Roman Military: Forts, Vici and Roads 
Introduction
This is a pan-Wales project combining elements of studies undertaken over several years by Gwynedd Archaeological Trust and Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust and builds on data collected during a 1996 RCAHMW project undertaken by Dyfed Archaeological Trust, which plotted all aerial photography evidence for Roman roads in southwest Wales.
There are three main objectives of the project: assessment
of the significance of Roman military sites; evaluation of the vulnerability
of the sites and a review of scheduling criteria and management strategies;
and an enhancement of the HER.
The Roman road between Llandovery and Pumsaint showing
as a parch mark.
April 2004 – March 2005
Map showing Roman roads in southwest Wales.
The main element of the project during 2004/2005 consisted of a review of all known evidence for the military in southwest Wales, with an emphasis on roads. GIS tables were created showing the lines of certain, probable and suggested lines of Roman roads. This was done in conjunction with the enhancement of the HER. Approximately 200 new records were created. In addition, site visits were made to several sections of road where evidence indicated the presence of a well-preserved agger. Scheduling recommendations were made for four sections of road.
In addition, a magnetometry survey was carried out, in conjunction with GAT, on part of the Roman fort and vicus at Llandovery. This demonstrated that extensive buried remains survive beyond the upstanding fort’s defences. It is unclear whether these remains indicate an earlier fort, an annexe or part of the vicus. An extension to the scheduled area has been recommended.
The magnetometry survey of the northeast corner of Llandovery Roman
fort.
April 2005 – March 2006
This was a continuation of the 2004-05 project and consisted of the geophysical survey of two forts/vici - Llanio and Trawscoed. The work was carried out in conjunction with Gwynedd Archaeological Trust.
At Trawscoed a roughly rectangular area with dimensions of 160m x 120m was surveyed. It included the northern quadrant of the fort and areas to the north and east of the defences. Clear results were obtained with the fort defences, roads and a series of six barrack blocks clearly visible. Extra-mural activity in the survey area seems to consist mostly of scattered hearths and agriculture, although an anomaly alongside the road to the northeast could represent a mansio or other large building.
At Llanio two roughly rectangular areas with dimensions of 80m x 40m and 60m x 60m were surveyed. They were in adjacent fields and were designed to sample the extra mural activity to the east of the fort. The survey has shown that significant archaeology survives below ground, and is suitable for geophysical survey. However, the small survey areas make interpretation of larger scale features and general settlement patterns difficult.
Geophysical plot of Trawscoed fort
Geophysical Survey Report 2005 - Llanio and Trawscoed - 5.39Mb (in Adobe Acrobat format, opens in a new window)
2006 - 2007
In November 2006 further geophysical survey in conjunction with Gwynedd Archaeological Trust, was undertaken on the area to the northeast and east of the Roman Fort at Trawscoed. A number of features including roads, rectangular buildings and pits of probable Roman date were detected, as well as circular features which could be the remains of Bronze Age round barrows. The fortlet at Erglodd, near Borth, Ceredigion, was also surveyed. Very good results were obtained revealing a possible two-phase fort containing several buildings. There was no indication of any settlement immediately outside the fort.
Geophysical survey 2006-07 of Trawscoed fort
Geophysical survey of Erglodd fortlet
2007 - 2008
In November 2007 geophysical survey at Penllwyn Fort, at Capel Bangor near Aberystwyth, revealed part of the internal layout of the fort. The most likely location for a vicus was included in the survey, but here results were negative. A full report on the survey will be produced in the near future.
Geophysical raw data from the Penllwyn survey
During 2007-08 work began on compiling text and drawings for a revised edition of Roman Frontiers in Wales. As well as compiling some the gazetteer entries, Dyfed Archaeological Trust is producing all the illustrations for the volume. These will number several hundred. Progress on these is well advanced.
Plan of Llandovery Roman fort prepared for Roman Frontiers in Wales
Project Contact: P Crane