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EARITH Roman port Owen : G IMAGES ABOVE Most Camp Ground buildings were raised above ground with suspended floors resting on very large timbers, packed with limestone slabs or river cobbles (RIGHT) to level them up. One of the structures has been interpreted as a granary. BELOW The number of complete or nearcomplete vessels from Camp Ground, including Nene Valley wares, suggests the site was engaged in pottery storage and trade. Evidence of post-Roman activity comes in the form of these bone objects: a ring-headed pin, pin beater, and antler clamp (both used in weaving). mainly located to the west of the central track, and a maximum population of between 50 and 120 individuals. The remainder of the buildings, mainly located to the east of the track, could be described as ‘state-related facilities’, including a warehouse, mill, and granary complex. Is it a coincidence that this phase overlaps the Hadrianic period (117-138) and the floruit of Stonea? After this period, in Phase III.2, Camp Ground contracted but continued to be economically vibrant. The same is true of the settlement at Stonea: the central building and temple were demolished by AD 220. The demise of this high-status building could be a sign that an initial attempt at state planning was attempted and failed or was abandoned; the Camp Ground and Stonea settlements continued to flourish without state control. Military or official links ilitary or official links Military or official links ilitary or official links In search of further evidence, we need to con In search of further evidence, we need to con- In search of further evidence, we need to con- sider the coin and pottery finds. Roman coin expert Richard sider the coin and pottery finds. Roman coin expert Richard sider the coin and pottery finds. Roman coin expert Richard Reece says that the presence of silver coins in the assemblage suggests ‘some sort of official link’. He goes on to say that the number of coins of the period 294 to 330 AD is ‘surprising’ and again suggests a ‘military or official’ connection; sites with similar coin-loss profiles are largely military, Porchester being one example. The pottery report hints that Camp Ground might have been some sort of ‘low-level’ trade emporium, with some of the buildings serving as stores. None of the evidence is conclusive, but one feature has a large number of complete or 34 current archaeology | www.archaeology.co.uk current archaeology | www.archaeology.co.uk 34 October 2014 |
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near-complete vessels that show little sign of near-complete vessels that show little sign of use, and the site has an unusually large number of complete or semi-complete Nene Valley vessels, including some forms and decorative styles that have not been recorded at other sites. Some of them have ‘surprisingly sloppy’ decoration, carelessly painted and unevenly applied. All told, the pottery assemblage at the site is larger than normal, indicating that Camp Ground might have had some sort of role in the pottery trade, perhaps as a market for lower-quality products, or ‘seconds’ as near-complete vessels that show little sign of use, and the site has an unusually large number of complete or semi-complete Nene Valley vessels, including some forms and decorative styles that have not been recorded at other sites. Some of them have ‘surprisingly sloppy’ decoration, carelessly painted and unevenly applied. All told, the pottery assemblage at the site is larger than normal, indicating that Camp Ground might have had some sort of role in the pottery trade, perhaps as a market for lower-quality products, or ‘seconds’ as we would now call them. Also very large was the bone assemblage from the site, the majority coming from cattle, sheep, and pig. While that is also true of most animalbone assemblages from Britain at this period, Camp Ground is different in that cattle account for 64 per cent of livestock bones in all phases, sheep for 31 per cent, and pig for 5 per cent. The high proportion of cattle indicates a Romanised site, with a bone assemblage more akin to military sites; civilian sites of this period tend to continue the native Iron Age preference for sheep. Equally significant is the evidence that Camp Ground served as a butchery site for beef and mutton that was then exported in the form of dressed carcasses. The majority of the cattle and sheep killed at the site ‘were in their prime, which would tend to indicate an organised procurement strategy, probably drawing in animals from a wide catchment area’. Who is being supplied? The evidence so far is intriguing and ambiguous: here is an apparently prosperous and stable community trading in pottery, butchering and exporting beef and mutton, and perhaps engaged in horse-ranching, with evidence of official or military patronage, yet apparently located in a Fenland backwater. On the other hand, Camp Ground might not be so remote if those barge channels or slipways were exactly that, not just drainage channels, and if the Car Dyke, which skirts the eastern edge of Camp Ground’s gravel terrace, was navigable by shallow-drafted boats. Back to the pottery and the coins. Camp Ground is unique for a Fenland site in having pottery types, including Black-burnished Wares and Porchester Wares, that are otherwise mainly | Issue 295 abOve This carved-stone bust of Jupiter is one of the few ‘high-status’ objects from the site. Martin Henig suggests that it probably came from a villa or masonry building elsewhere, and once formed part of a larger frieze. The findspot, close to an adult inhumation, suggests that it might have been brought to Camp Ground to serve as a grave-marker. found at military sites; and found at military sites; and found at military sites; and the coin report has already the coin report has already the coin report has already drawn a comparison with Porchester. A leap of intu- drawn a comparison with Porchester. A leap of intu- drawn a comparison with Porchester. A leap of intuition suggests that Camp ition suggests that Camp Ground had some sort of connection via Fenland rivers and canals to the Wash and to the sea, and thence to the defences of the Saxon Shore running from East Anglia down to Porchester. Could it be that, shipped out through Camp Ground’s small harrivers and canals to the Wash and to the sea, and thence to the defences of the Saxon Shore running from East Anglia down to Porchester. Could it be that, shipped out through Camp Ground’s small har- from East Anglia down to Porchester. Could it be that, shipped out through bour, the ultimate destination of some of its meat, grain, and pottery was the army in their Saxon Shore garrisons? Follow the ‘interpretative path’ Christopher Evans says that Camp Ground cannot answer this question alone, but that the site has opened up an ‘interpretative path’ which now needs to be followed to see if it leads to further evidence for waterfront structures in the Fenland, and a network of inland and coastal ports. Roman distribution networks by river and sea are a neglected subject, and yet one that is vital to an understanding of the Romano-British economy. Where does this leave the imperial-estate model? Is it possible that an estate was planned and partly carried out but abandoned as unnecessary? Here Richard Reece has the last word: by what logic would the emperor want or need to get involved, he asks? Perhaps the state could provide a little initial help and investment, but those entrepreneurial British farmers seem to have been quite good at running their own affairs. If you leave them alone to get on with it, the army not only gets its supplies, the emperor can also tax the profits – which he couldn’t if he was the owner of the estate. Ca FUrther reaDing  Christopher Evans, with Matt Brudenell, Ricky Patten, and Roddy Regan (2013) Process and History at Colne Fen,Earith, Vol.1:Prehistoric Communities,Bronze Age Field Systems, Ring-Ditch Cemeteries,and Iron Age Settlement (ISBN 9780954482497; Cambridge Archaeological Unit, £30). Christopher Evans, with Grahame Appleby, Sam Lucy, and Roddy Regan (2013) Process and History at Colne Fen, Earith,Vol.2:Romano-British Communities,an Inland Port and Supply Farm (ISBN 978-0957559202; Cambridge Archaeological Unit, £45). www.archaeology.co.uk | current archaeology 35

