Isca Road, Caerleon: Archaeological Watching Brief

Isca Road, Caerleon, Newport
Archaeological watching brief

May 2009
GGAT report no. 2009/031
Project no.P1342
National Grid Reference:
A report for Atkins Ltd ST 3445 9020 to
by S H Sell BA ST 3455 9006
GG GI
ST E R
ED
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I A
AT
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OR
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IO
AN
I S AT
The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd

Heathfield House Heathfield Swansea SA1 6EL
Isca Road, Caerleon, Newport: archaeological watching brief
Contents
Summary 2
Acknowledgments 2
Copyright notice 2
1 Introduction
1.1 Development proposal and commission 3
1.2 Location and geology 3
1.3 Historical and archaeological background 3
2 Methodology 6
3 Results 8
4 The finds 13
5 Conclusions 14
References 15
Appendix I: Context index 16

Appendix II: Finds index 21
Figures
Figure 1 Site location 5
Figure 2 Plan with position of trenches and sites of archaeological interest 7
Plates
Plate 1 Trench 6, looking southeast showing former cobbled road surface 10
Plate 2 Trench 7, looking southeast showing industrial/occupation deposits 11
Plate 3 View to southeast along Isca Road in the 1930s (sketch by Lucie Gibbons) 14
Front cover View to southeast along Isca Road, Caerleon © GGAT
1
Summary
An archaeological watching brief was carried out on trial excavations undertaken to
examine ground conditions in advance of a drainage scheme on Isca Road and
Bulmore Road, the Village, Caerleon. The remains of the former road and pavement
surfaces were noted at a number of locations on Isca Road, and also a post-medieval
level on Bulmore Road. There was some evidence locally of industrial and domestic
activity that may belong to the Roman period, although the only finds of likely Roman
date, a small quantity of ceramic roof-tile, occurred residually.
Acknowledgments
The project was managed by Richard Lewis BA MIfA, Head of Projects, and the
report was prepared by S H Sell BA, Project Officer, of the Glamorgan-Gwent
Archaeological Trust, Projects Division (GGAT Projects), with the artwork being
undertaken by Paul Jones of GGAT Illustration Department.
Thanks are due to Steve Button, Nigel Purcell and staff of Morgan Est, the
contractors, for their help during the project, and to Nigel Young for permission to
reproduce the sketch of Isca Road by Lucie Gibbons.
Copyright Notice
The copyright to this report is held by GGAT Projects, which has granted an exclusive
licence to Atkins Limited Ltd to reproduce the material contained herein. Ordnance
Survey maps are reproduced under licence (AL 10005976) unless otherwise stated;
annotations are GGAT copyright.
2
1 Introduction
1.1 Development proposal and commission
A programme of ground investigation work, consisting of a total of nine trenches, was

