lamination indicates either an

extremely modern piece or a 1st to 12

th century

AD date for manufacture.

One sherd of Romano-British pottery was

collected with this finds group.


Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:





SMR:



Small Find Number:

13

Site Name:


Brief

Co-ordinates:


Not recorded

Simple Name: Window Glass

Context:

100

Material(s):

Glass Completeness:

Broken, fragment

Count:

1 Weight:

3 g Associated Finds: None

Condition:



holes

Siting Description:

Drawing/Photograph

Descriptive text:

Transparent blue green glass rim shard of window

pane. Of the blown bottle type. Whilst clearly a

hand made product there is slight lamination

exhibited on the surface and broken edges. This

would indicate a post 12th

century date. The

product is particularly fine, with very few air

bubbles visible to the naked eye, and a date in the

18th

century is therefore suggested.

Provisional Period/Date: Post Medieval

Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:





SMR:

BSMR 20976 Museum

Accession


Small Find Number:

14

Site Name:


See Trench 1 plan Reduced Level:

Not recorded

Simple Name: Rotary Quern Stone (lower)

Context:

104

Material(s):

Stone Completeness:

Broken

Count:

1 Weight:

over 5 kg

Associated Finds: SF 15, SF 16, SF 17

Condition:


Poly bagged Siting Description:

Integral with upper

portion of Road

surface

Drawing/Photograph

Scale 190 mm

Descriptive text:

A large fragment (over half) of the lower

stone of a rotary quern, the diameter is 364

mm, the maximum thickness is 102 mm,

tapering to a rounded edge on the underside

with a sharp break between the upper and

lower surfaces. The socket for the central

spindle is 45 mm diameter and 24 mm

deep.

Manufactured from medium sandstone, the

underside of the stone has been coarsely

chipped, indicating it was not laid on a flat

surface, but probably supported in a

framework. The upper face has lost nearly

all trace of cross hatching, suggesting heavy

wear in use prior to breaking.

This stone is typical of examples found

from Roman Britain and was found in

association with artefacts datable to the 1st

century AD.


Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:





SMR:

BSMR 20976 Museum

Accession


Small Find Number:

15

Site Name:


See Trench 1

plan

Reduced Level:

Not recorded

Simple Name: Rubber stone fragment

Context:

104

Material(s):

Stone Completeness:

Fragment

Count:

1 Weight:

1280 g


Condition:



Integral with upper

portion of Road

surface

Drawing/Photograph

NB: SF 15 is the stone on the right

Scale 190 mm

Descriptive text:

A fragment (over half) of a rubber stone,

the surviving radius is 135 mm, the

maximum thickness is 48 mm. The stone

is a fine sandstone and has been worn

smooth on its unbroken faces. The upper

surface is convex shaped and the lower

surface is concave. The edge has been

rounded and bevelled.



association with artefacts datable to the

1st century AD.


Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:





SMR:

BSMR 20976 Museum

Accession


Small Find Number:

16

Site Name:


See Trench 1

plan

Reduced Level:

Not recorded

Simple Name: Rotary Quern Stone (upper) fragment

Context:

104

Material(s):

Stone Completeness:

Fragment

Count:

1 Weight:

1745 g


Condition:



Integral with upper

portion of Road

surface

Drawing/Photograph

NB: SF 16 is the stone on the left

Scale 190 mm

Descriptive text:

A fragment (over half) of the upper stone

of a rotary quern, the surviving radius is

100 mm, the body thickness is 40 mm.

The stone is a medium grained sandstone

and has been worn smooth on its internal

face. The upper surface is flat and the

lower surface is concave. The side has

been rounded and bevelled, and the rim

forms a lip 38 mm wide projecting

downwards for 51 mm. The base of the

lip is broken.



association with artefacts datable to the

1st century AD.


Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:





SMR:

BSMR 20976 Museum

Accession

Number: BRSMG

2001/60

Small Find Number:

17

Site Name:


See Trench 1

plan

Reduced Level:

Not recorded

Simple Name: Architectural fragment

Context:

104

Material(s):

Stone Completeness:

Fragment

Count:

1 Weight:

4684 g


Condition:



Integral with upper

portion of Road

surface

Drawing/Photograph

Scale 190 mm

Descriptive text:

A fragment of medium grained sandstone

worked on two faces, 215 mm by 172

mm, the body thickness is rises from 64

mm at the bevelled edge to 78 mm. The

stone has been smoothed on its upper

face and bevelled edge.

