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Archaeology in Worcester
1997/ 99 - Roman Archaeology
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 (Aerial survey by MAPS 1999™) 
Roman Archaeological Sites in Worcester, 1997/999 - Click on a site marker to see the report. |
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More recent work at five separate sites amplifies this picture
in detail. Engineers' test pits under the railway arches at Cherry
Tree Walk (WCM 100537) provided evidence that Roman deposits
survived largely undisturbed between the piers, which were built
in 1860; finds included pottery, iron slag, and a large stone roof
tile. Foundations and services for the new workshop units here were
redesigned to preserve the remains in situ. A small excavation by Worcestershire County Archaeological Service at the former County Education Offices, Castle Street, in advance of extensions for the Chamber of Commerce, produced an interesting assemblage of late Roman (late 4th or early 5th century AD) pottery (WCM 100191). On the north side of Castle St, work took place before and during construction of the new city Police Station. Here the Roman occupation seems to have been more suburban or even rural in character, though there was evidence of substantial buildings. A programme of archaeological investigation and recording was undertaken by Worcestershire County Archaeological Service on an area of land c. 50m x 30m, between July 1998 and August 1999, on behalf of the West Mercia Police Authority. Evaluation trenches (WCM 100358) in June 1998 revealed Roman features, and were followed by an area excavation (WCM 100398) and watching brief (WCM 100540). The excavation revealed that Roman deposits were less extensive than anticipated on the basis of the trial trenching, but were nevertheless of interest, and contained substantial assemblages of pottery dating from the 1st to the 4th centuries AD. Watching briefs during alterations to listed buildings on the south side of the development (6-12 Castle Street, by James Dinn; WCM 100414), and during the early stages of construction, produced large quantities of well-preserved Roman pottery, as well as building materials including painted wall plaster, particularly from a small area between the cellars of the two buildings, which was excavated by hand. A watching brief during sewer replacement in Moor Street and Back Lane South (WCM 100560; James Dinn, and subsequently Mike Napthan, Foundations Archaeology), on behalf of Worcester City Council, revealed deposits and finds from the Roman occupation of the area; localised finds had been made in 1960 during the redevelopment of the area (Russell 1961). Although no in situ buildings were found, the very large volume of building materials indicated that there had probably been substantial buildings in the immediate vicinity. The finds included red sandstone blocks, opus signinum, mortar, tegula and imbrex roof tiles, box flue tiles and hypocaust pilae; the 220 tile fragments recovered weigh over 60kg. There were also several tesserae of tile and various stones (red sandstone, blue lias, and white limestone), and a small assemblage of pottery. On the south side of Britannia Square, a watching brief during works to a cellar (WCM 100586) recorded a small part of a mortared stone structure, probably a building, of Roman date. Finds included tesserae, a small fragment of high quality mosaic flooring (this had subsequently been covered by a mortar skim, which was itself worn), roof tiles, and pottery. The structural remains have been preserved in situ. At a number of other sites in this area, in particular around Easy Row and the western end of Moor St, watching briefs produced no indication of Roman remains. |
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