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Roman Sites in South Wales |
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Techniques employed: Resistivity Client: The Glamorgan - Gwent Archeological Trust Ltd Glamorgan - Gwent Archaeological Trust are currently managing a threat-led assessment project on Romano-British lowland settlements in SE Wales. The project is grant aided by Cadw. Stratascan were asked to carry out both resistivity and magnetometry over the six sites involved to help with understanding the extent and character of any remains. The sites stretch across South Wales between Chepstow and Bridgend and lie on either Lower Lias or Limestone. These geologies allowed both magnetic and resistivity anomalies of good contrast to be detected. Two sites are discussed here. Two sites are discussed here. Wyndcliff The site at Wyndcliff overlooks the Wye Valley just north east of Chepstow. It was found as a crop mark by aerial photographs one of which is reproduced here.
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 Aerial photograph of the Wyndcliff site clearly showing the villa set in the large grike. Photograph Copyright John Sarrel |
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The remains appear to be those of a villa consisting of a single building with corridors down the long sides and several internal rooms. The geology is limestone which is close to the surface. However, the building appears to be situated on a large filled grike or fissure in the limestone. Smaller clefts can be seen in the aerial photograph to either side of the main grike. Running across the site is a curved ditch which is assymetrical to the building. |
 Resistivity plot of Wyndcliff |
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The geophysical survey was undertaken to establish the exact location of the building and to investigate the area for further buildings not seen as crop marks. The resistivity showed the main grike as a band of lower resistance on which was superimposed the higher resistivity rectilinear features associated with the building. However, it was feared that if building remains existed on the limestone area they would not be seen against the high resistance of the limestone pavement. Accordingly the survey was repeated using magnetometry extending further onto the pavement areas. The curved ditch, a further rectilinear ditch as well as discrete areas of thermoremanent response were found. It was concluded that it was unlikely that further buildings existed in the vicinity of the villa. |
 Magnetometer plot of Wyndcliff |
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Llanbethery This site near Cardiff Airport was first found in the 1950's as a long low mound with traces of walling. A small excavation revealed layers of rubble and occupation soils with finds of 2nd - 4th century pottery, roof and box tile, together with tesserae, nails, iron slag and animal bones. A hoard of Constantinian coins was found close to the remains of the building. All the evidence suggested that a Roman villa once occupied the site. The site was thought to be contained within one field but the initial results of the geophysical survey showed ditches extending towards the north east. As the magnetometry appeared to be as productive as the resistivity but costs less per hectare it was decided to extend the survey area into the next field. The results show a rectangular enclosure ditch some 80m x 90m. Within this lie further smaller ditches again following a rectilinear arrangement. Around the outside of the main enclosure is a further ditch narrower in width and with curved corners. There is also a number of discrete positive features which are likely to be pits. The interpretation of the geophysical survey is that the site was originally an Iron Age enclosure which was developed by the Romans, cutting a larger ditch within the prehistoric enclosure. What is confusing is that the geophysics found no evidence for a stone built villa nor areas where iron working may have taken place. |
 Resistivity plot of part of the Llanbethery site |
 Magnetometer plot of the Llanbethery site |
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| REPRODUCED BY COURTESY OF THE GLAMORGAN - GWENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST LTD | ||
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