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EARITH Roman port

Owen

: G

IMAGES

ABOVE Most Camp Ground buildings were raised above ground with suspended floors resting on very large timbers, packed with limestone slabs or river cobbles (RIGHT) to level them up. One of the structures has been interpreted as a granary.

BELOW The number of complete or nearcomplete vessels from Camp Ground, including Nene Valley wares, suggests the site was engaged in pottery storage and trade. Evidence of post-Roman activity comes in the form of these bone objects: a ring-headed pin, pin beater, and antler clamp (both used in weaving).

mainly located to the west of the central track, and a maximum population of between 50 and 120 individuals. The remainder of the buildings, mainly located to the east of the track, could be described as ‘state-related facilities’, including a warehouse, mill, and granary complex.

Is it a coincidence that this phase overlaps the Hadrianic period (117-138) and the floruit of Stonea? After this period, in Phase III.2, Camp Ground contracted but continued to be economically vibrant. The same is true of the settlement at Stonea: the central building and temple were demolished by AD 220. The demise of this high-status building could be a sign that an initial attempt at state planning was attempted and failed or was abandoned; the Camp Ground and Stonea settlements continued to flourish without state control.

Military or official links ilitary or official links

Military or official links ilitary or official links

In search of further evidence, we need to con

In search of further evidence, we need to con-

In search of further evidence, we need to con-

sider the coin and pottery finds. Roman coin expert Richard sider the coin and pottery finds. Roman coin expert Richard sider the coin and pottery finds. Roman coin expert Richard

Reece says that the presence of silver coins in the assemblage suggests ‘some sort of official link’. He goes on to say that the number of coins of the period 294 to 330 AD is ‘surprising’ and again suggests a ‘military or official’ connection; sites with similar coin-loss profiles are largely military, Porchester being one example.

The pottery report hints that Camp Ground might have been some sort of ‘low-level’ trade emporium, with some of the buildings serving as stores. None of the evidence is conclusive, but one feature has a large number of complete or

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current archaeology | www.archaeology.co.uk current archaeology | www.archaeology.co.uk 34

October 2014 |

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