Time Team - Binchester Roman Fort, County Durham - Archaeological Evaluation and Assessment of Results

Wessex Archaeology

The project aims were to carry out a limited programme of non-intrusive investigations and intrusive evaluation over three days. The gradiometer results of the geophysical survey complement the earlier geophysical survey carried out by Geoquest and provide further information on the layout of the vicus (including evidence for a large associated boundary ditch). Earlier fort ditches were also mapped along with the course of Dere Street to the west of the fort and a further Roman road heading north-east out of the fort. Perhaps one of the most interesting finds was a series of mausolea; these appeared in the magnetic results but more clearly in the ground penetrating radar data, which identified entranceways and internal features. Possible industrial activity was noted outside the north-eastern entrance of the fort. The results clearly demonstrate the potential that geophysics, and in particular ground penetrating radar, have for providing detailed information about the fort and environs at Binchester.

Three machine trenches were excavated; one within the Scheduled Monument to examine the vicus (civilian settlement) and antiquarian excavations; one to examine large rectilinear features identified by geophysical survey and aerial photography, thought to represent the defences of an early timber fort; and one to examine the mausolea identified by geophysical survey.

As no excavation of in situ Romano-British deposits was undertaken and the vast majority of the finds recovered from this trench were from the backfill of an antiquarian trench and the topsoil; the date of the construction, occupation and abandonment of the building is unknown, although a 2nd to 4th century AD date is likely.

In summary, the Time Team evaluation has demonstrated the extent, character and condition of the Romano-British remains and has shown that substantial and important stratified remains survive below ground.