Newstead

NT53SE 20.12 570 346

NT 569 346 Geophysics and limited excavation N of Newstead fort, on steeply sloping ground between the modern road and River Tweed, discovered evidence for a defended annexe, prably of 1st-century date, and 2nd-century occupation spreading over and beyond the defences. The 1st-century defences consisted of a 5m wide, 1.2m deep ditch and earth rampart (of unknown width) fronted by a timber retaining wall/palisade fence. This defined the E extent of a roughly 2ha area, protected to the N and W by a steep scarp above the river. Most of the deep pits and wells excavated on this side of the fort by James Curle in the early 20th century, from the date of their contents, must relate to this enclosure. However, most of the other features and finds recovered during the 1996 excavation relate to the 2nd-century occupation. This appears to have been an open settlement, extending as a linear development for about 100m N of the 2nd-century entrance. The most important structural evidence consisted of a series of post-holes and an eaves-drip gully occupying a level terrace, cut into the hillslope. Finds from the associated occupation deposit include considerable quantities of pottery, bone, window and vessel glass, coal, iron tools, bronze fragments and a silver coin. There was also geophysical and excavation evidence for a number of ditches. However, whether they defined properties or the boundaries of paddocks for animals is uncertain.

Sponsors: Bradford University, Trimontium Trust

S Clarke, A Tebbs and A Wise 1996