8. SOUTH-WESTERN COUNTIES

• Published in: Britannia (Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies) 2021-11, Vol.52, p.424-428
• Main Author: Salvatore, John P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 2nd century; 4th century; Aerial photography; Archaeology; Roads & highways; Roman Britain in 2020; Roman civilization
• ISSN: 0068-113X; 1753-5352
• DOI: 10.1017/S0068113X21000416

The finds assemblage indicates an early Roman phase preceding a more substantial later Roman phase.100 BATH AND NORTH-EAST SOMERSET (1) Midsomer Norton, land west of Silver Street (ST 66267 53146): an excavation identified a Late Iron Age to early Roman square enclosure that was reworked several times over the course of the first to fourth century a.d. The layout of the enclosure sequence and presence of domestic-related activity is suggestive of an enclosed farmstead. St Sidwell's Point/Exeter bus station: site plan. (© Cotswold Archaeology) (2) North Tawton, land south of The Barton (SX 6616 9997): extensive geophysical survey over 35 ha has offered a greater understanding of the Roman complex first mapped from the air as earthworks and cropmarks.103 This was subsequently extended by analysis of LiDAR data by Bryn Gethin, Hugh Toller and Chris Smart.104 The south-western corner of a postulated legionary marching camp has been located, allowing for the proposal that the total enclosed area covered c. 12.5 ha. The known Roman road (Margary 492a) that ran west from Exeter passes exactly midway through this enclosure.105 The geophysical survey shows evidence for extensive roadside buildings on either side of this thoroughfare and, importantly, a T-junction with an equivalent occupied road branching north from the centre point of the enclosure. Work is ongoing, but this new evidence hints at significant complexity and the possibility that North Tawton developed into a substantial civilian settlement west of Exeter.106 (3) Sampford Courtenay (a) Rowden Moor (SX 658 999–SX 636 972): a combination of LiDAR data imagery, aerial photography, ground observations and excavation has provided evidence for a previously unrecorded length of 3.4 km of a Roman road heading in a south-westerly direction from the western bank of the river Taw at North Tawton (SX 658 999) and across Rowden Moor towards Okehampton.107 The road, the line of which is suspected to be of military origin, is thought to have been a continuation of the Roman road that ran from the legionary fortress at Exeter to a crossing of the river Taw (Margary 492a).108 An extrapolation of the road line from its last attested location at Trehill Farm (SX 636 972) suggests that it heads towards a crossing of the river Okement at Okehampton, probably within sight of the known Roman fort which lies just to the north-east of the modern town.109 (b) Falcadon Farm (SX 654 998): LiDAR data, aerial photography and geop