| Summary : The site of the Roman town of Ilchester. The origins of the town lie in the military occupation of the post-invasion years, and the existence of a circa 7 hectare rectangular enclosure implies a vexillation-size fort. A probable roadside depost further confirms the military presence of the area adjacent to the fort in the first century. Military withdrawal from Ilchester is likely to have occurred in 60-70 AD. It's positioning along a major routeway and river crossing suggests it would not have been wholly abandoned following the end of military occupation, although substantial urban development did not emerge until the beginning of the second century. This was characterised by the building of streets and properties respecting the line of the Foss Way, and perhaps also the remains of the fort.By the 3rd and 4th centuries stone building foundations are constructed in a more widespread manner during re-building and expansion works, which included public buildings. Other domestic and commercial/industrial buildings have also been identified, many with mosaic floors.Approximately 10 hectares of the town centre was surrounded by earthwork defences, probably in the late 2nd or early 3rd century, and comprised an earthen bank and relatively shallow outer ditch. Various ribbon suburbs have been identified located on the main routes from the town, in particular the Foss Way. Here, occupation dating from the 1st to the 4th or 5th centuries is evident. Cemetery sites were also located in these areas.No confirmed evidence exists that Ilchester held civitas capital status, although the excavations to date suggest a relatively wealthy and well ordered, albeit not large, community existed into the 4th century. Traces of post-Roman activity have been found, but to what extent the town continued to function after the nominal end of Roman rule is not known. |
More information : [ST 5222] ILCHESTER [TIC]
ROMAN TOWN [GS]
Systematic excavations in 1948-50 by J. Stevens Cox under the direction of C.A.Ralegh Radford, supplemented by information obtained when sewer and water main trenches were dug in 1949-50, have resulted in the dating of the Roman occupation of Ilchester as from c.AD 55-60 to the early 5th century. The 1st c. settlement consisted of a 'ribbon-development' of Wattle and daub huts beside the Fosse Way, surrounded by a ditch and earthen bank of which traces of the outer ditch can be seen in the field N.E. of The Barton and Free Street. These defences were deliberately levelled between c.A.D. 150 and 200, and in the garden of Ivel House there was evidence that two houses had been built over the levelled defences. The wattle and daub huts were later replaced by stone-built houses connected by paved streets, and in due course stone-built quays were constructed by the River Yeo, west of the bridge. The abandoned earthen rampart was superseded late in th 4th c. by a stone-built town wall between 2-3 ft. thick enclosing an area of c.32 acres. Continued occupation after 410 is suggested by the finding of 6th c. Byzantine coins [ST 52 SW 11,12]. The place name 'Lindinis' is mentioned in the Ravenna Cosmography and the Lendinienses are mentioned in two inscriptions from Hadrian's Wall, recording work of rebuilding part of the Wall by the Civitas of the 'Durotriges Lendinensis'. By the 3rd or early 4th c. Lindinis had become the northern capital of the Durotriges. (2)(3) (4)
Lindinis (?) - Ilchester - Lesser walled town (5).
Name 'LINDINIS' accepted for 4th.Edition R.B.Map.
ROMAN ILCHESTER.
PRE-CONQUEST ILCHESTER. COMPONENT CARDS.
No. Description
48 Roman town defences
49 Ro. walling 1A & RB pottery
50 Ro. Burial Ground
51 Prob Ro. Bulding
52 Ro. Well wall foundations. Tesserae
53 Ro. coin hoard.
54 Ro. coins, pottery, foundations.
55 Two Ro. Pottery kilns.
56 Ro. pottery foundations.
57 Late Celtic & Gallo-Belgic pottery.
58 Coin of Justinian I
59 D.A. Pottery
60 Coin of Anastasius I
61 ?Ro. Wall.
62 Byzantine coin
63 Ro. Burial Ground
64 Ro. Burials and Pottery
65 ?Ro Pottery kilns.
66 Silver coin of the Durotriges
67 Uninscribed coin of the Durotriges.
68 Ro. coins, pottery etc.
69 IA pottery
70 Ro. road
71 Ro. Burial Ground.
72 Durotrigian pottery (Find-spot unlocated)
73 Two D.A. Brooches (Find-spot unlocated)
74 Ro. Terra-Cotta head. (Find-spot unlocated)
75 Bronze mask. Prob. Ro. (Find-spot unlocated)
76 Roman suburbs to south of Town
77 Flagon re-used as cinerary Urn
78 Ro. ditches - suggested Ro. fort
79 Cropmark - ? Ro fort.
The site of the Roman town of Ilchester (Roman name Lindinis). The origins of the town lie in the military occupation of the post-invasion years, and the existence of a circa 7 hectare rectangular enclosure implies a vexillation-size fort. Identified parts of the rampart and limited excavation of timber buildings within the interior have yet to confirm the nature and extent of the fort, although the course of the Foss Way indicates the alignment. A probable roadside depost further confirms the military presence of the area adjacent to the fort in the first century. Military withdrawal from Ilchester is likely to have occurred in 60-70 AD, concurrent with the final conquest and occupation of Wales, although whether there was a hiatus prior to the establishment of the civil settlement is not clear. It's positioning along a major routeway and river crossing suggests it would not have been wholly abandoned following the end of military occupation, although substantial urban development did not emerge until the beginning of the second century. This was characterised by the building of streets and properties respecting the line of the Foss Way, and perhaps also the remains of the fort.
By the 3rd and 4th centuries stone building foundations are constructed in a more widespread manner during re-building and expansion works, which included public buildings. In particular at Free Street a large structure with several rooms and mosaic pavements could represent the forum/basilica or perhaps a mansion. Other domestic and commercial/industrial buildings have also been identified, many with mosaic floors.
Approximately 10 hectares of the town centre was surrounded by earthwork defences, probably in the late 2nd or early 3rd century, and comprising an earthen bank and relatively shallow outer ditch. Up to five gates are thought to have existed, although only evidence for the South Gate has been found to date.
Various ribbon suburbs have been identified located on the main routes from the town, in particular the Foss Way. Here, occupation dating from the 1st to the 4th or 5th centuries is evident. Cemetery sites were also located in these areas.
No confirmed evidence exists that Ilchester held civitas capital status, although the excavations to date suggest a relatively wealthy and well ordered, albeit not large, community existed into the 4th century. Traces of post-Roman activity have been found, but to what extent the town continued to function after the nominal end of Roman rule is not known. (6)
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