Cataractonium: Roman Catterick and Its Hinterland. Excavations and Research, 1958-1997. Part 1

With major contributions by H. E. M. Cool, J. Evans, A. Thompson, and J. S. Wacher. Other contributions by: P. Abramson, L. Allason-Jones, A. Anderson, F. W. Anderson, A. D. H. Bartlett, J. Bayley, A. Bayliss, A. Bell, J. Bennett, L. Biek, T. F. C. Blagg, R. Brickstock, S. A. Butcher, G. Campbell, M. Canti, P. A. Cardwell, P. J. Casey, M. Cole, N. Cooper, S. Cottam, R. Cramp, N. Davey, J. A. Davies, B. Dickinson, W. Dodds, S. N. Dudd, D. Dungworth, J. Ede, G. Edwards, R. P. Evershed, P. P. A. Funari, B. R. Hartley, K. F. Hartley, N. Hembrey, M. Henderson, M. Henig, G. W. I. Hodgson, A. D. Hooley, J. P. Huntley, A. Issac, R. M. J. Isserlin, R. Jackson, C. E. E. Jones, I. J. Lentowicz, C. A. Long, D. MacLeod, D. Mackreth, J. Maddox, S. Mays, B. Meddens, Q. Mould, North Yorkshire County Archaeology Section, S. Payne, H. Pengelly, J. Price, S. Stallibrass, D. Starley, J. Summerfield, R. Thorpe, R. S. O. Tomlin, D. Thubron, S. Thubron, L. Turner, R. Turner, J. Watson, L. P. Wenham, D. F. Williams, S. H. Willis, M. E. Wright. Principal Illustrator: E. R. Lyons. In a time when archaeology is driven by commercial necessity, it is important to remember when excavation had a more heroic dimension. The dramatic discovery of a bath-house still standing 4.2 m high (I, pi. 35) outside the small Yorkshire town of Catterick in 1958 was one such cause celebre. These two volumes at last give us the full archaeological record of this discovery, and at the same time restore to us a key site in our understanding of the relationship between the military and civilian population in northern Roman Britain. The context of the excavations is mostly bound up with improvements to the modern version of Dere Street, the A1. The 1958-9 excavation was carried out in classic rescue fashion, yet a great deal was salvaged due to the hard work of Wacher and his team. By 1981-2, the excavations at Bainesse were being preceded by geophysical surveys and evaluations. In between, and later on, other smaller sites were worked on so that this final report covers a dozen different sites in and around the Roman town. As is pointed out, it is fortunate indeed that these sites tend to complement each other rather than repeating the same kinds of evidence (I, 527), so that we have a clear picture of the 'vicus' including its civic functions, industry, economy, social and religious life. To this can be added the wider picture of its hinterland through the suburb at Bainesse and the extensive geophysical and aerial survey (I, ch. 3 and CD). There are gaps — our knowledge of the military foundation of the town is weak — but this is perhaps less critical since we have a good understanding of other forts in the region. More important to my mind is the detailed and impressive sequence, much of it apparently military in origin, for the later Roman and even post-Roman period. The detailed stratigraphic analysis of this (Phases 6-7; I, 99-119) is essential reading, and is a tribute to Wacher in what must have been very demanding circumstances. Catterick has been fortunate too in finding someone like Pete Wilson to write and edit the report. It has taken a great deal of tenacity and effort to assemble it, as is apparent from the many hands involved. His mastery of the detail is supreme and he is not afraid to contradict the long-held beliefs of the excavator, as for example in discussing the tanneries. The discovery of huge quantities of leather and a reference in the Vindolanda tablets have made it doubly tempting to conclude that a tannery existed at Catterick, but the evidence just is not there (I, 52^4), at least not yet. It is clear too from many pers. comm. references that W. has been sensitive to the opinions of the original excavator, a courtesy not seen often enough.