Excavations at Eccles 1971

EXCAVATIONS AT ECCLES, 19711 TENTH INTERIM REPORT By A. P. DETSIOAS, M.A., F.S.A. INTRODUCTION EXCAVATIONS were undertaken, for the tenth successive season, under my direction and on behalf of the Eccles Excavation Committee, at the site of the large Romano-British vUla at Rowe Place Farm, Eccles, in the parish of Aylesford (N.G.R. TQ 722605; O.S. 6-inch Sheet TQ 76 SW); this work was carried out at weekends, from early April until late October 1971, and during a fortnight in August when a training course in Romano-British archseology, jointly sponsored by the Committee and the Kent Archseological Society, was held at the site. I t is again with pleasure that I record my thanks to the landowners, Messrs. Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers Limited, for readily aUowing our work to continue on their property, and my appreciation to their tenant farmers, Messrs. A. A. and A. C. SouthweU, for their continued welcome and support. Financial support for this work was again given by the Kent Archseological Society, the British Academy, the Society of Antiquaries of London, the Haverfield Bequest of the University of Oxford, and private donors to aU of whom I am very grateful. Many volunteers participated in this work throughout its long season and only limitations of space prevent me from recording their names; I must, however, make an exception in the case of the foUowing for their sustained support: first and foremost, Mr. A. C. Harrison, B.A., F.S.A.; Mrs. S. M. Frettingham, B.A.; Msses H. Balsdon, B.A., and R. C. Symes, and Messrs. 0. K. Hales, T. Hetherington, T. Ithell, B.Eng., W. A. Knowles, R. Lowson, B.A., C. E. J. Martin, H. Pearce, and P. ThornhUl, B.A.; in their various ways, they have aU been of inestimable help. I am also grateful to Mr. I. J. Bissett, for continuing to draw the pottery and the smaU finds; Mss D. Charlesworth, M.A., F.S.A., for reporting on the glass; Mr. R. G. Foord, for some of the 1 Arch. Cant., Ixxviii (1963), 125-41; Ixxix (1964), 121-35; Ixxx (1965), 69-91; Ixxxi (1966), 44-52; Ixxxii (1967), 162-78; Ixxxiii (1968), 39-48; Ixxxiv (1969), 93-106; Ixxxv (1970), 55-60, and Ixxxvi (1971), 25-34.1 am glad to place on record, once again, my personal gratitude to Professor S.S. Frere, M. A., F.B.A., F.S.A., for his support and interest in this excavation virtually since its inception and, also, for reading this report in draft to its great benefit. 101 A. P. DETSICAS prints iUustrating this report; Mrs. K. F. Hartley, B.A., F.S.A., for reporting on the mortaria; Mr. M. R. Hull, F.S.A., for reporting on the brooches; Dr. J. P. C. Kent, B.A., Ph.D., F.S.A., for identifying the coins; and Mr. R. P. Wright, M.A., F.S.A., for reading and reporting on the graffiti. Lastly, I must record my gratitude to my wife, Mrs. R. M. Emerton and Miss F. E. Emerton, for the initial processing of most of the pottery, and to Mss D. M. Rooke, for her great assistance in preparing my field drawings for pubUcation and in the drawing of the plans of this report. THE EXCAVATION Work this year was concentrated on various parts of the site and aimed at completing the examination and recording of features first found last year as well as undertaking the observation and excavation of new areas as they became avaUable. Periods I-III, to c. A.D. 55: the Ditches To these early periods are assigned sections of three ditches, partly explored this year and antedating the construction of the first house as Ditch IX was found below the foundations of the north-east waU of Room 114 which had been carried down to the bottom of the ditch; this ditch cut across the Hne of Ditch X in the area of Rooms 127 and 128. Ditch X, in its turn, either joins or intersects Ditch XI. Ditch IX was traced for some 126 ft. (37-8 m.) and was, on average, 7 ft. 6 in. (2-25 m.) wide; it contained Httle datable material. Ditch X was traced for some 97 ft. (29 • 10 m.) and was, on average, 7 ft. (2 • 10 m.) wide; its filling contained pottery consistent with a general dating to c. A.D. 50. Ditch XI is so far known only by a short length in an area of much disturbance; its width has not yet been established. This ditch seems to be either earHer than or contemporary with Ditch X. These three new ditches of early dating are now added to a number of others aheady recorded in previous years of work2 which seem to have been cut for land-drainage purposes before the construction of the earhest house. Period IV, c. A.D. 65-120: The Dwelling-House As anticipated in 1970,3 the south-east, south-west and north-east waUs of Room 94 were discovered in a new trench immediately beyond the Hmit of the previous excavation; they had been almost completely robbed and survived only as foundation courses, though the north-east waU had fared even worse and was located only as a robber-trench. All 2 E.g. Arch. Cant., Ixxxiv (1969), fig. 1, and p. 94. 3 Ibid., Ixxxvi (1971), 26. 102 r L. ON 00 u O ~ r iw/w*H •J; ,o .p o o o o nnn Q. Q, d. Q. c?