More information : (NZ 83531513) Roman Signal Station (R) (Remains of) (Excavated AD 1919-27) (NAT) (1) The remains of a Roman signal station at Goldsborough was discovered and excavated in 1918 by W Hornsby and J D Laverick although apparently noted by Canon Atkinson in 1891. It was of the same type as Scarborough (TA 08 NE 1) and Huntcliff (NZ 62 SE 8), a small square fort consisting of a ditch, wide berm, stone wall with angle bastions, one gateway and a central tower enclosed by a courtyard wall of massive foundations. Within the tower were two male skeletons and a dog who had apparently met with a violent end, and there were signs that the tower had been burnt down. The sparse pottery and coins matched those of other signal stations, and suggested a short life for the site in the last quarter of the 4th century. An undated rubbish pit under the NE turret of the wall and a coin of Hadrian were the only signs of previous occupation. The finds from the excavation included human remains, a piece of coarse cloth from the well, bronze and jet objects; mainly rings, three iron knives and a stone palette. Plan. (2-5) The remains are well defined but in poor condition, with sides averaging 0.7m in height. Resurveyed at 1:2500. (6) NZ 836151. Roman signal station at Scratch Alley. Scheduled. (7) (NZ 83531513) Roman Signal Station (R) (8)
The Roman signal staiton is visible as an earthwork on air photographs, centred at NZ 8353 1512. An incomplete section of bank defines the surviving extents of the feature, it is sub-square in plan and measures approximately 42m x 42m. Internally the earthwork remains are very poorly defined. (10) |