Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T10:10:40.108Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Roman Fort at Nanstallon, Cornwall

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Aileen Fox  and
William Ravenhill
Aileen Fox
Affiliation:
The University of Exeter
William Ravenhill
Affiliation:
The University of Exeter
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The rectangular earthwork on Tregear Farm, Nanstallon, just west of Bodmin has long been suspected to be of Roman origin. When the eastern rampart was levelled in the early nineteenth century and those on the other three sides were cut back and reduced to typical high Cornish hedge banks, coins of Vespasian and some first-century pottery were found, including pieces of a samian form 29 and a stamped mortarium. The finds were deposited in the Bodmin Museum, where they were seen by Haverfield when he was preparing his account of Romano-British Cornwall for the Victoria County History. He tentatively suggested that the earthwork was a fort, or possibly ‘a protection for immigrant traders’, shrewdly observing that its occupation was of brief duration. Hencken in 1932 referred to it only as ‘a little frontier settlement’ and the Ordnance Survey Roman Britain map of 1956 also marked it simply as a settlement site. The generally accepted opinion was that the Roman campaigns and military occupation did not extend beyond the Fosse Way or, at most, the river Exe.

Type
Research Article
Information
Britannia , Volume 3 , November 1972 , pp. 56 - 111
Copyright
Copyright © Aileen Fox and William Ravenhill 1972. Exclusive Licence to Publish: The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Haverfield, F., VCH Cornwall Part 5 (1924), p. 4.Google Scholar

2 Hencken, H. O'. N., Archaeology of Cornwall and Scilly (1932), p. 192.Google Scholar

3 Fox, and Ravenhill, , P. Devon Arch. Soc. 24 (1966), p. 9.Google Scholar

4 P. Somerset Arch. Soc. ciii (1958), p. 81.Google Scholar

5 JRS xlviii (1958), p. 98.Google Scholar

6 South-Western B decorated (Glastonbury) pottery from The Rumps, Castle Dore, Caerloggas, Tregear: South-Western C (cordoned ware) from The Rumps, Caerloggas and Castle Dore. See A Fox, South West England (1964), Ch. vii.

7 See Revd. Iago, W., J.R.I.C. x (1890-1891), p. 212 for a description of the former state and reduction of the ramparts.Google Scholar

8 Reproduced byHaverfield, VCH 5, p. 7. No trace remains of the four barrows mapped around the fort.

9 Samples were sent to Mrs. G. Wilson who reported that no plant-remains were present.

10 Iago, W., J.R.I.C. x (1890-1891), p. 211. Repeated by Haverfield in VCH pt. 5, p. 5.Google Scholar

11 Iago mentions a double rampart: Haverfield two ditches, though neither claimed first-hand information.

12 The overall measurements given include the rampart, but not the ditch.

13 Posts of almost identical form were found in the gate of the Agricolan fort at Oakwood, Selkirk: the butts had been charred. Steer, K. and Feachem, R. W., PSAS 86 (1951-1952), p. 81, pl. XVII.Google Scholar

14 We were told by Mr. Srickland, the previous owner of Tregear, on our first visit in 1963, that three people had cut a trench in this corner of the field about ten years ago, ‘looking for Roman remains’.

15 A. Van Giffen, Inheemse en romeinse Terpen, 1948, pl. 8.

16 Richmond, I. A., Hod Hill ii (1968), p. 72 and fig. 62.Google Scholar

17 Stanford, S. C., T. Woolhope N.F.C. xxxix (2) (1968), p. 232.Google Scholar

18 Loc. cit. pl. 45 A.

19 Hogg, A. H. A., Arch. Journ. cxxv, p. 116 and fig. 22. The Pen Llystyn towers have an extra rear post, probably for a stair.Google Scholar

10 Schönberger, H., Saalburg Jahrbuch xxi (1963-1964), p. 59, Abb. 5-6.Google Scholar

21 A slot for timber revetment of the turf rampart-end flanking the gate was found at Baginton: Hobley, B., T. Birmingham A. S. 83 (1969), p. 81.Google Scholar

22 J. S. Wacher, Excavations at Brough-on-Humber 1958-9, Soc. Ant. Research Report (1969), p. 13, fig. 7.

23 Hobley, B., T. Birmingham A. S. 83 (1969), p. 81.Google Scholar

24 Richmond, I. A., Hod Hill ii (1968), p. 71, fig. 41b.Google Scholar

25 Fox, A. and Ravenhill, W., P. Devon Arch. Soc. 24 (1966), p. 9, fig. 5.Google Scholar

26 Stanford, S. C., Trans. Woolhope N.F.C. 39 (2) (1968), p. 254. This section of the report and diagram (FIG. 9) were prepared in 1968 for a lecture to the Society of Antiquaries. We have modified both slightly in the light of Mr. Stanford's report.Google Scholar

27 Cunliffe, B., Richborough v (Soc. Ant. Research Report, 1969), p. 232.Google Scholar

28 Richmond, I. A., PSAS lxxiii (1938-1939), p. 120.Google Scholar

29 S. C. Stanford, loc. cit. (note 26).

30 For Longthorpe see JRS lviii (1968), p. 190, fig. 13.Google Scholar

31 Hogg, A. H. A., Arch. Journ. cxxv (1969), p. 113 and fig. 22. The position of the doors is shown by sill beams.Google Scholar

32 I. A. Richmond, loc. cit. (note 24), porta praetoria, p. 70 and fig. 41a.

33 A. Van Giffen, loc. cit. (note 15), pl. 8.

34 For a discussion of Roman field-ovens, see Martinhoe, and Burrow, Old, P. Devon Arch. Soc. 24, (1966), p. 20.Google Scholar

