A note in the Tavistock Times Gazette about a late first century Roman fort found at Calstock. Only the third fort found in the county, it is also four times larger than the other two, which suggests that it was a military headquarters:
Twelve months after a Roman fort was discovered in Calstock,
archaeologists are making a return to the site for a seven-week
excavation project which they hope will reveal why it was built.
The site, next to St Andrew’s Church, is so important nationally that English Heritage has funded this second stage of the work and a team of six archaeologists from Exeter will start their dig on January 5.
Some geophysical surveys are being carried out this week in advance of the excavation, to give the experts an insight into what lies beneath.
Chris Smart from Exeter Archaeology said the excavation work would cover part of the interior of the fort, the rampart and other defences, the western entrance and the road leading into the fort.
‘We are likely to see the footprint of the building and get an idea about daily life in the fort,’ he said.
‘We want to answer questions about why it was there and how long it was there.’
Last year, charcoal samples from a metalworking furnace found at the site were sent to New Zealand for radiocarbon dating. This, together with pottery which was found, revealed that the fort was occupied from 60AD to around 120AD.
‘We have only investigated 0.2% of the interior of the fort, so we may find evidence elsewhere that it was occupied for a much longer period,’ added Mr Smart.
There was great excitement in the village when the Roman fort was unearthed last year — only the third to have been discovered in the county.
Exeter University archaeologists became interested in the site when they found references in mediaeval documents referring to the smelting of silver next to the church at Calstock.
The site, next to St Andrew’s Church, is so important nationally that English Heritage has funded this second stage of the work and a team of six archaeologists from Exeter will start their dig on January 5.
Some geophysical surveys are being carried out this week in advance of the excavation, to give the experts an insight into what lies beneath.
Chris Smart from Exeter Archaeology said the excavation work would cover part of the interior of the fort, the rampart and other defences, the western entrance and the road leading into the fort.
‘We are likely to see the footprint of the building and get an idea about daily life in the fort,’ he said.
‘We want to answer questions about why it was there and how long it was there.’
Last year, charcoal samples from a metalworking furnace found at the site were sent to New Zealand for radiocarbon dating. This, together with pottery which was found, revealed that the fort was occupied from 60AD to around 120AD.
‘We have only investigated 0.2% of the interior of the fort, so we may find evidence elsewhere that it was occupied for a much longer period,’ added Mr Smart.
There was great excitement in the village when the Roman fort was unearthed last year — only the third to have been discovered in the county.
Exeter University archaeologists became interested in the site when they found references in mediaeval documents referring to the smelting of silver next to the church at Calstock.
Full story here. More on the fort by Chris Smart from the University of Exeter department of archaeology here. The initial discovery of the fort at the BBC here.
Image of the furnace found outside the fort. Copyright University of Exeter, department of archaeology.
Oh, FORT. For a second there I thought it said FORK. Now that would be something unusual, to find forks. Wouldn't it?
Interesting and readable site, gratias.
Posted by: Rusty | January 06, 2009 at 08:50 PM