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ID:SDV322088
Title:The Early Roman Military Defences, Late Roman Cemetery and Later Features at the Topsham School, Topsham
Originator:Sage, A. + Allan, J.
Date:2004
Summary:Following archaeological assessment and evaluation of the area, excavations by Exeter Archaeology on the site of the new Combined School in Topsham in 2000 revealed parts of the defences from the south eastern side of a first century Roman military base. Evidence for Prehistoric activity, graves from a later Roman cemetery and post medieval features and finds were also found, including field boundaries, quarry pits, a possible small Civil War fort, musket balls and pottery used in sugar-refining (see separate entries). Two straight parallel lengths of V-shaped ditch were found along the north-western edge of the site and further north two curving lengths of ditch were found with the same fills and profiles. The outer ditch was considerably wider and deeper than the inner ditch with a pronounced "shovelling slot" at the bottom. Although no relationship survived between the ditches they are presumed to be contemporary. Their regular plan and distinctive profiles indicate that this was a Roman military site, possibly a fort or fortlet or a supply base. Between the curving ditches was a narrow U-shaped trench which may have held a palisade that preceded the ditches. A similar feature was found between the ditches of the military base at Pomeroy Wood, east Devon. No evidence of a rampart survived. Although there was no dating evidence directly associated with the use of the defences, coins of Claudius and Nero, first century samian, terra nigra and Fortress ware found in deposits higher in the ditches and in the features cutting them suggest that the site was occupied cAD50/55-75 or 85.

Associated Monuments (47)

MDV60415ARTEFACT SCATTER in the Parish of Exeter (Monument)
MDV14349ARTEFACT SCATTER in the Parish of Exeter (Monument)
MDV59841ARTEFACT SCATTER in the Parish of Exeter (Monument)
MDV71516ARTEFACT SCATTER in the Parish of Exeter (Monument)
MDV59843ARTEFACT SCATTER in the Parish of Exeter (Monument)
MDV9933ARTEFACT SCATTER in the Parish of Exeter (Monument)
MDV71474ARTEFACT SCATTER in the Parish of Exeter (Monument)
MDV14352ARTEFACT SCATTER in the Parish of Exeter (Monument)
MDV71476Civil War Fort at Topsham (Monument)
MDV14343Cremation Burial at Exeter Road, Topsham (Monument)
MDV56062Cropmark Enclosure on the northeast side of Exeter Road, Topsham (Monument)
MDV71494FIELD BOUNDARY in the Parish of Exeter (Monument)
MDV71120Findspot in the Parish of Exeter (Find Spot)
MDV71560FINDSPOT in the Parish of Exeter (Find Spot)
MDV71563FINDSPOT in the Parish of Exeter (Find Spot)
MDV61785FINDSPOT in the Parish of Exeter (Find Spot)
MDV42253FINDSPOT in the Parish of Exeter (Find Spot)
MDV60745FINDSPOT in the Parish of Exeter (Find Spot)
MDV14347FINDSPOT in the Parish of Exeter (Find Spot)
MDV71561FINDSPOT in the Parish of Exeter (Find Spot)
MDV71495FINDSPOT in the Parish of Exeter (Find Spot)
MDV71497FINDSPOT in the Parish of Exeter (Find Spot)
MDV60421FINDSPOT in the Parish of Exeter (Find Spot)
MDV71562FINDSPOT in the Parish of Exeter (Find Spot)
MDV65499FINDSPOT in the Parish of Exeter (Find Spot)
MDV71517FINDSPOT in the Parish of Exeter (Find Spot)
MDV9956FINDSPOT in the Parish of Exeter (Find Spot)
MDV65434FINDSPOT in the Parish of Exeter (Find Spot)
MDV65500FINDSPOT in the Parish of Exeter (Find Spot)
MDV71518FINDSPOT in the Parish of Exeter (Find Spot)
MDV59842Flint Scatter, Seabrook Farm (Monument)
MDV14351Glass Beakers from Topsham (Find Spot)
MDV57211HEDGE in the Parish of Exeter (Monument)
MDV14350MIDDEN in the Parish of Exeter (Monument)
MDV14344Neolithic Settlement at Topsham (Monument)
MDV57085ORCHARD in the Parish of Exeter (Monument)
MDV74341Prehistoric Flints recovered from Seabrook Farm (Monument)
MDV71491Quarry east of the River Exe, Topsham (Monument)
MDV14348Roman Artefacts from Retreat Road, Topsham (Find Spot)
MDV9946Roman Bakehouse, Topsham (Monument)
MDV9945Roman building in grounds of The Retreat, Topsham (Monument)
MDV71475Roman Cemetery in Topsham (Monument)
MDV65498Roman Corn Drier at Orchard Way, Topsham (Monument)
MDV14394Roman Farmstead on Exeter Road (Monument)
MDV67998Roman Military Site in Topsham (Monument)
MDV14353Roman Settlement at Topsham (Monument)
MDV9961Topsham, Park Field Roman Settlement (Monument)

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