Piercebridge, County Durham - Archaeological Evaluation and Assessment of Results

Wessex Archaeology

The evaluation located a previously unknown area of activity to the north-west of the fort, dating to the 2nd century AD, although the precise nature of the activity in this area was not conclusive. The types of domestic refuse recovered would be consistent with civilian settlement, although a large area of cobbling could imply a more official or military structure. The alignment of features in this area differed from that of the fort, and suggests that activity here pre-dated the construction of the fort in the mid 3rd century AD.

The evaluation also located the exact route of the earlier alignment of Dere Street to the south of the River Tees, although no further dating was obtained, and geophysical survey did not reveal any evidence for any significant settlement remains in this area. A section of what appears to be a branch road was uncovered to the north of the river, and geophysical results suggest that this pre-dates some of the vicus buildings.

Some further remains were found within the area of Tofts Field, to the east of the fort and the present village, which particularly highlighted the changing course of the river. The presence of a grave suggests that there may be a cemetery in this area; a cist burial was discovered just to the south-west in 1933. Underwater exploration found a number of timbers to the west of the course of the Roman stone bridge, and a radiocarbon date in the 1st century AD was obtained for an additional line of timber piles to the west of this.

Very little evidence for post-Roman activity was recovered, apart from a few possible Saxon and medieval pottery sherds. Medieval ridge and furrow was identified from the geophysical survey to the south of the river.