St Paul-in-the-Bail (sp72)

Introduction

Excavations at the site of the Victorian church of St Paul-in-the-Bail, demolished in 1971, were under-taken between 1972 and 1979, and a Roman well within the east range of the forum was emptied in 1984 (Fig 9.1). Permission to excavate was given by the Parochial Church Council, the Church Com-missioners, and Lincoln City Council.

Preliminary investigations were carried out in 1972 as an evening class under the aegis of the WEA, and under the overall direction of Christina Colyer.

The site supervisors were Catherine Wilson, Ken Wood and John Peaker, on behalf of the Lincoln

Archaeological Research Committee. Some exca-vation continued in 1973. In the Spring of 1974 the Lincoln Archaeological Trust devoted several weeks to the further removal of the most recent levels. In March 1975 work was resumed on the Georgian and medieval church; work continued until December 1975, under the supervision of Richard Whinney and Michael J Jones. In the autumn of 1977, after clearance of weed growth, work resumed under Brian Gilmour’s supervision. During the winter of 1978–9 the site was backfilled and the eastern extension opened up. Excavation on this part of the site was completed that year.

Fig 9.1 Site location plan for sp72

130 St Paul-in-the-Bail (sp72 and sp84) During the 1979 excavations at St

Paul-in-the-Bail, the Roman well was discovered but for safety reasons could only be partially explored (to a depth of 9m). In 1983 the site was landscaped as a garden by the City Council and the masonry of the well-head was included in the scheme. The City Council gave permission for the then Trust for Lincolnshire Archaeology to proceed with the complete excavation of the well in April 1984; Kevin Camidge supervised the work. Excavation was completed in that year and involved the use of scaffolding, forced air ventilation, lighting, breathing apparatus, harnesses and safety lines and an intercom system.

Excavations were funded by the Department of the Environment as well as the City and County Councils. In 1973 Lloyds Bank Ltd made a donation towards the cost of excavations, and in February 1979 also donated money to cover the cost of a frame to cover the site in the bad weather. Manpower Services Commission Job Creation schemes provided some of the labour between 1976 and 1979.

Although there were two areas of excavation, (three including the well), the lettering of the contexts followed a single consecutive scheme. Interim accounts (Whinney and Jones 1975; Gilmour and Colyer 1978; Gilmour and Jones 1978; Gilmour 1979a;

Gilmour and Jones 1979b; Gilmour 1980b; Camidge 1984), and others for regional and national consumption (Gilmour 1979b; Gilmour and Jones 1980; Jones and Gilmour 1980) have been published.

There have been further discussions of the forum (eg Jones 1988, 155–7; Jones 1999) and early churches (Jones 1994).

Of the 3,456 contexts identified on site, 102 were unstratified and the rest were grouped into 1,424 grouped contexts and 119 land-use blocks (cg1–1,466;

unused context groups are cg147, cg235, cg303, cg322, cg335, cg337, cg362–3, cg365, cg394, cg397,

cg483, cg584, cg800, cg843, cg878–9, cg881, cg883, cg894, cg897, cg904, cg920, cg932, cg937, cg942, cg952, cg1024, cg1130, cg1164, cg1167–9, cg1171, cg1175–7, cg1180, cg1248, cg1402, cg1435–6). All the context groups are mentioned in the text unless they represent inhumations, charnel pits or graveyard deposits in or later than LUB 32, in which case they are only mentioned specifically when this enhances an understanding of the narrative; this means that 630 of the 1,425 context groups are not discussed; all context groups and their relevant LUBs are listed in Fig 9.93, and details about them, together with the other context groups, can be retrieved from the archive. There are six grouped contexts (cg35, cg38, cg44, cg46, cg48 and cg50) which represent post-pit groups, and for ease of discussion the individual post-pits within them have been given alphabetical sub-numbers (eg pits cg35 are made up of post-pits cg35a, cg35b, cg35c, cg35d and cg35e); this has been necessary when comparing the interpretation presented here with the latest preliminary report (Jones and Gilmour 1980; see Discussion). All the context groups from sp72 were interpreted as 120 LUBs (LUBs 0–119). For the purposes of post-excavation analysis the site has been divided into western and eastern areas, as shown on the LUB diagrams (Figs 9.2 and 9.3 to 9.6). LUB diagram Fig 9.3 shows the overall view of the LUBs in the site;

Fig 9.4 is an inset for LUBs 8–17, showing in detail the sequence in Structure 2; Figs 9.5 and 9.6 give two alternative interpretations for LUBs 19–23 (the earliest churches). The inhumations have been grouped into LUBs on stratigraphic grounds; some of the groups are tightly encased by stratigraphy (eg, LUB 32 is wedged between LUBs 30 and 43), but others are looser, and some span very long periods (eg, LUB 56, which ranges between the late Saxon and modern periods); this unsatisfactory way of

