Excavations at Burdhopecrag Roman Camp, Otterburn: Excavation Report

The excavations arose as a response to an encroaching area of landslip immediately to the east of a length of bank, and internal/external ditch of a presumed Roman marching camp (Scheduled Monument Ref: 1011392). Following the receipt of Scheduled Monument Clearance a 20 m by 8 m excavation area was excavated, targeting (working from east to west), the outer ditch c. 2 m wide; the rampart c. 0.75 m high x 2 m wide and an area of ground within the camp to the west of the rampart, c.4 m wide. A suspected entrance way into the defences was also targeted Excavations of the bank and outer ditch confirm that these were open during the Romano-British period and would indeed appear to be the rampart and outer defensive ditch of a Roman marching camp. Although no Romano-British material was recovered from either the rampart or ditch sufficient organic material was recovered from bulk samples of the outer ditch to allow for radiocarbon dating of this feature. The organic samples tested from the outer provided a date range of between 200 BC to AD 547. The rampart itself was constructed of two parallel running stacked layers of turf with evidence of a central core of redeposited material from the ditch, similar to those found at other Roman camps. The outer ditch, whilst not especially deep, at c. 0.5 m showed evidence of having been waterlogged and would have formed a modest barrier to attacking forces. Upon removal of the turf around the suspected entranceway to the marching camp a metalled stone surface was identified leading from the exterior of the marching camp. This stone surface sealed the upper fills of the outer ditch and was sat above layers containing post-medieval clay pipe. The stratigraphic relationship and dating evidence would appear to confirm that the 'entranceway' to the Roman camp was in fact a post-medieval alteration, presumably to provide a more solid footing for transport and management of livestock. A rough cobbled surface continued along the eastern edge of the ramparts and sealed the outer ditch. This cobble surface eventually slumping into the soft upper fills of the outer ditch. An internal ditch associated with the rampart was also confirmed to be post-medieval in date. This drainage ditch truncated the western side of the bank, with the turves being placed on top of the internal side of the older ramparts, possibly completed by a ditch cutting machine during the late 19th or early 20th century. At the southern limit of the rampart the remains of a stone built hearth were identified on top if the bank. A charred cereal grain, recovered from the associated spread of heat affected silts, was radiocarbon dated to c. 1690-1927. Pollen samples recovered from the outer ditch and rampart are indicative of heathland, cleared land surrounding the marching camp and also plants growing within the ditch. Small volumes of cereal type pollen grains of the Hordeum group within the ditch, perhaps suggesting nearby arable activity. The excavation recovered a small assemblage of finds comprising of clay tobacco pipe, metalwork and slag. The clay pipes provide the only dating evidence. All three partial bowls are from spurred pipes. The most complete is dated c. 1690-1710 The archive and finds from the excavation will be deposited with Great North Museum. Until deposition, the archive will be stored in the Sheffield Office of Wessex Archaeology under project number 117950.