Description
Book SynopsisThis publication presents the results of over 30 years of investigation into Roman Godmanchester, (Cambridgeshire), by Michael Green. The book accurately locates the 25 “sites” investigated, and pinpoints the trenches against the modern street layout. Although some sites covered large areas, many often had to be conducted as small trenches undertaken by volunteers. The origins for Durovigutum include evidence for Iron Age settlement which preceded two Roman forts during the 1st century AD. After its initial military establishment the book goes on to reveal the development of the Roman civic community and its cemeteries along Ermine Street adjacent to its crossing of the Great Ouse.
The town was surrounded by defences in the 2nd century and a wall in the 3rd century, its public buildings included a mansio, bath-house and brewery, aisled barns, basilica and several temples, and the socio-economic foundation of the community is explored with specific examples from excavated evidence including different types of domestic housing and workshops. A tavern, glassware-shop, dairy equipment, pottery manufacture and a smithy are detailed in this book, as well as analysis of land organization, infield and outfield agriculture, and a villa estate at Rectory farm. Specialist analyses include samian and coarse wares, vessel and window glass, coins, animal bone, dairy production, belief systems and burial practices, as well as the exceptional finds of a hoard of jewellery from one of the mansio pits, and a burial casket of wood and bronze.
Although partial or full reports of various excavations have been published in journals and monographs previously, this is the first time Green’s full body of work on Godmanchester has been collated and presented in one comprehensive volume. The book has not tried to include more recent investigations, and most illustrations are by Michael Green, drawn contemporary with his excavations.
Trade Review‘…[It] is impossible not to be in awe of Green’s commitment to Roman Godmanchester and we have cause to be grateful to Tim Malim for bringing the volume together. As a result of this publication we are undoubtedly better informed about this important site, but it is also clear that much potential remains to be realized from the sites and material presented (or not) in the volume – a mine for postgraduate dissertations and theses perhaps?’ – Pete Wilson (2019): Archaeological Journal, DOI: 10.1080/00665983.2018.1555125
Table of ContentsPreface ;
Foreword ;
PART 1 EXCAVATIONS AT DUROVIGUTUM ROMAN GODMANCHESTER ;
Chapter 1 Introduction ;
Chapter 2 Chronological and Thematic Summary of the Town ;
Chapter 3 The forts, road network, and town development ;
Chapter 4 Public Buildings and cemeteries ;
Chapter 5 The Town: The Economic Base ;
Chapter 6 The Economic Basis of the Rural Hinterland ;
Chapter 7 Domestic Buildings and continuation into Anglo-Saxon times ;
PART 2 SPECIALIST STUDIES ;
Chapter 8 Samian, coarse pottery, kiln and catalogues ;
Chapter 9 Mortaria and lamps ;
Chapter 10 Faunal remains ;
Chapter 11 Coins, special assemblages and slag ;
PART 3 APPENDICES ;
Appendix 1 Site reports arranged chronologically by excavation date ;
Appendix 2 Collected Publications on Roman Godmanchester ;
Appendix 3 Small Finds Catalogue and Drawings ;
Bibliography
