Vindolanda Vicus (Henshaw)
[NY 76846635] Roman Well [G.S.] (Site of) (1)
The extensive civil settlement, which existed to the west and south west of the fort, has not been examined in detail, but trial excavations in 1931 and 1959 have shown that several of its buildings were very well preserved. (2)
Traces of buildings are discernible in the area NY 76886639, and ground swellings, and general disturbance continues to the south; but no intelligible pattern is visible. The site of the well is marked by a modern inscribed stone. Surveyed at 1:2500. (3)
Drainage work in 1969, by Durham University Excavn. Committee, in the vicus W. of the visible fort revealed the W. rampart of the Antonine fort. Also in the vicus a courtyard building was excavated and two smaller houses located. The courtyard building (see plan) had begun as a three-roomed bath-house inside the Antonine fort (c. AD.160) and had been extended by two further rooms during the 2nd.c. The courtyard was completed c.AD. 210 in masonry of good enough quality to suggest official use, e.g. a mansio outside the Severan fort. Two inscribed building stones and a cylindrical milestone were found in 1969. An account of the recent excavations of the civilian settlement is given by Birley (5). He divides this settlement into 2 phases, Vicus I and Vicus II. Vicus I has hardly any strip buildings and appears to have been defended by a rampart. It contained a corridor house, a building identified as married quarters for soldiers and mansio. The identification of this first phase as a vicus is disputed. Salway has compared it to military annexes attached to forts on the Antonine Wall (6) and Frere and St Joseph suggest that it may have been an official administrative establishment (7). The dating of this phase is problematic. Welsby suggests that the coin evidence and to a certain extent the samian point to a date c 140 A.D. No date has been suggested for the end of vicus I. It appears to have been systematically demolished and the area tidied up. This was followed by a period of disuse and then the construction of Vicus II. Vicus II is a vicus of normal type with many strip buildings and the main road through it is aligned on the west gate of the period II stone fort. Vicus II has been dated from c 270 A.D. but R Birley now dates its end to c.270 A.D. (8). (4-8)
Original interpretation of the dates of the two phases of vicus cited as incorrect by Casey. Coinage evidence suggests an Antonine vicus and a third century one, abandoned before AD270. Close association in date with the fort [NY 76 NE 16] in two phases. Although relatively short periods of growth represented at the vici, they are well developed and show uniform methods of construction within each phase. Phase 1 dated c.AD140 - c.AD180s; phase 2 early 3rd century - late AD260s. Casey suggests the construction of the vici be seen as part of the construction of the fort itself. (9)
Scheduled. (10)
Excavations carried out in the western part of the vicus in 2005 southwest of the wells and water-tanks previously recorded. Various pieces of statuary were recovered associated with two temples or tombs, a major road and near the industrial workshops examined in 2003-04. The western limits of the vicus appear to have been reached 180m west of the western walls of the stone fort. Industrial workings of Hadrianic to Antonine date were uncovered with several small hearths and substantial quantities of industrial waste. Finds also include an inscribed brooch. (11)
NY 770664 Vindolanda Roman fort and civil settlement, Chesterholm, scheduled. (12a)
The vicus associated with Vindolanda fort is visible on air photographs. Large areas of excavated, exposed foundations of buildings are visible. (12b)
There are numerous water features associated with the vicus, namely several wells, and water tank at natural springs to the west of the fort and lengths of stone conduits running towards the fort. (12c)
Excavation on the western fringes of the extramural area in 2004-6 revealed a number of stone buildings of second century date, with considerable furnaces associated with the processing of iron ore, an activity also found in other areas dating to the third century, as well as within the stone forts. Three large stone buildings with courtyards, and in two cases, wells, were examined in the south parts of the extramural area. These remains suggested they were the properties of relatively wealthy civilians. There was no evidence for occupation in the fourth century throughout the area. Industrial buildings were identified in the south-west area, and finds included a votive altar dedicated to the Syrian god, normally only found at Carvoran. Possible military store buildings were also uncovered just outside the fort's south gate. In the far west area a number of further industrial buildings were identified of possible third century date, with two small rectangular temples to the west of them. (12d)
Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (12e)
General association with HER 6556 (Vindolanda Roman Fort), HER 6605 (Roman cemeteries), HER 6632 (altars), HER 6634 (Bath House), HER 33139 (bath house). (12)
The extensive civil settlement, which existed to the west and south west of the fort, has not been examined in detail, but trial excavations in 1931 and 1959 have shown that several of its buildings were very well preserved. (2)
Traces of buildings are discernible in the area NY 76886639, and ground swellings, and general disturbance continues to the south; but no intelligible pattern is visible. The site of the well is marked by a modern inscribed stone. Surveyed at 1:2500. (3)