Fig 9.2 Plan showing location of section drawings (Figs 9.48–9)

131 St Paul-in-the-Bail (sp72 and sp84)

Fig 9.3 LUB diagram 1 for sp72: site-wide LUBs

9.36 9.35

132 St Paul-in-the-Bail (sp72 and sp84)

working with the burials has been necessary because of the paucity of dating material associated with the graveyard, and disturbance of the levels from which the graves were cut. Groups of graveyard LUBs, rather than individual LUBs, are located on the LUB diagram Fig 9.3, because of the difficulty in presenting this particular three-dimensional information in two dimensions.

Large assemblages of Roman (6,791 sherds) and post-Roman (8,320 sherds) pottery were recovered from the site together with a considerable number of registered finds (5,762 finds); the registered finds include a high proportion of nails and coffin fittings

Fig 9.4 LUB diagram 2 for sp72: East range of forum: LUBs 8–17

Fig 9.5 LUB diagram 3 for sp72: Structures 3 and 4 as very late Roman

from the post-medieval graves. Many of the fittings and nails from single grave cuts were amalgamated and given a single registration number. During 1975 an active discard policy was pursued for many of the post-medieval/modern finds and for the coffin fittings recovered from the upper layers. Simple records of the finds discarded were made and these have been included in the finds database. A large number of finds were examined by external special-ists: Roman coins (Mann & Reece 1983; Davies, J A 1992), Roman brooches (Mackreth 1993), Roman glass (Price and Cottam 1995e), imported Roman marble (Peacock and Williams 1992), Late Saxon

14 Str2

14 Str2

14 Str2

133 St Paul-in-the-Bail (sp72 and sp84)

graves are not included here; the exceptions are grave cg154 (LUB 24) which is planned on Fig 9.28 and located on Fig 9.31, and also the inhumations from which radiocarbon dates were gathered (Fig 9.30). However, each inhumation has a context group and archive information is also available, as for the rest of the site.

Post-excavation stratigraphic analysis was undertaken for this report by Kate Steane, following previous work on the stratigraphic sequence by Brian Gilmour. Sincere thanks are due to Julian Litten and Gerry McDonnell for helpful comments, and to Chris Johnson for documentary information on the church and the parish of St Paul-in-the-Bail.

Brian Gilmour, and later Paul Courtney, undertook further documentary research on the parish and its context. Margaret Darling worked on the Roman pottery; contributions to its understanding have been made by Joanna Bird, Brenda Dickinson and Kay Hartley. Jane Young studied the post-Roman pottery. Jane Cowgill and Jen Mann analysed the registered finds. Jen Mann with Rick Kemp worked on the building materials. Pam Graves worked on the architectural fragments incorporating work undertaken by David Stocker (1981–87), Helen Palmer Brown and Zoe Rawlings digitized the plans and Dave Watt drew the finds illustrations.

The Excavation

The natural limestone brash was sealed by sandy clay LUB 0; this was disturbed by Late Prehistoric or Early Roman activity.

Fig 9.6 LUB diagram 4 for sp72: Structures 3 and 4 as Early or Middle Saxon

coins (Blackburn et al 1983), medieval and later coins, jetons and tokens (Archibald 1994), decorated medieval window glass (King 1995a), post-medieval vessel glass (Adams and Henderson 1995), worked bone (Rackham 1994) and stone objects (Roe 1995;

hones: Moore 1991). Large quantities of leather (Mould 1996) and wooden objects (Gale 1992;

Morris 1996) were recovered, principally from the well; these, and other finds from the well (LUB 109) are to be discussed in another publication (Mann (ed), forthcoming). Apart from finds from the well the only organic material to be recovered from sp72 was a little leather (Mould 1993) and textile (Walton Rogers 1993 and 1998); the majority of these were from the latest graves, the conditions not being suitable for their survival in the earlier deposits. A very small quantity of plant remains was also examined (Moffett 1993; 1996). The total number of building material fragments recovered was 6,591, most of which were Roman and medieval/post-medieval ceramic tile, but also including a large proportion of plaster fragments (stone building material: Roe 1995). Animal bone was recovered from the site in some abundance (9632 fragments); the majority were from the well (Scott 1987; Dobney et al 1994e). The human skeletal assemblage was reburied, after preliminary study, but the specialist’s full report on the material has not been received. Several radiocarbon determinations were obtained at Harwell for some of the earlier inhumations (Figs 9.30 and 9.105), and we still await the anatomical report on those submitted for this treatment. Owing to pressure of time and lack of information, it was decided to deal cursorily with the inhumations. Plans of the

25

134 St Paul-in-the-Bail (sp72 and sp84) LUB 0 Disturbed Natural (Fig 9.48)

The natural brash over solid bedrock had natural sand filled hollows cg1. It was sealed by sandy clay and limestone cg2 which covered the whole area of the site to a depth varying between 0.06 to 0.30m;

the top OD, which seemed to have been truncated (by cg21, LUB 2 and later by cg32, LUB 4) lay between 64.60m and 64.85m. This may have represented the trampled ground surface for the earliest occupation.

