11th June test pit digging and Probe survey methodology testing.

Roman Road Investigation – A59 to Coal Pit Lane, Rimington; part of Margary 72a

A further report on the probe survey methodology will be posted in the near future.

Abstract

Two test pits were dug. TP1 had 3 contexts typical of a Roman road. TP2, done as a control, contained unexpected stones from which no conclusions could be drawn. Recommended that both pits be reopened for further investigations.

Participants

B. Jeffery, L. Marklew, T. Marklew, L Mills, B Stott & B. Tyrer

Background

During a survey in the Martin Top & Howgill area on Saturday 5 June a ground feature was identified in the position where the first edition OS map indicates the location of the Roman road and there is also a ground feature visible in Lidar. The decision was made to investigate this further.

The test pits were dug by a team of 6 with 4 of the participants having had no previous excavation experience. An important aim of this activity was to provide training and experience. The bulk of excavation work and recording including photography was undertaken by the 4 novices. This was also a valuable training and experience building activity for the two more experienced participants.

Methodology.

After some probing in the relevant area a 1 meter square test pit 1 was dug at the estimated centre of the possible agger and about 30 metres from the field edge. A control pit approximately 5 metres away was also dug.  The pits were dug and reported broadly in line with Leicestershire Fieldworkers/ University of Leicester Fieldwork Test Pit guidelines.

Results and observations

Test pit 1

Since solid material had been detected by probing, approximately 20 cm below the surface, turf approximately 16/17 cm thick was removed. The turves were cut thicker than usual to aid restitution due to the current and forecast dry weather conditions. When the pit had been cleaned up then large stones were exposed broadly in the Southern half of the pit with smaller stones in the N half. This northern section was regarded as Context 1 and recorded.

Test pit one looking north showing top of context 1 in the northern half and top of context 2 in the southern half Trevor and Lesley Marklew

During the dig the farmer, Mr J Taylor, visited the field and said that the flattish area had been ploughed in the 1970s. It is thus possible that stones near the surface could have been disturbed. The sloping part of the field to the west had not been ploughed.

The small stones were then removed to expose further large stones across the entire pit. The spread of large stones was recorded as Context 2.

Test pit one looking north after removal of context one (gravel layer) Trevor and Lesley Marklew

Finally a few of the larger stones were removed in the NE corner of the pit. This exposed a compacted yellow clay layer which appeared to be stone free. This was recorded as context 3.  The layer of small stones overlying the spread of large stones was clearly visible in the south facing section. Due to lack of time no further recording was possible and the pit was closed down and backfilled.

Test pit one looking north showing yellow clay layer Trevor and Lesley Marklew
Test pit close up of yellow clay layer Trevor and Lesley Marklew

Test pit 2

Approximately 4 metres away from test pit 1 a further test pit was dug, again with turfs approximately 16/17 cms. being taken off.  The expectation was that this would be away from the road surface and be evidence of typical field. However when the surface was cleared up there was  a significant number of small stones and 2 larger stones, towards the bottom SE corner, which lay approximately in a SW/NE direction, the area to the south west of these stones appeared to contain significantly fewer small stones.


Test pit two looking north Trevor and Lesley Marklew

Conclusions

Interpretation of evidence in test pits is always problematic so any conclusions can only be very tentative. In pit 1 the investigation found 3 contexts/ layers: small stones, larger stones and clay. This is typical of the way that a Roman Road could be made. With the evidence of Lidar and the early map the conclusion is that the test pit had very likely revealed part of Roman Road 72a Ribchester to Ilkley as identified by Ivan D Margary.  Context 3 the yellow clay would have formed a mound onto which a layer of larger cobbles context 2 was placed this then being covered by a layer of gravel context 1. The lack of this gravel in the southern half of test pit 1 is probably due to removal by ploughing prior to modern times.

The findings in Test Pit 2 were unexpected and without further investigations no firm conclusions can be made about them. However there is evidence from other Roman Roads for metalling in strips running parallel to the agger.   

Recommendations

That both test pits be reopened, further recording done and possibly extended.

T & LS Marklew 14 June 2021