A417 “Missing Link”
Area 25
Location
Gloucestershire
Time Period
Roman,
Client
National Highways,
At one of the highest points along the scheme, Area 25 is located in the central-western part of the route, looking out towards Crickley Hill and Cheltenham to the north, and the River Severn and beyond to the west.
In the centre of the excavation area, a small, square enclosure surrounded by a ditch was revealed. Interestingly, a narrow section of bedrock had been left in place within the ditch, perhaps to provide an entranceway into the centre of the monument. A cremation burial was recovered in a small pit in the centre of the enclosure, accompanied by several iron nails and a bronze fitting. These are likely all that remain of a wooden casket or box buried with the cremated remains.
Two coins were also recovered with the cremation. Dating to the reign of the Roman Emperor Vespasian (AD 69-79), they suggest the burial was interred early in the period of Roman occupation, following the Roman invasion of Britain in AD 43.
Numerous pottery fragments dating from AD 70 – 100 AD (a similar date range to the coins) were recovered from the bottom of the ditch surrounding the burial enclosure, possibly representing the remains of vessels used during a funerary feast to remember the individual buried here. Funerary rituals played a central role in Roman life and it was a common practice for families to visit their ancestors’ resting places to make offerings of food and wine to the deceased.
Image: Area 25, burial enclosure with central cremation burial
Two further cremation burials were recovered within the enclosure. One had been placed immediately next to the central burial, while the other was found a few meters to the southwest. Neither had accompanying grave goods and both had been interred at some point after the central burial. It is possible that all three cremated burials were members of the same family.
The enclosure occupies a prominent position in the landscape, and the central cremation burial perhaps marks the site of burial of an important person, buried with care, accompanied by grave goods, and whose passing was marked with a feast. We expect further analysis to reveal more about this intriguing and poignant site.
Image: Area 25, coin of Domitian, dating AD 69-79