Cutting into the natural cg1 were four irregular holes, cg3, which may have also cut through the sandy clay cg2. However, no relationship is recorded with cg2. These holes were probably caused by trees.

The presence of a few pieces of brick, tile and mortar within cg2 suggests that this may have been the layer from which Roman buildings were con-structed, but this may have been in the colonia period rather than the 1st-century occupation. A few sherds of intrusive pottery were recovered from cg2 (13 sherds) and cg3 (one sherd), including nine from IASH closed vessels, probably cooking pots of IA tradition, a PINK body sherd from a closed vessel, and two GREY vessels, one a fragment of an everted rim beaker, while the other rim fragment is similar to a fairly distinctive type known from the fortress at Longthorpe (Dannell and Wild 1987, nos 76e, 87b).

A single small body sherd of IASH came from cg3.

All the pottery from cg2 and cg3 can be dated to the mid 1st century.

Early Roman

Cutting the natural limestone brash LUB 0 was a timber structure, interpreted as the first phase of the north-west corner of the legionary principia, which consisted of an aisled hall (basilica) with a possible water-tank or channel to the west and a verandah round a courtyard to the east, and a north range LUB 1. This was then dismantled LUB 2. A second phase of the structure also included an aisled hall with a north range, but to the east was an enigmatic feature cg23 with post-pits cg35 LUB 3. This too was dismantled LUB 4. Pottery from LUBs 1–4 dated to the 1st century.

In the west part of the site was a sequence of surfaces, possibly part of the forum courtyard LUB 5. Fragmented sherds of pottery from the courtyard dated to the 1st and 2nd centuries; a coin dated the last surface to the very late 4th century (see Late Roman). The absence of pottery from the courtyard indicates that perhaps pottery was not dropped there in the first place, or that the courtyard was kept clean in the mid to late Roman periods. The area to the east possibly held statues LUB 6; no dating evidence was found here but stratigraphy would suggest a date between the 1st and early 2nd century.

It was subsequently the location for part of a monumental building LUB 7, while the forum

courtyard (LUB 5) continued in use to the west; both the stratigraphy and pottery from its construction would indicate that this building dated to between the late 1st and early 2nd century.

LUB 1 Structure 1.1: Principia 1.1 (Figs 9.7 and 9.52)

At the west end of the site were the remains of two post-pits cg46 (cg46a and cg46b) cutting cg1 (LUB 0), c3m apart, which may have been two of a row of several posts. Only one pit was fully excavated, cg46a; it held a post with a section 0.22 by 0.15m.

Possibly of integral construction or at least function-ing contemporarily, just to the west of the posts but cutting through the post-pit fills, was a north–south wooden board-sided trench cg52 (1.20m wide and 0.40m deep). Wooden boards had been laid against the sides of the trench; traces of timber were found running north–south along the line of the western edge of the trench. These were pinned to the sides of the trench with wooden stakes. The bottom appeared to have been stone-lined. The lower silting of trench cg52 was layers of sandy silt cg53 which suggests that the timber-lined trench held water.

Two rows of post-pits cg38 (cg38a to cg38i) ran north–south, cutting cg2 (LUB 0), c7m east of post-pits cg46; they did not form pairs, but were seen as being contemporary because both rows were cut by two further rows of pits cg48 (cg48a to cg48j, LUB 3; Fig 9.52). Five post-pits were excavated in the east row but only four in the west row, possibly due to the other being cut away entirely by later features. The pits were up to 1.35m deep and were generally longer north–south than east–west; they contained posts which were rectangular in section (c0.22 by 0.18m), sunk c1m into the pits. The posts would have stood c3m apart.

Adjacent to the east side of the eastern line of posts, were the fragmentary remains of a north–

south beam slot cg7 which cut cg2 (LUB 0). The slot may have held a beam, rectangular in section (c0.25 by 0.20); it was cut by a stake-hole which appeared to have been an element in the construction of a north–south wall. The slot was described as lying between the post-pits and so being part of the post-pit structure. However, the slot was also recorded as being cut by post-pits but it is possible that the line of the slot had sunk into the pit and was not identified.