carried out at Isca Road and Bulmore Road, the Village, Caerleon, between NGR ST
3445 9020 and 3455 9006. This initial phase of trial work was required in order to
examine ground conditions and establish the location of existing services, in advance
of the installation of new mains drainage. The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological
Trust Ltd, Projects Division (GGAT Projects) was commissioned by Atkins Limited
to carry out a watching brief during the initial phase of works, which took place
between April 20th and May 11th 2009, and is the subject of this report.
1.2 Location and geology
The trial trenches were located along Isca Road, the main street in the settlement on
the southern side of the River Usk known as The Village or Caerleon at between 7.5m
and 11.7m OD. One trench was located in Bulmore Road, close to the junction with
Isca Road, at 12.6m OD (Figure 1). The development site lies 3.75km to the northeast
of Newport and 0.5km to the southeast of Caerleon.
The underlying geology is river gravels overlying Triassic marls and clays. At its
closest to the southwest bank of the Usk the position of the road has been
strengthened with additional material.
1.3 Historical and archaeological background
The current development area lies a little over 400m to the southeast of the Roman
legionary fortress of Isca, on the south bank of the River Usk. Isca Road itself is
thought to represent a continuation to the southeast of the via praetoria, the main
north-south road through the fortress, which is represented by the line of the present
High Street and to have continued to the civilian settlement at Bulmore, 2km to the
northeast, although its exact course is not known. It is most likely to have crossed the
river at the location used by subsequent bridges preceding the present structure, which
is sited a short distance downstream.
The civil settlement, or canabae, at Caerleon extended both to east and west of the
fortress, reaching across the river to the area known during the medieval period as
Ultra Pontem, but now referred to as the Village.
During the medieval period continued use of the line of Isca Road is indicated by the
position of a tower at its northwestern end, where Castle Cottage now stands. This
feature appears to have marked the southern end of an earlier bridge over the River
Usk lying just to the east of the quay, which was sited adjacent to the present Hanbury
Arms. Caerleon was a thriving port during the medieval and later periods, until a
direct link with Newport was established with the opening of the Monmouthshire
Canal at the end of the 18th century.
Archaeological investigation on the southern side of the River Usk has largely been
confined to limited evaluation work or to watching briefs in advance of minor
developments, (Figure 2). At Isca Grange, however, a building or buildings
represented by walls of coursed rubble 0.75m in width were noted during trial
3
excavation in 1984, in association with rubbish pits containing pottery of 2nd century
date. (Frere 1984, 258-9). At Lulworth House, to the west of the present
development, a surface of broken brick and tile of Roman date was noted during a
watching brief in 1990 (Evans 2000, 512), and some indications of Roman activity
were noted in a pipe-line trench on the line of New Road in 1987 (ibid).
More recently, structural and ceramic evidence for a pottery kiln of medieval date was
recovered during excavation for an extension at Isca Grange in 2001 (Monmouth
Archaeology 2001), and residual Roman pottery was noted during groundwork at
Riverside Cottage in April 2002 (Monmouth Archaeology 2002). During recent flood
alleviation work on the river bank along Isca Road, the foundations of the timber
bridge swept away in 1772 were exposed, together with evidence for earlier structures
spanning the River Usk, and finds dating from the Roman period (Lewis 2004).
During evaluation work to the rear of the Mission Chapel in Bulmore Road the
remains of three ceramic altars of Roman date were recovered (Clarke and Bray
2007).
4
Based on the 1999 Ordnance Survey 1:25000 Explorer 152 map

with the permission of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery
Office, © Crown Copyright, Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological
Trust Ltd, Licence number Al10005976
GRID
Area of plan shown

in Figure 2
0 1.00 2.00 3.00km
Figure 1. Site location

5
2 Methodology
The watching brief was undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the
Institute for Archaeologists’ Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Watching
Briefs (1994).
A full written, drawn and photographic record was made of all archaeological
deposits, in accordance with the GGAT Manual of Excavation Recording Techniques.
Contexts were recorded using a single continuous numbering system, and are
summarised in Appendix I. All significant contexts were photographed using a
Pentax Optio E40 8.1 megapixel digital camera.
All classes of finds were retained, cleaned and catalogued, in line with the
requirements of the Institute for Archaeologists’ Standard and guidance for the
collection, documentation, conservation and research of archaeological materials
(2001) and in accordance with the GGAT Manual of Excavation Recording
Techniques. No material from this project has been retained within the site archive.
The project archive will be deposited with an appropriate receiving organisation, in
accordance with the UKIC and IfA Guidelines (Archaeological Archives: a guide to
best practice in creation, compilation, transfer and curation (2007)). A copy of the
report and archive index will be deposited with the regional Historic Environment
Record, curated by the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust, Swansea, and a
further copy of the report and archive index will be deposited with the National
Monuments Record, Royal Commission on the Archaeological and Historical
Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW), Aberystwyth.
The groundwork was undertaken using a three tonne mini-excavator with toothless
bucket and breaker for the tarmac. The trenches averaged 0.60m in width, and up to
a maximum of 0.90m in depth. The intention was to locate the position and depth of
all services, or establish their absence, but to excavate no further than the minimum
required, hence the variability in depth from one trench to another and also within
each trench.
The excavated trenches were carefully inspected for evidence of archaeological
features, and the excavated spoil was checked for the presence of artefacts. Any
artificial material was recovered for examination, and the presence of any features of
archaeological significance was noted, photographed and recorded as appropriate.
6
Caerleon
Bridge
RI
1 VE
R
2 US
K
3
Isc
a
Ro
ad 6
GRID
Based on the 2005 Ordnance Survey 1:5000 Landplan map with the permission of The Controller
0 100 200metres of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown Copyright, Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Ltd, Licence number Al10005976
Figure 2. Plan showing location of trial trenches (red spots)

