| Summary : The buried remains of a Romano-British temple complex located within an arable field on the sloping hillside on the east side of the River Cam. The central building was discovered in 1847 and excavated under the direction of the Hon RC Neville, who incorrectly interpreted the remains as part of a Roman villa. He exposed the foundations of a square cella about 7 metres in width, surrounded by a ambulatory. The remains of two elaborate mosaic floors were found within this structure. The re-excavation of the temple in 1978 provided far greater details of the date and evolution of the structure. Evidence was found of a small Late Iron Age ditched enclosure and structure, similar in outline to the temple and probably a precursor to the Romanised building which was erected on the same spot in the period AD 60-90. The temple, with walls of mortared flint and tiled roof, remained in use throughout the later first and early second centuries. The building is thought to have been abandoned in the mid-second century and allowed to decay until major refurbishment took place between AD 280-370. The restored structure remained in use until the late fourth century. Pits and hollows of various sizes were found throughout the excavated areas, but a small excavation in the south western corner of the precinct revealed a distinct concentration of pits containing accumulations of ash, animal bone, oyster shells and pottery. These are thought to have been used for the disposal of waste from religious feasts which appear, from the evidence of animal remains, to have coincided with the culling of lambs in the spring and autumn. Other ritual activities are indicated by the large number of votive offerings including coins, brooches and other items of personal adornment. The most spectacular object related to the religious nature of the site is a silver mask with Celtic-type lentoid eyes and moustache, discovered during the 1978 excavations. Scheduled. |
More information : (TL 51404361) ROMAN BUILDING (R) (Site of) (NAT) (1)
Evidence of a Roman building was ploughed up in 1847 in a field
about one mile east of Chesterford Roman Town (TL 54 SW 14).
Excavations by Neville revealed the footings of a
Romano-British temple comprising a square foundation with 40
foot sides enclosing a smaller square foundation. The inner
foundation was paved with red tesserae with a circular inset of
small red, blue and white tesserae. There was another
tesselated floor on the east side between the inner and outer
foundations. Tegulae fragments and pieces of painted plaster
were found. Pottery and coins from the site were presented to
Saffron Walden Museum. (2-3)
Scatter of tegulae fragments, fragments of imbrices and Roman
brick, coarse red tesserae and a few oyster shells centred at
TL 51404360. The area is quite small with a radius of 10.0 to
15.0 metres and the situation fits Neville's description of the
temple site quite well. An old man told me that years ago the
field belonged to the Wakefield family who owned the ground on
which Neville made his excavations in 1847. A small square
cropmark can be seen at this position on RAF air photograph
106G/UK/1635 3405. (4-5)
Square Romano-Celtic country temple, covering an area of about
2116 square feet and built about 150 AD. A circular blank space
in the centre of the mosaic floor inside the cells showed that
an alter stood there. The site was deliberately destroyed in
the 4th century when the mosaics were smashed (7).
The site of the temple has been identified by a spread of
building material at TL 51434360 (6).
The site at TL 51434360 is marked by a dense scatter of Roman
tile, brick, tesserae, and pottery which has been spread by the
plough over an area of 50.0m. east-west by 34.0m. north-south.
It lies on a gentle south-east facing slope above a small
stream. (8)
Scatter surveyed at 1:2500.
TL 51434360. The site of the temple was re-excavated in 1978 in
advance of further plough damage. The walls and mosaics
recorded by Neville had been removed by ploughing and stone
robbing, though external features survived. The first porch of
wooden columns on a chalk pediment had been replaced by an open
podium perhaps leading to a grander entrance. Two circular pits
with funnel-like openings on one side are seen as libation pits.
Two phases of temple construction were noted. The earlier with
a massive collar is dated to AD 60 to 90, whilst a rebuild was
constructed after AD 280 continuing in use up to about AD 370.
Three further masonry structures have been recorded in the
vicinity whilst continuity with the Iron Age is suggested.
Finds include bronze regalia and a silver mask with plaque with
inscription and deity. Considerable quantities of decorated
wall plaster were recovered. (9-10)
Additional bibliography. (11-14)
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