To the west of the two rows of posts cg38 was an east–west slot cg11; it had been truncated by later levelling, so there was no record of what it cut and there was no trace of a beam. Although there was no direct relationship with other features on the site, it seems possible that it was of the same phase as slot cg7; it may have represented an internal division in the hall.

To the north-west of post-pits cg38 was another

135 St Paul-in-the-Bail (sp72 and sp84)

Fig 9.7 Principia 1: LUB 1

136 St Paul-in-the-Bail (sp72 and sp84) post-pit cg34 (there was no record of what it cut).

This post-pit might belong to either this phase of building (LUB 1) or the next (LUB 3) or even both building phases (LUBs 1 and 3).

There were several east–west post-pits along the north edge of the site. Slot cg42 cut cg3 (LUB 0); it had a fill cg43 which had been cut by post-pits cg44 (cg44a and cg44b); these would have held posts c3m apart. Two pits cg50 (cg50a and cg50b), which cut cg1 (LUB 0) appeared to be along the same line, possibly part of the same construction.

Fifteen postholes cg4 marked the north and west lines of a presumed verandah; eight of them cut layer cg2 (LUB 0), and the rest probably truncated cg1 (LUB 0). In some of the postholes the packing for the post was distinguishable from the removal and infill cg5 of the hole left by the removal of the post. Four stake-holes cg6 ran between two of the postholes, cutting them.

Probably of the same phase as the posthole structure cg4 was a collection of features within the courtyard, all of which cut cg2 (LUB 0): two postholes cg12 (unplanned) and cg17, six stake-holes cg9, cg10 and cg15, two shallow depressions cg14 and cg18, a scoop with charcoal and burnt sand cg13 and the remains of a cut feature cg16.

What may have been a post-pit cg19 cut through the scoop with charcoal cg13. Partially cutting the edge of one of the postholes cg4 was a large shallow feature cg20. These features appear to belong to this phase of the principia as they had been truncated by cg21 (LUB 2) and sealed by the later surface cg22 (LUB 3).

To the east of the site was a north–south slot cg27, which might define the eastern side of the courtyard but there was no record of what it cut.

Three stake holes were recorded as cutting the section of slot excavated. It had a fill of sand with some charcoal.

The west side of an aisled hall may be represented by post-pits cg46; to the west of these the wooden board-sided trench probably represents a water-tank or channel. Postpits cg38 indicate the east side of the aisled hall. Beam slot cg7 seems to have carried a wall plate, the main eastern wall of the west range.

A north range was indicated by post-pits cg44, cg50 and cg34. Postholes cg4 represent the north-west part of a verandah around a courtyard, within which were several miscellaneous features. North–south slot cg27 may indicate the east side of the courtyard.

There were no surfaces definitely associated with postholes cg4 or the rest of principia 1.1. This was because the ground surface had been truncated during demolition cg21 (LUB 2) to about 64.6m OD.

This whole complex is probably part of the first phase of the legionary principia, or headquarters ( as previously proposed: Jones & Gilmour 1980). The aisled hall to the west was at least 11m wide and

14m long; the buildings along the north side extended at least another 14m and probably more like 35m to the east; the courtyard verandah enclosed a courtyard at least 8m by 23m. The size and nature of the building suggest this, as does its central location in the legionary fortress.

All the pottery (62 sherds) from this LUB dates to the 1st century but precision is difficult. Pottery from cg46 consisted of 6 body sherds and a handle from a single OXSA flagon. Pottery from cg53 (35 sherds) included 31 sherds from a single OXSA closed vessel, one CR and 3 small PINK body sherds. Pottery from cg11 (20 sherds) includes 15 which are from a single CR closed vessel, probably a flagon, and five GREY body sherds. Pottery from cg50 contained one sherd of DR20 amphora, of early fabric type.

LUB 2 Dismantling of Principia 1.1

Over the initial silting cg53 (LUB 1) of the channel feature cg52 were layers of charcoal and red sand cg54, which had extended beyond the line of the channel and sealed the post-pits cg46 (LUB 1).

Further fine silts and clays, some with ash and charcoal cg55, suggest the continued presence of water. The wood-sided feature was then backfilled by 0.40m of sandy clay cg56.

The packing of several of the post-pits cg38 (LUB 1) was disturbed; the posts had been removed cg39, as indicated by one pit cg39d where the post had

The packing of several of the post-pits cg38 (LUB 1) was disturbed; the posts had been removed cg39, as indicated by one pit cg39d where the post had

Im Dokument The Archaeologyof The Upper Cityand Adjacent Suburbs (Seite 138-170)