7
3 Results
Trenches within Isca Road (Nos 1-8) were orientated generally southwest-northeast
and crossed the full width of the road and pavement(s); the trench in Bulmore Road
was orientated northwest-southeast.
Full details of the contexts for each trench may be found in the Context Index,
Appendix I, and details of the finds recovered are given in Appendix II, below.
Results are summarised below.
Trench 1 (outside ‘Beckscott’, where Isca Road runs beside the river)
Beneath tarmac surfacing and intermittent sub-base make-up was a homogenous
general layer containing all manner of materials, principally small to medium stone
with a little bricks (1004), presumably a general make-up layer, cut by the fill of a
service trench for gas (1003) on the northwestern side of the road. General make-up
layer 1004 overlay an intermittent layer of loam (1005), which was more substantial
on the river side of the road. Close to the inner edge of the pavement, the remains of
an earlier revetment wall (1006) was noted c1.35m within the line of the present river
defences, at a depth of 0.65m. It was overlain by a deposit of sand and gravel (1007),
probably connected to the construction of the kerb above or to the foundations for the
present wall to the northeast.
Close to the housing on the southwestern side of the street the remnants of a cobbled
surface (1011) were noted at a depth of c0.40m. Evidence for the former road and
pavement surfaces (see Plate 2, below) were noted in several of the trial trenches, but
the greater depth of what is assumed to be part of the same surface may be attributable
to the proximity of the river to this section of Isca Road with the consequent need to
raise the levels to a greater extent here than elsewhere. Context 1011 had been cut by
a service trench for electricity (1010); in the centre of the road considerable
disturbance accompanied the presence of a cast iron water main (1009).
A thin deposit of sandy, charcoal-rich material (1012) at a depth of 0.75m directly
overlay the natural gravel (1013), at a depth of 0.85m, over the main part of this
trench, but at the southwestern end the pinkish marl subsoil (1014) was noted at a
depth of 0.65m.
Trench 2 (outside Usk Cottage, where Isca Road runs beside the river)
The results from this trench were broadly similar to those from Trench 1, will the
three main services again present. The riverside revetment wall, however, was not
exposed and natural gravel was not reached. Sub-base for the road emerged as two
distinct layers, which formed the standard in other trenches, with a blackish, ashy
deposit (2004) overlying a lighter-coloured, buff or pinkish, deposit (2005). Traces of
the former cobbled road surface were also noted (2007), and beneath a residue of
loam (2008) underlying the cobble remnant was a layer of pinkish silty clay with
broken stone (2013). The limit of excavation was 0.75m; other deposits relate to
modern or recent services.
Trench 3 (opposite the junction of No 1, Grange Cottage and the house to the
southeast)
To allow more space for manoeuvre this trench was cut to cross the road at an angle,
its orientation being more nearly north-south. The lower layer of sub-base for the
road (3003) appeared to form part of a larger, more general layer of make-up,
probably more akin to 1004. Natural river gravels (3005) were reached at a minimum
8
depth of 0.45m. As elsewhere, the fill of the cast-iron water main (3006) was not
clearly defined, rather contributing to a general sense of disturbance of the levels in
the middle of the road. The main was reached at a depth of 0.80m, the same depth as
the gas main on the northern side of the road (3007).
Excavation to the north of 3007 was not carried out owing to the location of all the
expected services.
Trench 4 (at the northwestern end of the car-parking space belonging to Ivy Cottage)
This trench, in the narrowest part of Isca Road, was the shortest, c3.7m in length, and
was dominated by service trenches. Beneath a minimal depth of sub-base was a
certain amount of pinkish silty material with broken stone, probably redeposited
natural (4003), overlying a more substantial, dirtier, more mixed layer, apparently the
backfill/disturbance caused by excavation for the cast iron water main (4006), which
occupied much of the central part of the road, as in Trench 3. Both the main, and the
gas main to the northwest (4007), lay at a depth of 0.60m.
Trench 5 (orientated north-south, just to the southeast of ‘Glandwr’)

