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Current Archaeology 226 (Vol XIX, No. 10) January 2009 Editorial Editor: Lisa Westcott lisa@archaeology.co.uk 020 8819 5585 Features Editor: Neil Faulkner neil@archaeology.co.uk News Editor: Christopher Catling chris@archaeology.co.uk Art Editor: Mark Edwards mark@archaeology.co.uk Sub Editor: Caitlin McCall caitlin@archaeology.co.uk 020 8819 5574 Publisher: Robert Selkirk robert@archaeology.co.uk 020 8819 5581 Advertising Manager: Libby Selkirk libby@archaeology.co.uk 020 8819 5582 Current Publishing, Lamb House, Church Street, London W4 2PD Tel: 08456 44 77 07 (office hours) Fax: 08456 44 77 08 web: www.archaeology.co.uk Editor-in-Chief: Andrew Selkirk 9 Nassington Road, London NW3 2TX andrew@archaeology.co.uk 020 8819 5584 Subscriptions Current Archaeology is published monthly for a subscription of £38 for 12 issues. Foreign subscriptions £48. Subscriptions should be sent to: Current Publishing, Lamb House, Church Street, London W4 2PD Tel: (office hours): 08456 44 77 07 or 020 8819 5580 Fax: 08456 44 77 08 Subs queries to: subs@archaeology.co.uk or online at: www.archaeology.co.uk Back issues: £4 each / £5 non-UK Binders: (holds 12 copies) £10 / £12 Slip Cases: (holds 12 copies) £12 / £14 Printed by St Ives Unauthorised reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without written permission. The publisher, editor and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services which may be advertised or referred to in this issue. Every effort has been made to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being used inadvertently or where it has proved impossible to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue. 241108185 Contents 14 14 20 20 20 14 The London Style Painted plaster from Roman Britain is invariably found in secondary deposits, both too fragmented and too incomplete to reassemble. But Museum of London archaeologists, digging in the basement of a former sandwich shop and pizzeria in Lime Street, London, have come across a staggering pile of painted plaster in situ at the base of the wall it once covered. The quality of craftsmanship and the intricate detail of the design have revealed a sumptuous lifestyle of the fashionable elite in 2nd century Londinium: could this have been the house of a high ranking Roman official? 20 Fylindales Moor When fires raged across the North Yorkshire moors, concerns were primarily for the flora and fauna destroyed by the flames. But what followed was the dramatic discovery of long forgotten prehistoric archaeology, previously obscured by the dense vegetation. Neotlithic rock art, Early Bronze Age burial mounds and evidence of farming from 3,000 years ago briefly came to light. Archaeologists were able to record these amazing finds before the grasses and heathers grew back, reclaiming the land and burying these treasures once more, saved for future generations. 2 archaeologycurrent 226
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Welcome This month we are featuring a Festival Special, a section devoted to the events and awards at the upcoming Archaeology Festival Cardiff 2009, 6-9 February. The Special includes a full list of award nominees and all the information you need to vote for your favourites. This is your chance, as readers, to tell us what you liked best, so please do remember to vote - the winners will be announced at the Archaeology Festival. As part of the Festival fun, we are offering delegates the opportunity to tour two major Roman sites in Wales, Caerleon and Caerwent, both of which are featured in this issue. Read their stories, then visit them for yourselves, accompanied by the authors, who will be your guides. Our dramatic cover picture shows the North Yorkshire moor fire that led to the exposure of some stunning prehistoric carved stone - a once in a lifetime chance to record this mysterious, hidden archaeology. Enjoy! 31 31 38 38 3838383838 31 Fortress Isca 31 38 Fortress Isca Built by the soldiers of the Second Augustan Legion – part of the original invasion force in AD 43 – during their campaign to subdue the tribes in Wales, this great garrison at Caerleon has been the subject of archaeological interest for more than 150 years. Yet, knowledge of the fortress has remained sketchy, at best. Now, new research is revealing hitherto unknown information about the layout of the legionary fortress and uncovering new evidence for lateRoman and Medieval occupation as it was absorbed into the rural life of the local community. 38 Caerwent Known as Venta Silurum, ‘the market of the Silures’, Roman Caerwent was the administrative centre for the largest civilian population in Wales. Yet it was barely mentioned in contemporary literature and little of its history had ever been recorded. Now, work on the site has brought significant new information to light not only about the origins of this once magnificent Roman capital but also about its growth, development and decline. On the cover Fire rampaged across the North Yorkshire moors, revealing archaeological treasures. archaeologycurrent 226 Regulars 4 News 11 Smalltalk 12 Diary 46 Last Word 61 Feedback 64 Reviews 66 Odd Socs Got a story? Write to us! Current Archaeology Current Publishing, Lamb House, Church Street, London W4 2PD itby Gazette Jackson\Wh : Doug PHOTO 3

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Current Archaeology 226 (Vol XIX, No. 10) January 2009 Editorial Editor: Lisa Westcott lisa@archaeology.co.uk 020 8819 5585 Features Editor: Neil Faulkner neil@archaeology.co.uk News Editor: Christopher Catling chris@archaeology.co.uk Art Editor: Mark Edwards mark@archaeology.co.uk Sub Editor: Caitlin McCall caitlin@archaeology.co.uk 020 8819 5574 Publisher: Robert Selkirk robert@archaeology.co.uk 020 8819 5581 Advertising Manager: Libby Selkirk libby@archaeology.co.uk 020 8819 5582 Current Publishing, Lamb House, Church Street, London W4 2PD Tel: 08456 44 77 07 (office hours) Fax: 08456 44 77 08 web: www.archaeology.co.uk Editor-in-Chief: Andrew Selkirk 9 Nassington Road, London NW3 2TX andrew@archaeology.co.uk 020 8819 5584 Subscriptions Current Archaeology is published monthly for a subscription of £38 for 12 issues. Foreign subscriptions £48. Subscriptions should be sent to: Current Publishing, Lamb House, Church Street, London W4 2PD Tel: (office hours): 08456 44 77 07 or 020 8819 5580 Fax: 08456 44 77 08 Subs queries to: subs@archaeology.co.uk or online at: www.archaeology.co.uk Back issues: £4 each / £5 non-UK Binders: (holds 12 copies) £10 / £12 Slip Cases: (holds 12 copies) £12 / £14 Printed by St Ives Unauthorised reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without written permission. The publisher, editor and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services which may be advertised or referred to in this issue. Every effort has been made to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being used inadvertently or where it has proved impossible to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue. 241108185

Contents

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The London Style Painted plaster from Roman Britain is invariably found in secondary deposits, both too fragmented and too incomplete to reassemble. But Museum of London archaeologists, digging in the basement of a former sandwich shop and pizzeria in Lime Street, London, have come across a staggering pile of painted plaster in situ at the base of the wall it once covered. The quality of craftsmanship and the intricate detail of the design have revealed a sumptuous lifestyle of the fashionable elite in 2nd century Londinium: could this have been the house of a high ranking Roman official?

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Fylindales Moor When fires raged across the North Yorkshire moors, concerns were primarily for the flora and fauna destroyed by the flames. But what followed was the dramatic discovery of long forgotten prehistoric archaeology, previously obscured by the dense vegetation. Neotlithic rock art, Early Bronze Age burial mounds and evidence of farming from 3,000 years ago briefly came to light. Archaeologists were able to record these amazing finds before the grasses and heathers grew back, reclaiming the land and burying these treasures once more, saved for future generations.

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