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Monument Type(s):

• INHUMATION (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• VILLA (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Summary

Excavated in 1960's by amateurs; found was building foundations of 20 room structure, hypocaust, skeletons, coins. Evidence of metal working (lead). Also found were Anglo Saxon finds, Bronze Age lithics, and Iron Age silver coin.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds:

Description

1) Flavian villa site with part of enclosure ditch contains several buildings variously occupied until C6th AD.
3) Excavation of a bath house 70m south of the dwelling house. Bath house largely dismantled at end of C2nd. Either converted to an out house or levelled off completely. Space between known buildings occupied by a series of rectangular shallow ponds, though fishponds appear to have been constructed in early C2nd. Pottery syrinx found in 1971.
4) In first half of C2nd a continuous corridor was added west and north east sides. Part of cellar filled in and new stair well constructed. In C3rd (early) chanelled hypocaust added and most of villa demolished.
5) Site occupied from Roman to Saxon times. From evidence found from C6th and C7th.
6) Excavation of C4th enclosure ditch yielded C4th velt fittings as well as C5th and later material
7) Excavations indicate C6th/7th occupation on the site of the Roman villa. Roman occupation, consisting of at least 3 substantial buildings, is dated AD 120-430.
8) Largest of the fishponds (22m x 70m) was filled in c.AD 200, and building built above it. This was a circular building, 10m in diameter with a pitched stone floor who's roof was supported by 4 posts 3.2m apart. Entrance faced east and had a porch.
9) Further work by Hands revealed C5th-C8th occupation; large quantities of ash and slag indicate iron smelting occurred on site in AS times.
14) Short report on excavations by A Hands in 1960. Cemented floors, hypocaust systems, 6 inhumations, and worked masonry found. Continued excavations are proposed to uncover complete plan of house.
15) For summary in 1970-1 of main features and finds resulting from excavations from 1960 onwards.
16) Excavations in 1972 revealed a system of fishponds, the full extent of which is not yet known. They were constructed early in the C2nd and were back-filled before 200 AD. Systematic destruction, modern land drainage and ditching have destroyed some of the evidence for their mode of operation. The size and extent of their construction indicate that fish-farming was a significant source of income for the villa and not solely intended for use by the villa owner.
17) Clearance of the larger fishpond in 1973 measuring from 21.3-27.3m by over 67m yielded objects of wood, leather boots and a great deal of organic matter of all types.

<1> General reference, Excavations at Shakenoak I - III - IV (1968-73) (Bibliographic reference). SOX373.

<2> P S Spokes Collection (Article in serial). SOX274.

<3> Britannia, Vol IV (1973) pp.297-8, 332 (Serial). SOX282.

<4> Britannia, Vol II (1971) p.268 (Serial). SOX282.

<5> Britannia, Vol III (1972) p.328 (Serial). SOX282.

<6> Britannia, Vol I (1970) p.288 (Serial). SOX282.

<7> Medieval Archaeology, Vol XI (1967) p.268 (Serial). SOX318.

<8> Britannia, Vol V (1974) p.436 (Serial). SOX282.

<9> Medieval Archaeology, Vol 17 (1973) p.162 (Serial). SOX318.

<10> OS Record Card, OS Record Card SP 31 SE 1 (Index). SOX273.

<11> Victoria County History of Oxford, Vol I, pp.319, 341 (Serial). SOX252.

<12> Journal of Roman Studies, (1962) p.175; (1964) p.166; (1965) p.210 (Bibliographic reference). SOX378.

<13> Oxford Architectural & Historical Society, Oxoniensia, Vol XXXV (1970) p.107 and Vol XXXIII (1968) p.138 (Serial). SOX284.

<14> General reference, Top.Oxon: No 8, Spring 1962, 1 page; scanned (Bibliographic reference). SOX373.

<15> CBA South Midlands Group, South Midlands Archaeology, CBA9 NL1 (1971) pp.11-12; NL 2 (1972) p.16 (Serial). SOX5.

<16> CBA South Midlands Group, South Midlands Archaeology, CBA9 NL 3 (1971) p.16; NL 4 (1974) p.9 (Serial). SOX5.

<17> CBA South Midlands Group, South Midlands Archaeology, CBA9 NL 5 (1975) p.16 (Serial). SOX5.

Sources

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