Trench 5 also contained remains of the former road, a line of elongated stones (5002),
probably part of a former kerb, that lay directly below the tarmac on the southwestern
side of the street. Below the matrix for the cobbles lay a very stony pinkish silty clay
layer (5006) much like 1014, 2013 and 4003, but almost certainly disturbed by the
proximity of services. This overlay another, similar layer (5007) at a depth of 0.25m,
with a possible stone surface at a depth of 0.35m (5008), itself overlying coarse sandy
gravel, a natural deposit (5009). It is likely that this composite layer (5007/8) may be
part of the geological sequence, interleaved with coarse sand and gravels, as was
found just across the river at Tan House Drive, during monitoring of recent
groundwork (Sell 2008), although there may well be an element of redeposition.
To the north of the cast iron water main (5010) layer 5009 underlay a substantial layer
of backfill (5011) at a depth of 0.60m, with the gas main (5012), also overlying layer
5009, further to the north. Remains of the former cobbled surfaces, smaller sets for
the pavement (5013) and large ones for the road (5014) were noted at the northern end
of the trench. Between these and the position of the gas main a further stone surface
(5017), at a depth of 0.40m, may be the upper part of the geological sequence,
equivalent to 5008. Surfaces such as these appeared too clean to be artificial, but
could nonetheless have been utilised as a base level for a metalled surface or perhaps
even a structure.
Trench 6 (outside the property division between Greenfield Cottage and Peartree
House)
A remnant of the earlier cobbled street, in a black ashy matrix (6002/3), was noted at
the southeastern end of Trench 6, on both sides of the modern kerb (see Plate 1,
below), with the natural sequence of silty clay and stone over coarse sandy gravel
(6004/5) occurring at a depth of 0.50m. The disturbance for the cast iron water main
(6007) occupied the upper levels in the central part of the trench, with natural marl
and sandstone bedrock (6008/9, the equivalent of 6004/5) at a depth of 0.60m.
9
Further to the northeast the gas main (6010) lay at a depth of 0.70m, which was taken
as the limit of excavation. Beneath the northeastern pavement the service trench for
electricity cables (6014) had ensured that there was little trace of the former cobbled
road surface (6012/3) remaining.
Part of a Roman tegula, one of the principal elements of a ceramic roof of the Roman
period, was recovered from context 6013, the first and only diagnostic artefact of
certain Roman date to be collected during the watching brief.
Plate 1 Trench 6, looking southeast showing former cobbled road surface. Ranging rod in 0.20m
gradations © GGAT
Trench 7 (outside No 2 Church Cottages)

Remains of the cobbled street/pavement surface were noted just below the tarmac
outside No 2 Church Cottages (7002, with matrix 7004). The cobbles were cut by a
telephone service trench (7003) and overlay a pinkish-brown silty clay with stone
(7005), possibly the upper natural surface, equivalent to 1014, at a depth of c0.30m.
After the discovery of the telephone cable duct the limit of excavation here was set at
approximately this level.
The sequence within the road differed in that below a dirty mixed stony make up layer
(7007), similar to and probably the equivalent of 1004, was a brown sandy
ferruginous deposit (7008), at a depth of 0.20m, becoming ever more loamy and
charcoal-rich and giving way to a blackish fused slag-rich surface (7010) at a depth of
0.50m (see Plate 2, below). The sequence, which was broken to the northeast by the
disturbance for the cast iron water main (7009), continued with a very dirty, charcoal-
rich layer, with some stone and clay, (7011) overlying a pink clay surface, perhaps
part of a floor, at a depth of 0.60m. Pink, clean natural clay (7013) lay beneath, at a
depth of 0.70m. Unfortunately no dating material was associated with this sequence,
but evidence of activity during the Roman period seems likely.
10
Plate 2 Trench 7, looking southeast showing industrial/occupation deposits. Ranging rod in

0.20m gradations. © GGAT
To the northeast of 7009 the equivalent of layer 7008 (7018) overlay a layer of broken
slag, clinker etc (7019) probably identical in composition to 7010. Natural clay lay at
a depth of 0.70m, with the gas main (7020) at 0.75m. The northeastern pavement had
been largely disturbed by a service trench for electricity (7015), but traces of the
formed cobbled road surface were noted here also (7014, equivalent to 7002).
Trench 8 (at the junction of Isca Road and Bulmore Road)

