Life, Death and Rubbish Disposal in Roman Norton, North Yorkshire: Excavations at Brooklyn House 2015-16

Cover
Title Page
Copyright page
Contents Page
List of Figures
List of Tables
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1
Introduction
Pete Wilson
Figure 1: The Location of Malton and Norton
Figure 2: Roman sites in Malton and Norton
Figure 3: The Brooklyn House area – sites and find spots
Chapter 2
The Excavation
Janet Phillips and Pete Wilson
Figure 4: Overall Phase 1 plan with Trial Trenches
Figure 5: Plot of Geophysical Survey results
Figure 6: Phase 1 plan of Area 5
Figure 7: Area 5 – Section of Ditch 505
Figure 8: Area 5 – Section of Ditch 507
Figure 9: Area 6 – Section of Ditch 603
Figure 10: Area 2 – Phase 1 plan
Figure 11: Area 2 – Feature 287
Figure 12: Area 2 – Feature 287 (view to west)
Figure 13: Area 2 – Feature 2003
Figure 14: Area 2 – Ditch 298
Figure 15: Area 2 – Ditch 2005
Figure 16: Area 3 Phase 1/2 plan
Figure 17: Area 3 – East-facing section
Figure 18: Area 3 – Pit 3032
Figure 19: Area 3 – Gully 3028 and Pit 3032
Figure 20: Area 3 – Posthole 3034
Figure 21: Area 7 – South-facing section
Figure 22: Area 7 – West-facing section
Figure 23: Area 7 – North facing section
Figure 24: Areas 4 and 9 – South-facing section
Figure 25: Area 4 – Phase 2 Roman road and bustum plan
Figure 26: Area 4 – Access road north verge southern service – south-facing section
Figure 27: Area 4 – Section through the Roman road (view to north east)
Figure 28: Area 4 – Road metalling 418 (view to west)
Figure 29: Area 4 – Access road north verge northern service trench – south-facing section
Figure 30: Area 3 – Roadside ditch 397 (view to north)
Figure 31: Area 3 – Ditches 397, 3024 and 3036 (view to north)
Figure 32: Area 3 – Section of ditches 397, 3024 and 3036
Figure 33: Area 3 – Section of ditch 307 and gully 3097
Figure 34: Area 3 – Partial section of ditch 3024
Figure 35: Phase 2 – Location of burials
Figure 36: Area 2 – Grave 284, skeleton 286. 36a: Capstones partially covering SK286, 36b: SK286
Figure 37: Area 2 – Grave 284, skeleton 286 showing capstones
Figure 38: Area 2 – Grave 284, skeleton 286
Figure 39: Area 7 – Grave 716, skeleton 718
Figure 40: Area 7 – Grave 716 profile
Figure 41: Area 7 – Grave 284, skeleton 286
Figure 42: Area 4 – Section through bustum burial 475
Figure 43: Area 4 – Profile, north east to south west, through bustum pit 475
Figure 44: Area 4 – Profile, north west to south east, through bustum pit 475
Figure 45: Area 4 – Bustum during excavation – complete local grey ware beaker (No. 41, RF 417)
Figure 46: Area 4 – Bustum during excavation. Main bustum vessel, handmade calcite-gritted jar (No. 108, RF 416), under local grey ware beaker (No. 41, RF 417)
Figure 47: Area 4 – Bustum during excavation. Other pottery fragment overlying the main bustum vessel
Figure 48: Area 4 – Bustum during excavation. Main bustum vessel fully exposed
Figure 49: Area 4 – Bustum pit fully excavated
Figure 50: Area 2 – Plan of possible mausoleum (feature 270)
Figure 51: Area 2 – Section through robber trench (266) and construction cut (270) of possible mausoleum, showing overlying wall 205 of Structure A
Figure 52: Area 2 – Robber trench (266) and construction cut (270) of possible mausoleum, with overlying wall 205 of Structure A
Figure 53: Site plan showing all structures
Figure 54: Area 2 – Plan of Structure A
Figure 55: Area 2 – Structure A (view to north west)
Figure 56: Area 2 – Section through east-west line of post-holes within Structure A
Figure 57: Area 2 – with Structure A in the foreground (view to south east)
Figure 58: Area 2 Structure A – profile of wall 217
Fig 59: Area 2 Structure A – profile of wall 205/217
Figure 60: Area 2 Structure A – wall 205 (view to south)
Figure 61: Area 2 Structure A – wall 205/217 looking towards the possibly entrance in south-east corner of the building (view to south east)
Figure 62: Area 2 Structure A – wall 205/217 showing extent of robbing of parts of the wall (view to north west)
Figure 63: Area 2 Structure A – possible remnant of a flagged floor, context 225 (view to south)
Figure 64: Area 2 – Section through possible yard surface 236
Figure 65: Area 2 – Possible yard surface 236 (view to east)
Figure 66: Area 2 – Profile of wall 254
Figure 67: Area 2 – Wall 254 (view to north)
Figure 68: Area 2 – Plan of Structures B and C
Figure 69: Area 2 Structure B – profile of possible wall core 252
Figure 70: Area 2 Structure B – possible wall cores 252 (foreground) and 253 (rear) (view to south)
Figure 71: Area 2 – Section of possible surface 251, ash pit 275 and wall 246 of Structure C
Figure 72: Area 2 Structure C – profile of the inner face of wall 249
