Archaeology in the East Park Sedgefield: The Search for Roman Sedgefield
This Year's Excavations (2008)
This year we ran a three week season from 25 June 2008 until 13 July 2008. Further details of this season's results will be available later in the year.
Background
Reports of Roman finds in the area of East Park date back to the late 1960s, when remains of possible Roman date were revealed during the construction of houses to the east of the site. Sadly, these were never properly recorded and their precise nature remains unclear. In the late 1990s more evidence came to light. An aerial photograph of the site clearly showed crop marks of a track way and other possible features. Roman artefacts had also been found in the area by a local metal detector. All the evidence suggested that there was a major Roman settlement in the fields in and around East Park.In 2002, the site was visited by Time Team. They carried out a major geophysical survey of much of the area. This revealed an astonishing network of enclosures and track ways. The team excavated several trenches across the site in order to get a better idea of the nature of Roman activity in the settlement. The most exciting find was an almost perfectly preserved Roman pottery kiln. The dome-shaped body of the kiln still survived. This is one of the few excavated Roman pottery kilns from the north-east of England is of great importance. Analysis of the pottery from around the kiln showed that it was producing a simple grey pottery, probably used for cooking pots and storage jars. It could be seen from the work by Team that East Park, Sedgefield was a major Roman site; indeed it is one of the biggest settlements of this date in the North-east.
Excavation 2005-2006
In the summers of 2005-06 the Archaeology Section of Durham County Council, in partnership with Archaeological Services University of Durham carried out the first of three seasons of archaeological excavation in East Park, Sedgefield.
As well as giving a unique insight into this important Roman site, it also provided an opportunity for members of the public from Sedgefield and beyond to get involved in archaeological excavation. For the initial three weeks the work was carried out by students for the Dept. of Archaeology, who were taking the opportunity to develop their archaeological fieldwork skills. The site then became a community archaeology project. Members of the public were encouraged to try their hand at excavation; some came just for a day, others enjoyed it so much they came back every week.
The excavation focused on one of the enclosures to the west of the Roman road shown on the geophysical enclosure. About one third of this enclosure was opened up for investigation. Work began with a massive geophysical survey, which identified a number of enclosures, on either side of the Roman Road. Several other smaller roads which lead of into the village were also identified. However, the survey did not reveal the purposes of the enclosures. Therefore, during this season it was decided to open excavation part of a large enclosure next to the main Roman Road. A large number of features and finds were identified which included a beautiful bronze jug of fine of high quality workmanship. Inside the enclosures we found evidence for a series of different activities having taken place in the Roman Period. Overall, excavation indicated that the enclosures, which featured on the survey, are unlikely to be field or animal pens. It is probable that they represent individual or family landholdings, occupied by a family group conducting their own low-key trade of craft activities. The regularity of the many of the enclosures also suggested that the site was in someway planned.
Excavation 2006-2007
We kept to the same format of the previous season, we just changed the location. The season began with by increasing the size of the geophysical survey. The survey revealed the size of the settlement and identified a number of features. The 2006 season concentrate on the series of road which lead off from the main road. The trench was positioned over a distinct enclosure visible on the geophysical survey. The enclosure had a number of unique features which included an entrance in the centre of the boundary ditch on the eastern side, where the ditch stops. However, this entrance appears to be too small to be used, it was about half a metre wide. The excavation indicated that the enclosure was built for a specific building, which must have played an important role in the settlement.What Now?
The main task is now to complete all the crucial post-excavation work. This includes washing, processing and identifying all the finds, redrawing all the plans and drawings and checking all the paper records. A talk about the work at East Park was presented at the 2008 Archaeology Day school in March and article in this years 'Archaeology, County Durham' Magazine. The magazine can be purchased through Durham County Council's on-line shop Shop - Welcome to the Online Shop.
Contact Details
If you want to be contacted with details about our Archaeology Day-school or information about getting involved in the excavation next year please contact us by email at Archaeology or by more conventional means at:Archaeology Section
Adult and Community Services
Culture and Leisure Department
The Rivergreen Centre
Durham
DH1 5TS
Tel: 0191 3708712
Fax:0191 3708897