The sequence of layers beneath the southwestern pavement was straightforward, with
two make-up layers (8002/3), rich in brick and small stone, less compact and more
ashy below, cut through by a telephone service trench. The two main layers overlay a
brownish sand and ?natural subsoil deposit at a depth of 0.55m (8005), with pink clay
with stone (8006) at 0.60m, which was taken as the limit of excavation here.
Elements of the former cobbled road surface (8008) survived to the northeast of the
modern kerb, within the upper part of a similar sequence to 8002/3 (8009/10)
although 8009 was somewhat more mixed and less compact, and 8010 characterised
by a mixture of slag, ash and stone. This layer appeared to be the main deposit,
presumably for make-up, beneath the road, and overlay pink sandy clay with stone
(8012), the equivalent of 8006 and similarly capped by a thin deposit of sandy gravel
(8011), at a depth of 0.58m.
At the northeastern end of the trench a deposit of building rubble and mortar (8014)
underlying the ashy equivalent of sub-base, may well have been derived from repairs
or rebuilding of the adjacent property boundary. Below the road, to the southwest of
this deposit, the main deposit (8018) was consistent with backfill, having elements of
8002, 8003 and 8005. Among brick/tile fragments recovered from this deposit some
are almost certainly Roman, and include what may possibly be part of a Caerleon-
ware mortarium, although there was no suggestion that this was anything but a
secondary deposit, as beneath this general level lay the gas main and a number of
subsidiary feeds.
11
Several fragments of undiagnostic tile/fired clay were recovered from context 8018.
Some of the tile could be of Roman date, but one piece is somewhat finer in fabric
and may belong to a Caerleon-ware mortarium rather than to a tile.
Trench 9 (in Bulmore Road, 50m to northeast of junction with Isca Road, opposite
Bush House)
Beneath the tarmac and sub-base lay a mixed make-up layer probably similar to and
the equivalent of 1004 and other mixed deposits, with small stone, brick/tile etc
(9003), grading to a pinker layer with a high percentage of broken stone (9004),
probably a layer of redeposited make-up material similar to 2013. This overlay a
brownish pink silty loam (9005), probably a residual upper subsoil, or ‘cultivation’
layer similar to 1014, from which was recovered a sherd from a ‘local’ red
earthenware vessel of 17th/18th century date. As expected, this deposit overlay a
brownish-pink, clean layer (9009) identified as natural subsoil, at a depth of 0.80m.
In the southeastern part of the trench a very solid stone surface (9010), at the same
depth, appears to represent bedrock.
A total of eight services were exposed during the excavation of this trench.
12
4 The finds
Full details of the assemblage may be found in Appendix II, to which reference should
be made. Apart from obviously recent deposition within any of the many service
trenches and evidence of a post-medieval horizon from Trench 9, in Bulmore Road,
most of the assemblage appears to be associated with backfill or make-up of the
levels, and thus of a residual/redeposited nature. The only diagnostic artefact of
Roman date is the flange from a tegula, the principal element of a Roman roof, from
Trench 6, but ceramic tile of likely Roman date was also present in Trench 8, and
perhaps in other trenches. It is possible that one of the undiagnostic fragments from
Trench 8 could be part of a redware vessel, a Caerleon-ware mortarium, as the fabric
seems finer than the other undiagnostic tile present.
13
5 Conclusions
Evidence for the existence of an earlier road and pavement level was noted in a
number of trial trenches (Trenches 2, 5-8, and Plate 3 below). In the stretch of Isca
Road that runs alongside the river, part of an earlier revetment wall for the road,
together with evidence for terracing with made ground to raise the levels, was
apparent. Elsewhere levels had been raised to a lesser extent with the use of
redeposited material. There was little reliable dating evidence for any but the most
recent disturbances, which took the form of numerous services reflecting the
development of the area and the increasing complexity of modern living.
Plate 3: View to southeast along Isca Road during the 1930s. Note the cobbled surfaces of the
road and pathway. (Sketched by Lucie Gibbons, and reproduced here by permission of Nigel
Young, www.caerleon.net)
No evidence was noted for the Roman road thought to set the line of Isca Road,
probably largely due to the extent of modern disturbance and the ephemeral nature of
its construction and potential for survival in the environment of subsequent road
infrastructure. At least one piece of Roman tile, the flange from a tegula, was
recovered from Trench 6, and what may possibly be part of a Caerleon-ware
mortarium, together with other undiagnostic pieces of ?Roman tile, were collected
from Trench 8. All are thought to be residual, and otherwise there was no certain
evidence for Roman occupation.
The possible exception to this lay in Trench 7, where what may be a clay floor level
was noted. It was overlain by charcoal-rich occupation detritus, and sealed by a solid
layer of fused industrial material. Unfortunately no dating material was available for
any of these deposits, but their presence would not be unexpected within the
14
sometimes squalid setting of a vicus or even as an outlier to the canabae that grew up
around and in consequence of the establishment of the Roman fortress just across the
river.
Evidence for post-medieval occupation, possibly a ‘cultivation’ layer, was noted in
Trench 9, on Bulmore Road; other horizons were unaccompanied by dating evidence.
The sample provided by these trial trenches is very small and yet provides at least one
location where there is evidence for activity during an earlier period, and given the
proximity of the Roman fortress, and the already existing evidence to the south of the
river, in ultra pontem, this may well be fresh evidence of a Roman presence. The
proposed open-cut trench for main drainage, running the full length of Isca Road
before turning along Bulmore Road to the northeast, may well increase our
understanding of the extra-mural settlement at Caerleon to a significant degree,
although establishment of the line of the Roman road may be more problematic.
References
Clarke, S, and Bray, J, 2007 Mission Chapel, Bulmore Road, Caerleon. An

