Insediamento romano a Cockermouth

[ARES III]

Una statua e un villaggio romano trovati ora in un campo agricolo dell’Inghilterra

Un insediamento romano, una statuetta dell’epoca, frammenti di ceramica, una fonderia, monete dell’impero, una strada, una testa di ponte sul fiume. Tutto ciò è emerso in queste settimane nelle campagne di Cockermouth, un paese di 7.800 abitanti della contea del Cumbria, in Inghilterra, luogo di nascita del famoso poeta inglese William Wordsworth.

 

La scultura, l’archeologo e il proprietario terriero. Foto @ Ecus archaelogy

Fino ad oggi si sapeva che i romani avevano costruito un forte a Derventio Carvetiorum, nel villaggio di Papcastle, confinante con Cockermouth, per proteggere l’attraversamento del fiume su un’importante tratta percorsa dalle truppe romane dirette al Vallo di Adriano.

La scoperta delle nuove vestigia – che consente di comprendere che il reticolo insediativo romano, sul fiume, era più ampio e interconnesso di quanto si potesse ritenere – è avvenuta nel corso di uno scavo archeologico preventivo disposto dall’autorità in seguito alla richiesta di un proprietario terriero – Bob Slack – di realizzare una gronda per recuperare all’agricoltura una zona soggetta ad alluvioni.

La zona è stata sottoposta a un’accurata indagine geofisica che dimostrava la presenza di strutture sotterranee. E’ così iniziato lo scavo, condotto dagli specialisti di Ecus archaeology.

Nelle prime settimane, gli archeologi hanno scoperto i resti di produzione di una fonderia romana, l’area di un accampamento, i muri di un villaggio e una strada romana che portava a un ponte – scomparso – sul fiume. Come dicevamo, numerosi anche i beni culturali mobili recuperati, tra i quali un bel busto di un personaggio barbato, scolpito nella pietra calcarea.

Gli scavi si stanno spostando verso un punto dove – probabilmente grazie al georadar – è stata rilevata la presenza di una struttura che lascerebbe pensare a un santuario o a un tempietto.

https://www.stilearte.it/una-statua-e-un-villaggio-romano-trovati-ora-in-un-campo-agricolo-dellinghilterra/

[ARES III]

Ancient discoveries unearthed by team of archaeologists in Cockermouth

 

Coins, pottery and a bust have recently been found. The nine-strong team of experts will soon start work on a new section where they think may be a religious sanctuary.

 

An open day was held yesterday for the team from Ecus, Barnard Castle, to share their findings with members of the public.

They have been working on land behind the Lakes Home Centre for six weeks and uncovered remains of an ancient community.

In the first few weeks they discovered evidence of a Roman foundry, marching camp and small village, said landowner Bob Slack.

More recently they have discovered a bust, coins and pottery.

Ecus technical director Andy Crowson said: "They recently started working on the south west corner of the site, close to the road.

"They found evidence of a Roman road which appears to be running towards a bridge head to cross the River Derwent."

They have also found evidence of house plots.

"In the next two or three weeks they will be working on the very edge of the site where they think there may be a religious sanctuary.

"They might find more figurines, objects people used in private prayer and worship."

A bust modelled in the form of a deity is not thought to be a religious icon. "Colleagues think it's a steelyard weight," said Andy.

"Most of the pottery seems to be Samian ware, it's always red and considered to be fine tableware, often depicting various scenes."

The Ecus team was called in by Mr Slack who is keen to put some flood defences in the area.

"Planning will be subject to an archaeological dig so hopefully by arranging the dig it will speed up the process when applying for planning permission," said Mr Slack.

A geographical survey of the eight to 10 acre site was carried out to identify what is underground and which areas to excavate.

Mechanical diggers were then brought in to remove the top and sub soil.

Since then archaeologists have been meticulously examining various areas.

"It's gone extremely well and we've been fortunate with the weather," said Mr Slack.

"They had an idea what they were going to find from the geophysical survey which had been carried out."

The team will create three types of record: drawn, photographic and written/ digital.

Once everything has been recorded the area will be covered with soil and reseeded.

The land is in a flood zone so cannot be developed. Mr Slack has planning permission for 27 homes adjacent to the Lovells development on Low Road.

 

https://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/23450060.ancient-discoveries-unearthed-team-archaeologists-cockermouth/

A bust modelled in the form of a deity was thought to have been used as a steelyard measuring weight

Some of the Samian ware which has been found and on show at the open event

Landowner Bob Slack and archaeologist Eddie Dougherty on the site 

[Vel Saties]

Che bella ceramica!