More information : SJ 305370. A Roman "campaign base" of 48 acres, overlying an earlier temporary camp or fort, has been identified by Prof G D B Jones at Rhyn Park situated on a flat plateau overlooking the River Ceiriog. (1)
The main camp measures circa 515 m by 360/410 m over the double ditches, there being a third ditch on the weak southern side. The four entrances are marked by tituli. The size of the site compares closely with that of a legionary fortress. The smaller enclosure occupies approximately 14.5 acres, the only clearly defined entrance taking the form of two offset ditches. (2) The smaller fort may have been constructed during Ostorius Scapula's campaign in AD 48. The larger fortress which superseded it probably dates from the campaign of Suetonius Paulinus against the Deceangli in AD 60. This fortress is not served by any surviving part of the Roman road system and may have been superseded by the later legionary base at Chester.
Of the smaller fort, the whole of the west side is visible, together with 200 m of the north side and 245 m of the south side. Nothing is visible of the east side. The two ditches are widely spaced (about 30 m), with an entrance in the centre of the west side.
All four sides of the larger fortress are visible with the exception of the north-west corner which has been eroded by the river Ceiriog. The two ditches are 7 to 8 m apart and a section of the outer ditch, exposed in a drainage trench in September 1975, showed it to be 2.5 m wide and at least 1 m deep. The inner ditch was only small and may have been a trench for palisading or a seating for timbers forming part of a rampart. (3)
Trial excavations of the defences of the large fort and its eastern gateway in August 1977 revealed a series of ovens near the east gateway and the plan of the gateway itself. No clear dating evidence came to light and the site could have been used for and of the campaigns of AD 48, AD 60 of AD 77 & 78. (4) Excavations began along the east side of the 17.5ha fortress and on the later 5.9ha fort where the two intersect. The defences of the larger fortress appeared to be of unusual type and may have incorporated the defences of an earlier marching camp. The defences of the smaller fort were of two phases: a rampart and two ditches followed by an extension of the rampart over the inner ditch and the digging of a new double ditch. From the whole site a little mid-first century pottery was recovered. (5) Brief description - no further information. (6)
The site occupies undulating farmland upon a terrace, above the confluence, to the north east of the River Ceiriog and Morlas Brook. To the south of the site, the ground rises gently. Nothing was found on the ground to account for the cropmarkings seen on air photographs.
The trapezoidal form of the larger fortress appears to have been dictated by the topography, the eastern and western sides following relatively high ground either side of a central depression. The southern side lies along a gentle north facing slope. Rapid erosion of the very steep, boulder clay slopes abovr the River Ceiriog, has taken away the north west corner, and some 130m of the north side. A narrow terrace along the head of these slopes, and about 1.5m below the fields above, is probably a modern feature associated with afforestation of the slopes below, some 30 years ago. (7)
Geophysical survey and excavation were carried out in 1978 on the 46 acre fortress. Survey confirmed the existence of titula outside the main ditch and also the additional outer ditch on the south. Internal and external ditches were located on the west side. The west rampart still survives in places as a slight mound between these ditches. Excavation continued around the east gate. Two ditches ran upto the gate. The outer ended 15m from it apparently allowing for the existence of the titulum ditch which was V-shaped and 17m long: the titulum bank lay outside its ditch. Three ovens had been cut into the outer lip of the titulum ditch after the disuse of these defences and presumably before the construction of the 14 acre fort. The ovens found on the east defences in 1977 were assigned to this intermediate phase as were the more closely-spaced ovens located along the inner edge of the outer ditch of 1977. The post-holes previously thought to belong to the end of a timber building were shown to be the rear revetment of a box rampart. Seventy metres to the west within the NE part of the larger site a N-S line of ovens was found. Investigation on the presumed line of the via principalis showed that any metalling would have been ploughed out, but a gully was located on its presumed north side. Another running at a slight angle was found to the North and a third to the south of the street-alignment; a further oven was found near the latter. Pottery from this area seemed to be similar to military wares from Wroxeter. The large site was still thought to be an aestiva (campaign base). (8)
The 'campaign base' at Rhyn has been described as a vexillation fortress by Frere and St Joseph. (9)
Defensive outworks of Roman forts and fortresses. The ditch at Rhyn echoes the plan of the fort so accurately that it must have been laid out, even if not necessarily constructed, at the same time as the remainder of the fort. (10)
SJ 306370: Rhyn Park fortress; an aerial survey shows the promontory northeast of the fortress was excluded by a broad ditch running from scarp to scarp c.80m north of Rhyn Farm. (11)
SJ 307367 & SJ 304368. Roman military site at Rhyn Park. Scheduled. (12) |