archaeological evaluation, Monmouth Archaeology Report No
MA33.07
Evans, E, 2000 The Caerleon Canabae, Britannia Monograph series No.16,
London
Frere, S S, 1984 Roman Britain in 1984 I. Sites Explored, Britannia 16, 252-
316
Lewis, R, 2004 Caerleon Bridge, Newport: excavation report, GGAT Report
No 2004/105
Monmouth Archaeology, 2001 Isca Grange, Caerleon, Newport, Monmouth
Archaeology Report No. MA05.01
Monmouth Archaeology, 2002 River Cottage, Isca Road, Caerleon, Monmouth
Archaeology Report No. MA14.0
Sell, S H, 2008 Tan House Drive, Caerleon, Newport: archaeological watching
brief, GGAT Report No 2007/067
15
Appendix I Inventory of contexts

Note: The first digit in each context number denotes the trench from which it originated
Context Type Description Period
No
1001 Deposit Tarmac road/pavement surface Modern
1002 Deposit Sub-base for 1001, intermittent. Two layers. Modern
Total depth 0.10-0.35m
1003 Deposit Sub-base trench fill (gas) Modern
1004 Deposit Dirty mixed make-up layer, stone brick etc ?modern
1005 Deposit Soft loam below 1004 deeper on river side ?post-medieval
1006 Structure Wall remnant, river-side of road, d 0.65m Post-medieval
1007 Deposit Sand/gravel over 1006, ?foundation under Modern
pavement for new retaining wall or kerb
1008 Deposit As 1002, SW side Modern
1009 Deposit Mixed fill of service trench (old water main) Modern
1010 Deposit ill of service trench, SW side (electric) Modern
1011 Deposit Cobble surface d 0.40, ?old road Post-medieval
1012 Deposit Sandy, charcoal-rich, below 1004 Unknown
1013 Deposit Mixed sand and gravel, natural
1014 Deposit Pinkish charcoal-flecked subsoil ?post-medieval

No
2002 Deposit Sub-base fill of service trench (electric) Modern
2003 Deposit Coarse sand fill of service trench (BT) Modern
2004 Deposit Sub-base for 2001, blackish, as 1002 Modern
2005 Deposit Lower 2004, pinkish Modern
2006 Deposit Concrete dry mix?, NW side of trench only Modern
2007 Deposit Cobbles, remnant of former road Post-medieval
2008 Deposit Silty loam under 2007, equivalent to 1005 ?post-medieval
2009 Deposit Mixed stony below 2008 ?post-medieval
2010 Deposit As 1009 Modern
2011 Deposit Equivalent to 1008 Modern
2012 Deposit Sub-base: fill of service trench (gas) Modern
16

No
3002 Deposit Blackish uppe4r sub-base Modern
3003 Deposit Buff lower sub-base/mixed layer as 1004 Modern
3004 Deposit Sub-base fill of service trench (electric) Modern
3005 Deposit Sandy gravel below 3003; natural gravel
3006 Deposit Service trench (water); mixed backfill Modern
3007 Deposit Service trench (gas), fill as 3004 Modern

No
4002 Deposit Blackish upper sub-base Modern
4003 Deposit Pinkish stony, disturbed/redeposited Unknown
4004 Deposit Service trench (BT) Duct at 0.50m Modern
4005 Deposit Sub-base fill of service trench (gas) Modern
4006 Deposit Backfill of water-main trench Modern
4007 Deposit Sub-base fill of service trench (gas) Pipe at Modern
0.60m

