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rch IMAGES: GeoA fortresses elsewhere in the Roman Empire, fortresses elsewhere in the Roman Empire, which are also often below later towns and cities. However, our knowledge of Roman Caerleon is still patchy at best and archaeologists have struggled to answer some relatively simple questions about the fortress, its history and inhabitants, or the relationships between the fortress and its surrounding landscape. A new programme of research at Caerleon is beginning to reveal important information about the layout of the legionary fortress, while excavations earlier this summer discovered valuable evidence for lateRoman and Medieval occupation that until now has been somewhat elusive. mapping the Fortress Geophysical surveys undertaken by Dr Tim Young of GeoArch and students from Cardiff University have examined two open and previously unexcavated areas within Isca. These surveys identified several military buildings to add to the fortress plan, including barracks, store buildings and an industrial complex. The results of the magnetometer surveys in Priory 32 Ge0physical survey (magnetometry) of Above left School Field and Above right Priory Field, within the fortress plan. Left Geophysical survey of Priory Field (resistivity) within the fortress plan. Ge0physical (magnetometry) of Above Field and Priory Field, within the fortress plan. Left of Priory Field (resistivity) within the fortress plan. Field, in the south-western corner of the fortress, and School Field to the north beyond the main east-west road (via principalis) are remarkably clear and show that these areas have not been substantially built on since antiquity. School Field encloses the entire ground plan of a huge square building consisting of four ranges around a central courtyard. Opposite the complex’s entrance was a long basilica-like hall flanked by large square rooms, possibly towers. The very high magnetometer readings across the site are indicative of burning or metalworking and it is likely that this was the location of the fortress’ industrial fabrica, or ‘factory’. Here weapons, hinges, brackets, hooks, nails and many other iron objects would have been manufactured and repaired by the legion’s smiths – an essential day-to-day activity that is rarely included in modern descriptions of the Roman army. “ In Priory Field we found a row of eight barrack blocks – each for a century of 80 men and similar to those on display in Prysg Field – parallel with the south wall. The large area between these barracks and the via principalis was dominated by an enclosed row of three rectangular buildings Excavations earlier this summer discovered valuable evidence for lateRoman and Medieval occupation that until now has been somewhat elusive. ” archaeologycurrent 226
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Caerleon : 7reasons IMAGE Above Reconstruction of the Roman granary at Vienna. Above Reconstruction of the Roman granary at Vienna. and a large courtyard building on the opposite side of an extensive open area. The resistivity survey results of the northern part of Priory Field reveals details of the buildings on either side of the open ‘yard’. The rectangular buildings are each over 40 metres long and 15 metres wide, and the traces of long internal walls for and a large courtyard building on the opposite side of an extensive open area. The resistivity survey results of the northern part of Priory Field reveals details of the buildings on either side of the open ‘yard’. The rectangular buildings are each over 40 metres long and 15 metres wide, and the traces of long internal walls for raised floors suggests that these were granaries where the legion’s vital grain supplies were kept safe from the weather, pests and thieves. The reconstruction of a similar granary from Vienna shows how such a building might have looked when in use. The resistivity results from Priory Field show that Caerleon’s grain stores were also buttressed to increase the impression of impregnability and permanence. the need for excavation This survey also demonstrated that the building facing the granaries on the other side of the yard was of a similar size to the School Field fabrica. Here, however, there was little sign of large scale burning and the layout of the building – four narrow ranges of rooms around a central courtyard – is similar to other legionary buildings identified either as hospitals, ‘club-houses’ or stores. If the interior of the fortress had been laid out in zones where certain activities took place, then it would make sense if the Priory Field building was a store linked to the legion’s three granaries. Also, the building is very like structures in Italy known as horrea, or warehouses, and it now seems most likely that it was used for storage of materials, presumably “ Only excavation can confirm how a building non-perishables, that were needed by the legion. non-perishables, that were needed by the legion. The use of geophysics has filled in large gaps in the plan of Isca and answered many questions about how The use of geophysics has filled in large gaps in the plan of Isca and answered many questions about how the fortress was laid out, but these are remote techniques and only excavation can confirm how a building functioned or, equally importantly, provide the evidence for its history. In 2007, Cardiff University and UCL came together to excavate a series of test trenches in Priory Field to see how well the remains of the Roman fortress survived beneath the modern ground surface, and if any signs of post-Roman occupation could be identified. A larger trench was functioned or, equally importantly, provide the evidence for its history. ”  Below The 2008 trench towards the end of the season. iversity/UCL iff Un : Card PHOTO archaeologycurrent 226 33

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Caerleon

: 7reasons

IMAGE

Above Reconstruction of the Roman granary at Vienna.

Above Reconstruction of the Roman granary at Vienna.

and a large courtyard building on the opposite side of an extensive open area. The resistivity survey results of the northern part of Priory Field reveals details of the buildings on either side of the open ‘yard’. The rectangular buildings are each over 40 metres long and 15 metres wide, and the traces of long internal walls for and a large courtyard building on the opposite side of an extensive open area. The resistivity survey results of the northern part of Priory Field reveals details of the buildings on either side of the open ‘yard’. The rectangular buildings are each over 40 metres long and 15 metres wide, and the traces of long internal walls for raised floors suggests that these were granaries where the legion’s vital grain supplies were kept safe from the weather, pests and thieves. The reconstruction of a similar granary from Vienna shows how such a building might have looked when in use. The resistivity results from Priory Field show that Caerleon’s grain stores were also buttressed to increase the impression of impregnability and permanence.

the need for excavation This survey also demonstrated that the building facing the granaries on the other side of the yard was of a similar size to the School Field fabrica. Here, however, there was little sign of large scale burning and the layout of the building – four narrow ranges of rooms around a central courtyard – is similar to other legionary buildings identified either as hospitals, ‘club-houses’ or stores. If the interior of the fortress had been laid out in zones where certain activities took place, then it would make sense if the Priory Field building was a store linked to the legion’s three granaries. Also, the building is very like structures in Italy known as horrea, or warehouses, and it now seems most likely that it was used for storage of materials, presumably

“

Only excavation can confirm how a building non-perishables, that were needed by the legion.

non-perishables, that were needed by the legion.

The use of geophysics has filled in large gaps in the plan of Isca and answered many questions about how

The use of geophysics has filled in large gaps in the plan of Isca and answered many questions about how the fortress was laid out, but these are remote techniques and only excavation can confirm how a building functioned or, equally importantly, provide the evidence for its history. In 2007, Cardiff University and UCL came together to excavate a series of test trenches in Priory Field to see how well the remains of the Roman fortress survived beneath the modern ground surface, and if any signs of post-Roman occupation could be identified. A larger trench was functioned or, equally importantly, provide the evidence for its history.

”

Below The 2008 trench towards the end of the season.

iversity/UCL

iff Un

: Card

PHOTO

archaeologycurrent

226

33

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