35 Fellmann, R., Die Principia des Legionslagers Vindonissa und das Zentralgebäude der römischen Lager und Kastelle (Brugg 1958).Google Scholar

36 A. Van Giffen loc. cit. (note 15) pl. 9. The cross-hall was not built here until the later second century, Period 5.

37 R. Fellmann, op. cit. (note 35).

38 Ritterling, E., Nassauische Annalen xl (1913), ‘Die frührömische Lager bei Hofheim in Taunus’, Abb. 10.Google Scholar

39 V. E. Nash-Williams, The Roman Frontier in Wales (2nd ed., M. G. Jarrett, 1969) fig. 85, p. 157.

40 S. Miller, The Roman Fort at Balmuildy (1922), p. 24 and fig. 7.

41 Schönberger, H., Saalburg Jahrbuch xxi (1963-1964), p. 83, plan 4.Google Scholar

42 We owe this suggestion to Professor Frere.

43 A grid-iron was found at Silchester. G. Boon, Roman Silchester (1957) fig 32, p. 165.

44 I. A. Richmond, loc. cit. (note 24), p. 86 for similar siting.

45 Information from Dr. W. H. Manning, University College, Cardiff. Only two post-holes were found at Nanstallon but two others could easily have been missed in our haste to complete the excavation in 1966: they have been restored on FIG. 13, as necessary supports for seating.

46 I. A. Richmond, loc. cit. (note 24), p. 77-8 and fig. 62. W. Glasbergen, De romeinse castella te Valkenburg, Opgravingen 1962 (1967), correcting the former identification by van Giffen as part of the principia.

47 M. Jarrett, loc. cit. (note 39), p. 160, fig. 86: Brecon, Caerhun, Pen Llystyn, Segontium.

48 I. A. Richmond, loc. cit. (note 24), p. 76, figs. 43-4.

49 W. Glasbergen, loc. cit. (note 46).

50 E. Ritterling, loc. cit. (note 38), Taf. ii.

51 A. H. A. Hogg, loc. cit. (note 19), p. 130, fig. 19.

52 loc. cit. (note 24), p. 86 and figs. 46b, 47.

53 I. A. Richmond, loc. cit. (note 24) legionary barrack I (fig. 45 a).

54 A. Van Giffen, loc. cit. Pl. 8.

55 The interior of one building, Barrack II, was not investigated and it could have been a long storehouse: if so Nanstallon had six barracks which is normal for a quingenary infantry unit; but this theory does not account for the differing barrack-types (p. 85).

56 For a recent discussion, Breeze, D. and Dobson, B., ‘Fort types on Hadrians' Wall,’ Arch. Ael. xlvii (1969), p. 15:Google Scholar and Cheesman, G. L., The Auxilia of the Roman Imperial Army, 1914 (1971 reprint), p. 28.Google Scholar

57 I. A. Richmond loc. cit. (note 24), pp. 78, 122.

58 V. E. Nash-Williams, loc. cit. (note 39), p. 150. A cavalry ala occupied c. 7½ acres.

59 VCH Cornwall, Part 5, p. 4, fig. 3.

60 E. Ritterling, loc. cit. (note 38). Abb. 17.

61 I. A. Richmond, loc. cit. (note 24), p. 79. The verandah posts were not found.

62 Hogg, A. H. A., Arch. Journ. cxxv (1968), p. 134 and fig. 20.Google Scholar

63 G. L. Cheesman op. cit. p. 30. According to Hyginus there were 380 infantry and 120 cavalry in a cohors quingenaria equitata. They were organized in six centuries and four turmae.

64 Fox, A., ‘New light on the military occupation of south-west England’, in Roman Frontier Studies, ed. Birley, E., Cardiff, 1972.Google Scholar

65 See Jarrett, M. for a discussion of evidence to the contrary. Arch. Joum. cxxi (1964), pp. 32–3.Google Scholar

66 E. Birley, Roman Britain and the Roman Army (1953), p. 1.

67 Annals xiv, 38: quodque nationum ambiguum aut adversum fuerat igni atqueferro vastatum.

68 Ibid., xiv, 37.

69 Information from Dr. Graham Webster.

70 Richmond, I. A., Hod Hill ii (1968), p. 117 ff.Google Scholar

71 Alcock, L., Antiq. Journ. li (1971), p. 4. Mr. Alcock prefers the conquest period of 44, but the brooches seem to indicate a later date.Google Scholar

72 H. R. Hurst, Interim Report 1970 (Gloucester Museum).

73 Chiesa, G. Sena, Gemme del Museo Hazvmale di Aquileia (Aquileia 1966), 38 ff.Google Scholar

74 Trans. Dumfries, and Galloway N.H.A.S., 3rd ser., xlvi (1969), 100–103, where other parallels a re cited.Google Scholar

75 Annuario della Scuola Archeologica di Atene xli–xlii (1963-1964), 98–9, Nos. 474-80, fig. 26.Google Scholar

76 Webster, G., P. Dorset Arch. Soc. 86 (1965), p. 140: see also 82 (1960), p. 88.Google Scholar

77 Fox, A. and Ravenhill, W., P. Devon Arch. Soc. 24 (1966), p. 31.Google Scholar

78 Thriepland, L. Murray, Arch. Journ. 113 (1956), p. 53.Google Scholar

79 Brooks, R. and Cotton, M., Cornish Arch. 3 (1964), p. 26.Google Scholar

80 R. E. M. Wheeler, Hill forts of Northern France, p. 43. figs. 8-9.

81 Peacock, D., Antiq. Journ. xlix (1969), p. 40.Google Scholar