No
5002 Deposit Cobble remnant, former road, below 5001 Post-medieval
5003 Deposit Upper sub-base as 2004 Modern
5004 Deposit Lower sub-base as 2005 Modern
5005 Deposit Gritty ashy matrix for 5002 Post-medieval
5006 Deposit Pinkish stony disturbed/redeposited, as 4003 Unknown
5007 Deposit As 5006 but larger stone. Also ?crushed Unknown
brick/tile
5008 Deposit Lower 5007, larger stone, possibly a surface,
cleaner, possibly weathered natural
5009 Deposit Coarse sandy more yellow below 5008,
?natural
5010 Deposit As 1009, 2010 Modern
5011 Deposit Mixed ?backfill similar/equivalent to 1004 ?modern
17

No
5013 Deposit Small cobbles former pavement surface, Post-medieval
disturbed by 5018
5014 Deposit As 5002 Post-medieval
5016 Deposit Charcoal-rich lens below 5014 ?post-medieval
5017 Deposit Surface of large rounded stone similar to
5008 but rounder, ?natural
5018 Deposit Backfill of service trench (electric) Modern
5019 Deposit Similar/equivalent to 5006 Unknown

No
6002 Deposit Cobble remnant below 6001 Post-medieval
6003 Deposit Matrix for 6002 Post-medieval
6004 Deposit Pink stone/clay, ?upper natural
6005 Deposit Yellow gravel/coarse sand, natural
6006 Structure Kerb/foundation Modern
6008 Deposit As 6008; upper natural
6009 Deposit As 6005; lower natural
6010 Deposit Service trench/pipe (gas) Modern
6011 Deposit Sub-base levelling, cut by 6014 Modern
6012 Deposit As 6002, remnant only Post-medieval
6014 Deposit Service trench/cables (electric) Modern

No
7002 Deposit Cobble remnant below 7001, as 6002 etc Post-medieval
7003 Deposit Sub-base fill of service trench (BT) Modern
7004 Deposit Matrix/bedding for 7002, as 6003 etc Post-medieval
7005 Deposit Pinkish brown silty with flat stone, poss
upper natural
18

No
7007 Deposit Dirty mixed stony, similar to 1004 ?modern
7008 Deposit Sandy ferrous deposit below 7007, Unknown
becoming more loamy with charcoal
7009 Deposit Service trench fill/pipe (old water-main) Modern
7010* Deposit Fused slag surface, ?metalling, d 0.50m Unknown
7011* Deposit Mixed ?occupation layer, charcoal-rich, with ?Roman
some pink clay, stone and ?tile fragments
7012 Deposit Pink clay ?floor below 7011, d 0.60m ?Roman
7013 Deposit Clay marl natural d 0.70m
7015 Deposit Service trench fill/duct (electric) Modern
7017 Deposit Sub-base Modern
7018 Deposit As 7008 Unknown
7019 Deposit Material as 7010 but layer broken up Unknown
7020 Deposit Sub-base fill of service trench (gas) Modern

No
8001 Deposit Tarmac road/pavement surfacer Modern
8002 Deposit Mixed redeposited under SW pavement; Modern
brick ash and loam, very compact
8003 Deposit Lower 8002, looser Modern
8004 Deposit Service trench/cable (BT), part of 8002/3 Modern
8005 Deposit Brownish sandy/gravelly below 8003, to Unknown
0.55m
8006 Deposit Pink sandy clay/stone, clean; natural
8008 Deposit Cobbles, SW side of road, to 0.25m Post-medieval
8009 Deposit As 8002 but less brick, solid, where 8008 ?modern
absent
8010 Deposit Loose ashy slaggy below 8008; main lower Post-medieval
layer c0.25m-0.60m
8011 Deposit Buff sandy/gravelly with charcoal; similar to Unknown
8005, above 8006
8012 Deposit Partial tarmac surface NE pavement Modern
8013 Deposit Black ashy below 8012 Modern
8014 Deposit Stone building debris below 8013, perhaps Modern
from rebuilding of adjacent wall
19

No
8015 Deposit ?cobble remnant, redeposited, part of 8014 Modern
8016 Deposit Service trench/cable (electric) d 0.30m Modern
8017 Deposit Service trench/brick cover (electric) d 0.40m Modern
8018 Deposit Mixed backfill over 8019 Modern
8019 Deposit Greyish sub-base lower fill of service Modern
trenches, network of electric cables/gas main

