A Roman Roadside Settlement at Healam Bridge: The Iron Age to Early Medieval Evidence

Abstract

Evidence for pre-Roman Iron Age through to post-Roman activity was revealed during a major programme of archaeological investigation undertaken as an integral part of the construction scheme to widen the A1 trunk road between Dishforth and Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire. Significant archaeological remains were encountered at Healam Bridge, a scheduled Roman settlement located on Dere Street Roman road, midway between the walled towns of Isuriam Brigantum and Cataractonium (the modern villages of Aldborough and Catterick). This two-volume set presents the results and discussion of the excavations and analysis of the environmental and human remains (Volume 1), and the analysis of the artefactual assemblages (Volume 2). Evidence from Healam Bridge indicates activity dating from the early 2nd century AD into the Anglo-Saxon period. The location of the site astride the main Roman route to the north of England and Scotland was reflected in the wide range of pottery and other finds recovered, and activities such as iron-smithing are likely to have served the passing trade as much as the local community. The extensive animal bone assemblage suggested that horse, possibly mule, breeding was a significant activity at Healam Bridge throughout the Roman period. This archive presents appendices B-I and supplementary material resulting from the programme of archaeological works undertaken during the construction scheme to widen the A1 trunk road between Dishforth and Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire. The Iron Age to early medieval evidence from Healam Bridge, along with other evidence for Roman activity along the route is published in two volumes as: Ambrey, C., Fell, D., Fraser, R., Ross, S., Speed, G., and Wood, P. N. (2017) A Roman Roadside Settlement at Healam Bridge. The Iron Age to early medieval evidence. Volume 1: Archaeological narrative, environmental evidence, and human remains. Northern Archaeological Associates Monograph Series Volume 3. Barnard Castle: Northern Archaeological Associates. Ambrey, C., Fell, D., Fraser, R., Ross, S., Speed, G., and Wood, P. N. (2017) A Roman Roadside Settlement at Healam Bridge. The Iron Age to early medieval evidence. Volume 2: Artefacts. Northern Archaeological Associates Monograph Series Volume 3. Barnard Castle: Northern Archaeological Associates. This digital archive includes appendices referenced within the two volumes: Volume 1: title page, acknowledgements, and summary Volume 2: title page, acknowledgements, and summary Appendix B: Table 98 Field Numbers and Chainage Concordance Appendix C: Environmental Remains by Context Appendix D: Environmental Remains Tables 29 to 94 Appendix E: Measurement Archive of Vertebrate Remains Appendix F: Environmental Remains Raw Data, Healam Bridge Appendix G: Environmental Remains Raw Data, Non-Healam Bridge Appendix H: Pottery raw data and supplementary data to support figures in Volume 2 of the publication Appendix I: Key to Coin Catalogue and Table 128 Coin Catalogue The finds, paper, and full digital archive is hosted by the Yorkshire Museum, York Museums Trust. The accession number is YORYM : 2013.78