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| HER Number: | MSH1745 |
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| Type of Record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Land at the south end of Rampart Road - Roman Evidence |
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| Grid Reference: | SU 4376 1319 |
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| Map: | Show location on Streetmap |
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Summary
A section was cut through the outer bank of Clausentum during an archaeological excavation on land south of the pumping station in Rampart Road in 1958/1959 (SOU 206). The original bank was possibly of 1st century date, enlarged and refortified in the late 3rd century or 4th century, and levelled in the late 4th century. A grave containing an inhumation was cut through the original bank. The burial has been radiocarbon dated to the 3rd or 4th century. Also found were a gravel surface behind the bank, cobbles (perhaps from a road or hard), a chalk floor and associated posthole. Roman finds were also discovered. (Part of the site may now lie under Quayside Road.)
Protected Status: None recorded
Other References/Statuses
- HER backup file (new series): SOU 206 (paper & digital), etc
- Old Southampton SMR No/Backup file: SU 4313 SE 22
Monument Type(s):
Full description
SOU 206 (Excavation on land south of the Pumping Station in Rampart Road in 1958/1959):
[HK March 1995: This account is derived from earlier SMR cards. RN, who wrote these cards, had consulted the SOU 206 archive [1]. Where the following account differs from the statements in [2] and [3], it is because HK has followed RN. The accuracy of his understanding of the archive has not been checked.]
The outer bank of Clausentum was initially 35 to 40 feet wide and 15 feet high [3]. [2] says the original bank was undated, but [3] dates it to the 1st century. The bank was eroded during a period of disuse. A grave was cut through the truncated bank, and a young female inhumation placed within, the presence of nails indicating a coffin. The bank was then enlarged and refortified in the late 3rd century, and levelled in the late 4th century (stated in [3], whereas [2] dates the enlargement to the 4th century). [This dating is unsupported by pottery evidence. The archive should be consulted for confirmation.] Other features were as follows: a hard gravel surface behind the bank; cobbles in trenches A1-A4 and J; a chalk floor in trenches J5-7, associated with a posthole, charcoal and soft pottery. Samian ware was found in Trench G, and a piece of Castor Ware in Trench F2-3. Other finds included coins and oyster shell.
[4]: It is suggested that the cobbles could be part of a Roman road or a hard sloping to the River Itchen.
IP 8/8/03: See event record for discussion of site location. Outer bank indexed on a separate record. Finds have not been indexed.
[12][13]: Radiocarbon dating of a sample of human bone from the inhumation yielded dates in the 3rd and 4th centuries (full details in sources).
Sources / Further Reading
| [1] | SSH1589 - Excavation archive: SOU 206 Archive. |
| [2] | SSH1590 - Article in serial: ?. 1960. Roman Britain in 1959.. Journal of Roman Studies Vol L (Jubilee Vol), 1960. p 233 |
| [3] | SSH1591 - Serial: Southampton Archaeological Society. 1964. Southampton Archaeological Society Quarterly Bulletin No 11, Oct 1964.. unnumbered page |
| [4] | SSH1592 - Article in serial: Echo reporter. 1958. Southampton's Romans used cobble-stones.. Southern Daily Echo, 8/12/58. |
| [5] | SSH1593 - Written communication: Curator. 1958. Letter dated 28/10/58 re Bitterne Manor Pumping Station site.. |
| [6] | SSH1594 - Written communication: GB Grestock (Ministry of Works). 1958. Letter dated 14/11/58 re Vacant Land at Rampart Road.. |
| [7] | SSH1595 - Written communication: AN Schofield (Town Clerk). 1958. Letter dated 31/10/58 re Vacant Land at Rampart Road, Southampton.. |
| [8] | SSH1596 - Written communication: ?P Perberdy. 1959. Letter dated 28/1/59 re Bitterne Pumping Station site and other matters.. |
| [9] | SSH1597 - Unpublished document: ?. ?. Notes on Burials.. p 10 |
| [10] | SSH1598 - Map: Ordnance Survey. 1948. OS SU 4313 SE 1948 (pub). Paper. 1:1250. |
| [11] | SSH1599 - Map: Ordnance Survey. 1964. OS SU 4313 SE 1964 (pub). Paper. 1:1250. |
| [12] | SSH1724 - Unpublished document: Dr Tom Higham (Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit). 2003. Report on radiocarbon dating on human bone from several sites, including seven in Southampton.. |
| [13] | SSH1725 - Unpublished document: Annia Cherryson. 2003. Summary table of Radiocarbon dates for human bones from several Southampton sites, with covering note.. |
Associated Finds
- FSH1173 - OYSTER SHELL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
Associated Events
- ESH1377 - Radiocarbon dating of human bone from SOU 206. (Ref: SOU 206)
- ESH206 - Excavation on land south of the Pumping Station in Rampart Road in 1958/1959 (Ref: SOU 206)
Related records
| MSH331 | Peer (All Groups): Bitterne Manor - the outer bank of Clausentum |
Associated Links: None recorded
If you have any feedback or new information about this record, please email the Southampton HER (her@southampton.gov.uk).
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