Drainage work in 1969, by Durham University Excavn. Committee, in the vicus W. of the visible fort revealed the W. rampart of the Antonine fort. Also in the vicus a courtyard building was excavated and two smaller houses located. The courtyard building (see plan) had begun as a three-roomed bath-house inside the Antonine fort (c. AD.160) and had been extended by two further rooms during the 2nd.c. The courtyard was completed c.AD. 210 in masonry of good enough quality to suggest official use, e.g. a mansio outside the Severan fort. Two inscribed building stones and a cylindrical milestone were found in 1969. An account of the recent excavations of the civilian settlement is given by Birley (5). He divides this settlement into 2 phases, Vicus I and Vicus II. Vicus I has hardly any strip buildings and appears to have been defended by a rampart. It contained a corridor house, a building identified as married quarters for soldiers and mansio. The identification of this first phase as a vicus is disputed. Salway has compared it to military annexes attached to forts on the Antonine Wall (6) and Frere and St Joseph suggest that it may have been an official administrative establishment (7). The dating of this phase is problematic. Welsby suggests that the coin evidence and to a certain extent the samian point to a date c 140 A.D. No date has been suggested for the end of vicus I. It appears to have been systematically demolished and the area tidied up. This was followed by a period of disuse and then the construction of Vicus II. Vicus II is a vicus of normal type with many strip buildings and the main road through it is aligned on the west gate of the period II stone fort. Vicus II has been dated from c 270 A.D. but R Birley now dates its end to c.270 A.D. (8). (4-8)
Original interpretation of the dates of the two phases of vicus cited as incorrect by Casey. Coinage evidence suggests an Antonine vicus and a third century one, abandoned before AD270. Close association in date with the fort [NY 76 NE 16] in two phases. Although relatively short periods of growth represented at the vici, they are well developed and show uniform methods of construction within each phase. Phase 1 dated c.AD140 - c.AD180s; phase 2 early 3rd century - late AD260s. Casey suggests the construction of the vici be seen as part of the construction of the fort itself. (9)
Scheduled. (10)
Excavations carried out in the western part of the vicus in 2005 southwest of the wells and water-tanks previously recorded. Various pieces of statuary were recovered associated with two temples or tombs, a major road and near the industrial workshops examined in 2003-04. The western limits of the vicus appear to have been reached 180m west of the western walls of the stone fort. Industrial workings of Hadrianic to Antonine date were uncovered with several small hearths and substantial quantities of industrial waste. Finds also include an inscribed brooch. (11)
NY 770664 Vindolanda Roman fort and civil settlement, Chesterholm, scheduled. (12a)
The vicus associated with Vindolanda fort is visible on air photographs. Large areas of excavated, exposed foundations of buildings are visible. (12b)
There are numerous water features associated with the vicus, namely several wells, and water tank at natural springs to the west of the fort and lengths of stone conduits running towards the fort. (12c)
Excavation on the western fringes of the extramural area in 2004-6 revealed a number of stone buildings of second century date, with considerable furnaces associated with the processing of iron ore, an activity also found in other areas dating to the third century, as well as within the stone forts. Three large stone buildings with courtyards, and in two cases, wells, were examined in the south parts of the extramural area. These remains suggested they were the properties of relatively wealthy civilians. There was no evidence for occupation in the fourth century throughout the area. Industrial buildings were identified in the south-west area, and finds included a votive altar dedicated to the Syrian god, normally only found at Carvoran. Possible military store buildings were also uncovered just outside the fort's south gate. In the far west area a number of further industrial buildings were identified of possible third century date, with two small rectangular temples to the west of them. (12d)
Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (12e)
General association with HER 6556 (Vindolanda Roman Fort), HER 6605 (Roman cemeteries), HER 6632 (altars), HER 6634 (Bath House), HER 33139 (bath house). (12)
N6633
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1966; R W Emsley
EXCAVATION, Chesterholm (Vindolanda) 1975; ViNDOLANDA TRUST
TRIAL TRENCH, Trial trenches around the West Gate Admission Building, Vindolanda 2004; The Vindolanda Trust
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION, English Heritage: Hadrian's Wall WHS Mapping Project, NMP 2008; English Heritage
EXCAVATION, Chesterholm (Vindolanda) ; Vindolanda Trust
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY, Vindolanda ; Timescape Archaeological Surveys
EVALUATION, Chesterholm (Vindolanda) ; Anon
EXCAVATION, Chesterholm (Vindolanda) ; Durham Excavation Committee
EXCAVATION, Chesterholm (Vindolanda) 1975; ViNDOLANDA TRUST
TRIAL TRENCH, Trial trenches around the West Gate Admission Building, Vindolanda 2004; The Vindolanda Trust
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION, English Heritage: Hadrian's Wall WHS Mapping Project, NMP 2008; English Heritage
EXCAVATION, Chesterholm (Vindolanda) ; Vindolanda Trust
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY, Vindolanda ; Timescape Archaeological Surveys
EVALUATION, Chesterholm (Vindolanda) ; Anon
EXCAVATION, Chesterholm (Vindolanda) ; Durham Excavation Committee
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Please note that this information has been compiled from a number of different sources. Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council can accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy contained therein. If you wish to use/copy any of the images, please ensure that you read the Copyright information provided.