The upper surface is flat and shelves

upwards, the lower surface is more

coarsely hewn. One edge has been

bevelled and the corners slightly rounded.

The opposite edge shows signs of

breakage, the remaining edges appear to

show signs of shaping and smoothing.

The exact function of this

stone is unclear, though it

may have been a re-used

fragment of quern stone.

Dated by association to the 1st century

AD.


Drawing Numbers:

Photo

Numbers:





SMR:

BSMR 20976 Museum

Accession


Small Find Number:

18

Site Name:



Not recorded

Simple Name: Glass Vessel Shard

Context:

100

Material(s):

Glass Completeness:

Broken, most

missing

Count:

1 Weight:

1 g

Associated Finds: none

Condition:


Poly bagged with

air holes

Siting Description:

spoil from house

foundations

Drawing/Photograph

Descriptive text:

One body shard of aqua blue transparent

glass, 17 mm by 17 mm, and 1.5 mm

thick.

Elongated air bubbles in the glass

indicate this shard is from a hand blown

vessel. Lack of lamination indicates

either an extremely modern piece or a 1st

to 12th

century AD date for manufacture.


Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:





SMR:

BSMR 20976 Museum

Accession


Small Find

Number:

19

Site Name:



Not recorded


Context:

101

Material(s):

Glass Completeness:

Broken, most

missing

Count:

1 Weight:

7 g


Condition:


Poly bagged with

air holes

Siting Description:

Drawing/Photograph

Descriptive text:

One shard of aqua blue transparent glass,

26 mm by 27 mm, varying in thickness

from 6 mm on one side to 4mm opposite.

Rounded air bubbles in the glass, together

with one rough surface and one smooth

surface, indicate this shard is from the

base of a mould blown vessel, possibly a

storage jar. Lack of lamination indicates

either an extremely modern piece or a 1st

to 12th


The squared shape of the shard does not

seem consistent with normal breakage

patterns, and suggests this piece has been

deliberately shaped. Possible re-use

could be as a gaming counter or a mosaic

tessarae.


Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:





SMR:

BSMR 20976 Museum

Accession


Small Find

Number:

20

Site Name:



Not recorded


Context:

103

Material(s):

Glass Completeness:

Broken, most

missing

Count:

1 Weight:

>1 g


Condition:


Poly bagged with

air holes

Siting Description:

Drawing/Photograph

Descriptive text:

One body shard of light aqua blue

transparent glass, 22 mm by 8 mm, 1.5

mm thick.

Elongated air bubbles in the glass,

together with outer rough surface and

inner smooth surface, indicate this shard

is from the body of a mould blown vessel.

Lack of lamination indicates either an


th



Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:





SMR:

BSMR 20976 Museum

Accession


Small Find

Number:

21

Site Name:



Not recorded


Context:

103

Material(s):

Glass Completeness:

Broken, most

missing

Count:

1 Weight:

4 g


Condition:


Poly bagged with

air holes

Siting Description:

Drawing/Photograph

Descriptive text:

One basal angle shard of aqua blue

transparent glass, from a rectangular

vessel of minimum dimensions 36 mm by

30 mm. At the angle the glass is 1.5 mm

thick, towards the centre of the base 3

mm thick.

Rounded air bubbles in the glass, together

with outer rough surface and inner

smooth surface, also indicate this shard is

from the body of a mould blown vessel.

Lack of lamination indicates either an


th


This sherd probably represents a

rectangular storage jar.


Drawing Numbers:

Photo Numbers:





General Finds Catalogue

CONTEXT FIND_NO MATERIAL TYPE COUNT WEIGHT NOTES

100 CERAMIC BRICK/TILE 3 369 2 x roof tile

fragments

1 x

unidentified

fragment

100 CERAMIC CLAY

TOBACCO

PIPE

1 1 1 x

mouthpiece

fragment

Date range:

post medieval

100 CERAMIC POTTERY 10 664 4 x rim sherds

2 x basal

sherds

4 x body

sherds

Date: post

medieval

100 GLASS BOTTLE 8 205 Olive green

glass: 1 x

basal sherd of

wine bottle

3 x

body sherds

of wine bottle

4 x

body sherds

of bottle

100 GLASS WINDOW 4 6 Light green

translucent x

2 shards

Clear x 2

shards

Date range:

post medieval

100 INDUSTRIAL

RESIDUE

GLASS 2 6 2 x strips of

glass, one

extruded, the

other a run.

