|
A Waltham Villa
Gloucestershire
28 January 2001
Finds and photo gallery
Click on the thumbnail to reveal a larger image.
The task facing the geophysics team was enormous.
The view from the helicopter reveals the crop marks caused by ancient structures under the surface of the Cotswold countryside. Large ditches or earthworks (seen here as lighter coloured lines) can be seen crossing modern field boundaries. Circular and other features are also clearly visible.
Another view from the helicopter.
Trenches 1–3 in Waltham Field. Trench 1, picking up on a 1977 excavation, is closest to the hedge.
The discovery of a Roman floor in Trench 1, extending under the hedge and into the field beyond, gives the Team the first definite indication of the structures on this site. The floor line can be seen as the reddish line in the centre of the trench side.
A series of trenches are dug in the adjacent field to map out the full extent of the villa.
Trench 5 investigated a large Iron-Age boundary ditch, which was in use right up to the period of Roman occupation.
Carenza digs a sondage, or small exploratory trench, in an attempt to sort out the jumble of walls in Trench 6.
Roman expert Guy de la Bédoyère shows Tony a portable altar found on site. It would have been used for ceremonies to the household gods when the owner was away from the villa.
The portable altar found on site. It would have been used for ceremonies to the household gods when the owner was away from the villa.
A stamped fragment of terra nigra tableware. This high-status piece was found to have been imported from north-east France in 50–70 AD.
Reconstructed terra nigra bowl.
Part of an early 1st-century AD Roman brooch clip.
One of a pair, it would have been used to hold up a tunic.
A piece of amphora that would have been used to bring wine or oil from the Mediterranean.
Maya's reconstruction of the amphora.
Remains of red plaster from the interior of the villa.
More remains of red plaster from the interior of the villa.
Roman tesserae, pieces from a mosaic floor.
Roman coin as it came out of the ground.
Another Roman coin as it came out of the ground.
Cleaned Roman coin.
Cleaned Roman coin.
Waltham Villa as it might have been, by Victor Ambrus.
Back to Waltham
Back to the Time Team Past programmes page
Back to the 2001 series page
| 
