Archaeological and environmental evidence for the Roman impact on vegetation near Carlisle, Cumbria

Extensive archaeological excavations on well-preserved Roman deposits at Carlisle, Cumbria, have revealed much 'environmental' evidence. These data not only shed light on ancient building technology and the uses to which individual buildings were put, but they are of great importance in attempting to reconstruct ancient landscapes. Timber, wood, cereals, weeds of cultivation, invertebrate remains and animal bones from dendrochronologically-dated deposits are used to focus attention on specific elements of land use in a way which the technique of palynology, combined with radiocarbon dating, cannot achieve. It is concluded that the Romans had a considerable impact on the landscape, but the balances between arable, pasture and woodland cannot yet be determined.