No
9002 Deposit Sub-base, various Modern
9003 Deposit Mixed backfill/make up 0.07m- 0.25m ?modern
9004 Deposit As 9003 but with more broken stone, pinker ?modern
9005 Deposit Charcoal flecked brownish pink clayey Post-medieval
loam, a little small stone; ?PM cultivation.
9006 Deposit Service trench/pipe (gas), not defined Modern
9007 Deposit Service trench/duct (?electric) Modern
9008 Deposit Service trench/twin ceramic pipes (?BT) Modern
9009 Deposit As 9005 but cleaner, below 9005 at d.0.80m,
natural subsoil
9010 Deposit Solid stone surface, ?bedrock d 0.80m (SE)
9011 Deposit Service trench/pipe (?electric) Modern
9012 Deposit Service trench/pipe (water);sub-base fill Modern
20
Appendix II: Finds index

Note: u/s = unstratified, prefixed by number of relevant trench
Context Material Description Qty Weight Period
No type (kg)
T1 u/s Pottery Brown-glazed buffware 1 0.012 C18
Pottery ‘Local’ red earthenware 1 0.062 Post-medieval

No type (kg)
T2 u/s Pottery Red earthenware with gold lustre 1 0.034 C19
2005 Pottery ‘Local’ red earthenware, large pan 1 0.044 Post-medieval

No type (kg)
T3 u/s Brick/tile Brick fr u/d 1 0.038 Modern

No type (kg)
T4 u/s Stone Flat sandstone piece ?bakestone 1 0.126 Unknown
Brick/tile Brick frags u/d 2 0.126. Modern

No type (kg)
5007 Brick/tile U/d frags 4 0.078 P-Med/Roman

No type (kg)
6013 Stone Roof-tile frag 1 0.408 ?post-medieval
Brick/Tile Tegula flange 1 0.158 Roman
Pottery ‘Local’ red earthenwares 2 0.026 Post-medieval

No type (kg)
7010* Slag Sample 001 1.460 Unknown
7011* Stone etc Sample 002 0.970 Unknown

No type (kg)
T8 u/s Pottery Misc modern ceramics 1 0.014 C19
8002 Pottery Misc modern ceramics incl plate and 3 0.074 C19
teapot frags
8003/4 Ceramic Drainpipe frag 1 0.074 Modern
21

No type (kg)
8005 Bone Sheep teeth/?jaw frag 3 0.014 Unknown
8018 Plastic Cord/line frag 1 Modern
Brick/tile U/d frags (one piece may be abraded 7 0.428 P-Med/Roman
pottery rather than tile)

No type (kg)
9005 Bone Sheep ?tibia 1 0.086 Unknown
Pottery ‘Local’ red earthenware 1 0.022 Post-medieval
*samples taken for analysis
22

Isca Road, Caerleon: Archaeological Watching Brief

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Isca Road, Caerleon, Newport

Archaeological watching brief

The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd

Appendix I: Context index 16

Front cover View to southeast along Isca Road, Caerleon © GGAT

A programme of ground investigation work, consisting of a total of nine trenches, was

1.2 Location and geology

1.3 Historical and archaeological background

Based on the 1999 Ordnance Survey 1:25000 Explorer 152 map

Area of plan shown

0 1.00 2.00 3.00km

Figure 1. Site location

Figure 2. Plan showing location of trial trenches (red spots)

Trench 5 (orientated north-south, just to the southeast of ‘Glandwr’)

Trench 7 (outside No 2 Church Cottages)

Plate 2 Trench 7, looking southeast showing industrial/occupation deposits. Ranging rod in

Trench 8 (at the junction of Isca Road and Bulmore Road)

Clarke, S, and Bray, J, 2007 Mission Chapel, Bulmore Road, Caerleon. An

Appendix I Inventory of contexts

Context Type Description Period

Context Type Description Period

Context Type Description Period

Context Type Description Period

Context Type Description Period

Context Type Description Period

Context Type Description Period

Context Type Description Period

Context Type Description Period

Context Type Description Period

Context Type Description Period

Appendix II: Finds index

Context Material Description Qty Weight Period

Context Material Description Qty Weight Period

Context Material Description Qty Weight Period

Context Material Description Qty Weight Period

Context Material Description Qty Weight Period

Context Material Description Qty Weight Period

Context Material Description Qty Weight Period

Context Material Description Qty Weight Period

Context Material Description Qty Weight Period

*samples taken for analysis

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