Record Details

Summary

A well-defined oval enclosure in Scholes Coppice, near Rotherham. The purpose of the enclosure is unclear. It has been hypothesised that it may have been an Iron Age or Romano-British fort.

Monument Type(s):

• ENCLOSURE (Early Iron Age to Roman - 800 BC to 409 AD)

Associated Finds:

Protected Status:

• Scheduled Monument 1004829: Caesar's Camp, Scholes Coppice

Full Description

<1> The monument is a well-defined oval camp, on high ground in the heart of Scholes Wood. It is defended by a bank and ditch. Towards the north-east the counterscarp disappears, and its place is taken for a short distance by a stream, whilst the scarp assumes a slight double step near its base, which runs parallel with the stream, and close to it, for some little distance towards the north-west. There might be a connection between the fort and the nearly parallel Roman Rig.

<2/9/10> Scholes Coppice is an ancient woodland, covering an area of approximately 26 hectares. Caesar's Camp is an impressive monument of unknown date within the woodland. It has suffered, due to its access, from the use of motorcycles and bicycles, resulting in significant erosion. A large piece of iron slag below the surface suggests a possible iron-working phase during the medieval or post-medieval periods. The monument builders made full use of the natural contours of the land in constructing the bank and ditch; the dry stream beds being incorporated into the overall construction. The streams would have been flowing, adding to the defences. The site, however, is overlooked by higher ground. Areas of truncation to the ditches reflect a change in the general appearance of the monument over time.

<3> It is has been hypothesised in the past that Scholes Coppice was one of a line of 'forts' that ran behind the Roman Ridges, although as yet there is no corroborating evidence for this.

<4> The 'fort' is surrounded by a single oval rampart and ditch, which enclose a flat area of about one acre. The rampart stands several feet above the interior and rises to as much as 16 feet above the ditch. The counterscarp has a height of up to 7 feet. On the north-east there seems to have been an entrance. The nature of the construction of the rampart is unknown, because excavation has not taken place. The fort lies in a shallow depression.

<5> The site of Caesar's Camp, Scholes Coppice, is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

<6> A small scale excavation in 1992 produced six sherds of pottery, from three contexts. Four of the sherds came from the same context (132) and were probably from the same vessel. The four sherds from context 132 were extremely friable. The two rim sherds (contexts 100 and 130) were of 3rd - 4th century AD date and though severely abraded, appeared to be black burnished ware. All had suffered considerable damage. Pottery is surprisingly sparse in South Yorkshire's small Roman settlements. The black burnished jar with widely splayed rim does not appear amongst local products with any frequency; the type may have achieved a wide currency after the demise of local production, perhaps during the early fourth century.

<7> Near-oval earthwork, strong rampart, wide outer ditch no counterscarp bank. Probably entrance on NE side.
References: N.Thomas. Guide to Prehistoric England (1960) p.252, V.C.H. II 8,61

<1> (ed.) William Page, 1974?, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: A History of Yorkshire, pp8-10 (Serial). SSY64.

<2> S Atkinson, D Latham, RE Sydes, 1992, Investigations at Caesar's Camp, Scholes Coppice, pp31-40 (Article in monograph). SSY281.

<3> Yorkshire Archaeological Society, 1944-46, Yorkshire Archaeological Journal Volume 36, pp. 251-252 (Serial). SSY1522.

<4> The Hunter Archaeological Society, 1944-50, Transactions of The Hunter Archaeological Society Volume 6, Vol. 6. (1944-7) p. 89 (Serial). SSY164.

<5> English Heritage, See Record, Scheduling Record (Scheduling record). SSY162.

<6> Dr P.C. Buckland and Dr C.G. Cumberpatch, 1992, The Pottery From the Excavations at Scholes Coppice 1992 (Unpublished document). SSY282.

<7> South Yorkshire Archaeology Service, c1974-c2003, SMR Card (Unpublished document). SSY213.

<8> South Yorkshire Archaeology Unit, 1991, Results of a Topographical Survey of Caesar's Camp, Scholes Coppice, Rotherham (Grey Literature Report). SSY2200.

<9> University of Sheffield Archaeology Service, 1992, Environmental Analysis of Samples from Scholes Coppice, Kimberworth, South Yorkshire (Grey Literature Report). SSY2202.

<10> South Yorkshire Archaeology Unit, 1992, Report on the Archaeological Investigation of Caesers camp Scheduled Ancient Monument, Kimberworth, Rotherham, South Yorkshire (Grey Literature Report). SSY2201.

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