| Summary : The buried remains of a Roman pottery manufacturing complex at Crambeck. The identification of a major Roman site was first made in the mid 19th century when large amounts of Roman pottery was found and six pottery kilns were revealed during the construction of Crambeck school. Subsequent investigations of the site have included the systematic collection of Roman pottery lying on the ground surface and the use of scientific survey methods which can detect buried archaeological remains. These investigations have revealed a complex pattern of small enclosures within which the remains of kilns survive. As well as the kilns and waste dumps the complex also included clay dumps, fuel stores, drying areas, stores, workshops and possibly accommodation for the workforce. At the south west corner of the monument, where extensive quarrying has taken place, four kilns were excavated in 1928, with a further two being investigated in 1936. These kilns all had a circular, clay-lined furnace pit with a limestone built flue. The 1928 investigations also revealed the corner of a building as well as investigating the ditches which extend across the monument. These ditches were dated to the second century AD and are interpreted as part of an early Roman field system which was reused as enclosure boundaries for the later potteries. In addition to the kilns the excavations have also revealed human burials of probable Anglo-Saxon date. In addition to the pottery activities it has been suggested that iron smelting may have also taken place. It is common to find one or more industrial activities taking place at one location and at Crambeck fragments of iron slag have been found on the monument. Scheduled. |
More information : (SE 734 670) (SE 727 667) Roman Kilns (Sites of) (twice) (1)
Area SE 735 670. At various times from 1856, kilns (probably at
least six), masses of pottery, burials in stone slab graves, a
tumulus, a Roman coin etc were found in the area round Jamie's
Craggs, Crambeck. Haverfield, writing in 1909, says "The two
kilns (found in 1859) are, I believe, of Roman date and for
pottery".
In 1926/7 excavations by Corder revealed "four pottery kilns
and other evidence of Roman occupation, together with vast quantities
of Roman potsherds", which included much Samian.
Corder's tentative conclusion as to dating was that the kilns
he excavated "were working from the end of the third or early in
the fourth century, their output increasing up to the troubles
preceding 370". In 1964 "boys from Bootham School uncovered
pottery of the usual Crambeck types from the stoke pits of two
separate kilns. Crop marks of numerous kilns were visible in the
eastern of the two fields north of the quarry (area SE 736 671),
and when ploughed building debris including fragments of
tegulae and broken limestone was visible at the north end of
the west field (area SE 735 672). In the newly cut east face of the
quarry a large ditch was revealed in section; it "may have
demarcated the south side of the area occupied by the Roman potters
and their kilns".
Sheahan, in 1859, also mentions a Roman Camp near the site,
identified by Corder as "a roughly rectangular earthwork situated
on the crest of the wooded hill above Castle Howard Station
(SE 76 NW 9) referred to in Victoria Cty Hist 2, p 12 as "probably Roman".
In 1935 boys from Bootham School found a concentration of sherds
of Crambeck type in the fields to the south-west of the Jamie's
Craggs sites, and in the second field south of Mount Pleasant Farm
(area SE 727 667) numerous fragments of baked clay occurred over an
area small enough to indicate the presence of kilns. In June
1936 excavations were carried out by the boys under Corder's
direction, and two kilns were discovered. They were small,
of updraught type, with circular furnaces (Grimes' type Ai - Y
Cymmrodor 41, 53-84). Pottery found showed them to be contemporary
with those discovered in 1927. (2-4)
Meaney lists the burials as doubtful A.S, but does make the point
that the relationship of one of the cists to the R.B kilns clearly
indicates a later date. (5)
There are now no traces of the kiln sites, ditch section or
tumulus, the latter possibly being a reference to SE 76 NW 20. (6)
Air photos show a fairly vague series of ditches, including a curving
stretch of a parallel ditches (see SE 76 NW 10) in the immediate area
of fairly extensive Roman activity: pottery kiln, grain dryer,
foundations and burials. (7-7a)
Description of the Roman pottery kilns. (8) |