100 INDUSTRIAL

RESIDUE

SLAG 2 54

100 IRON NAIL 1 11 1 x iron nail

with sherd of

1st to 2nd

century AD

Samian Ware

caught in

corrosion.

Date range:

1st to 20th

century AD




100 PLASTER LIME 1 3 1 x fragment

of wall or

ceiling lime

plaster.

100 STONE LITHICS 1 10 1 x chert flake

Date range:

Neolithic to

Bronze Age

100 STONE SLATE 1 6 1 x welsh

roofing slate

fragment

Date range:

early 18th to

20th century.

101 BONE ANIMAL 3 42

101 CERAMIC CLAY

TOBACCO

PIPE

5 25 Stem

fragments x 4

Complete

bowl x 1

c. 1700-1900

AD

101 CERAMIC POTTERY 16 430 Rim sherds x

3

Base sherds x

2

Body sherds x

11

Date range:

medieval to

19th century

101 GLASS BOTTLE 5 85 Bottle Glass:

Dark

green shards

x 5

Date: post

medieval

101 GLASS WINDOW 1 2 Window

Glass:

Light

green shard x

1

Date: post

medieval

101 INDUSTRIAL

RESIDUE

SLAG 1 14




101 SHELL MARINE 1 127 Large marine

mollusc of

type not

usually found

in British

Isles.

Probably a

garden

ornament.

102 CERAMIC BRICK/TILE 2 72 Post Medieval

102 CERAMIC CLAY

TOBACCO

PIPE

3 12 Stem

fragments x 2

Bowl

fragment x 1

Date range:

18th to 19th

century

102 GLASS BOTTLE 1 4 1 x shard of

light green

glass from

neck of

carbonated

mineral water

bottle.

Date range:

late 19th to

early 20th

century.

102 STONE LITHICS 1 6

102 STONE SLATE 1 7 Fragment of

Welsh roofing

slate

Date range:

early 19th to

20th century


103 BONE HUMAN 1 45

103 CERAMIC BRICK/TILE 3 145 Date: post

medieval

103 CERAMIC CLAY

TOBACCO

PIPE

2 4 Stem

fragments x 2

Date: Post

Medieval

103 GLASS BOTTLE 5 14 Olive green

body shards x

2

Light green

body shards x

3

103 GLASS WINDOW 2 2 1 x light olive

green shard

1 x light

green shard




103 INDUSTRIAL

RESIDUE

SLAG 3 213

103 IRON OBJECTS 8 406



104 INDUSTRIAL

RESIDUE

SLAG 1 5

106 GLASS BOTTLE 2 3 2 x light

green body

shards

Date: post

medieval

106 GLASS WINDOW 2 3 1 x olive

green shard

1 x clear

shard

Date: post

medieval

106 PLASTER LIME 1 9 Fragment of

lime plaster

surface

110 BONE HUMAN 10 18


110 STONE WORKED 2 205

114 BONE HUMAN 14 30

114 IRON OBJECT 1 25

117 BONE ANIMAL 8 30 Burnt


121 BONE HUMAN 1 13

122 BONE HUMAN 13 60 Cremated

122 IRON OBJECTS 1 9

123 BONE HUMAN 7 20

200 CERAMIC

BRICK/TILE 1 30 1 x roof tile

fragment

200 CERAMIC CLAY

TOBACCO

PIPE

2 18 Pipe bowl and

stem

complete

(minus

mouthpiece)

1 x stem

fragment

Date range:

early 18th to

early 20th

century




200 CERAMIC POTTERY 1 16 1 x handle

sherd of an

ornate blue

and gold hand

painted

porcelain

vessel, with

moulded

oakleaves.

Date range:

18th to early

20th

centuries.

Etheridge, D.J. (2002) 79 Sea Mills Lane, Sea Mills, Bristol. Archaeological Watching Brief and...

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Transcript of Etheridge, D.J. (2002) 79 Sea Mills Lane, Sea Mills, Bristol. Archaeological Watching Brief and...