Figure 73: Area 2 Structure C – view along flue showing in situ capstone (view to west)
Figure 74: Area 2 – Overall view of Structure C (view to north west)
Figure 75: Areas 3 and 8 – Overall plan of Structures D, E and I
Figure 76: Areas 3 and 8 – Plan of Structure D and area to the north
Figure 77 Area 3 – East-facing trench edge section
Figure 78: Area 3 – The east-west walls of Structures D, E and I. Wall 314 (Structure E ) the top of the image, with wall 353 (Structure D) in the middle and wall 355 (Structure I) in front. In the left foreground are walls 315 (Structure D) and to the ri
Figure 79: Area 3 – The east-west walls of Structures D, E and I. Wall 314 (Structure E ) largely robbed out to the right, wall 353 (Structure D) in the centre and wall 355 (Structure I) to the left (view to west)
Figure 80: Area 8 – East-facing section
Figure 81: Area 3 – Section through walls 355, 353 and 314 (Structures I, D and E respectively)
Figure 82: Area 3 – West-facing trench edge section
Figure 83: Area 3 Wall 308 – West-facing profile
Figure 84: Area 3 – Section through Wall 308/Construction cut 307
Figure 85: Area 3 Structure E – Profile of Wall 313/327
Figure 86: Area 3 Structure E – Wall 313/327 (view to north)
Figure 87: Area 3 Structure E – Wall 313/327 (view to north)
Figure 88: Area 3 – Bird burial 316
Figure 89: Area 3 – Bird burial 316 – geese skulls
Figure 90: Area 3 – Structure F
Figure 91: Area 3 – Structure F (view to east)
Figure 92: Area 3 Structure F – possible internal wall 3092 (view to east)
Figure 93: Area 7 extension – West-facing trench edge section
Figure 94: Area 4 and 9 – Structure G
Figure 95: Area 4 – Northern verge trenches western end
Figure 96: Area 4 – Section through possible wall 4034
Figure 97: Area 3 Structure I – Walls 354 and 355
Figure 98: Area 3 – Section through walls 354 (Structure I) and 353 (Structure D). Wall 314 of Structure E removed. Wall 355 (Structure I) is under the ranging pole on the left of the frame.
Figure 99: Area 3 – Profile of wall 355 (Structure I)
Figure 100: Area 3 – Hearth within Structure I
Figure 101: Area 3 – Rubble spread 344 (view to east)
Figure 102: Area 7 – Service trench section
Figure 103: Plan locating grid squares in Area 2
Chapter 3
Prehistoric pottery
Blaise Vyner
Chapter 4
The Roman Pottery
I.M. Rowlandson and H.G. Fiske
Table 1: Quantification of samian by vessel class in Rim EVE and Maximum Vessel Number (MVN)
Table 2: Quantification of samian by Fabric
Table 3: Quantity of samian by stratigraphic phase
Table 4: Vessel Form and Function by Fabric Group (Production Area). Maximum Vessel Numbers (rim EVE in brackets) Vessel forms are Dragendorff (Drag) forms unless specified. (O and P = Oswald and Price 1920)
Figure 104: The decorated samian, scale 1:1
Figure 105: The stamped samian, scale 1:1
Figure 106: Illustrated plain samian, scale 1:2
Figure 107: Stamped Dressel 20 amphora: 107a: Rubbing of stamp (scale 1:1), 107b: photo of stamp, 107c: and microscope image of vessel fabric
Figure 108: The illustrated mortaria
Figure 109: Illustrated mortarium No. 2 of the potter GENIALIS. 109a: Rubbing (Scale 1:1), 109b: photograph of stamp, 109c: microscope fabric image
Figure 110: Grey ware mortarium with slag trituration grits (No. 6). 110a: general image and 110b: microscope fabric image
Table 5: MOCR Crambeck white ware mortaria by form type
Figure 111: A burnt Crambeck mortarium, interior and exterior, illustrated vessel No. 9. 111a: internal surface, 111b: external surface
Figure 112: A sooted Crambeck mortarium, exterior and interior, illustrated vessel 10
Table 6: MOCRF Crambeck Parchment ware mortaria by form type
Figure 113: Paint-decorated Crambeck Type 7 mortarium, illustrated vessel 13
Figure 114: Paint-decorated Crambeck type 7 mortarium, illustrated vessel 14
Table 7: CRPA Crambeck Parchment ware other forms by type
Figure 116: Crambeck parchment ware bowl, illustrated vessel 17
Figure 117: Crambeck parchment ware bowl type 5b, illustrated vessel 20
Figure 118: Crambeck parchment ware bowl type 5b, with painted crux gammata illustrated vessel 22
Figure 119: Crambeck parchment ware bowl type 5b with paint decoration, illustrated vessel 23
Figure 120: Crambeck parchment ware face pot and smith god pot fragments, left to right No. 25-27
Figure 122: Images showing the Crambeck parchment ware chicken/cockerel figurine (No. 28)
Figure 123: Stamped Parisian ware sherd (No. 29) and rubbing (rubbing scale 1:1)
Figure 124: Possible Triple vase single element in white ware fabric (No. 30)
Figure 125: Oxidised beaker base showing signs of being re-ground to form a small container (No. 33)
Table 8: NORGW1 forms as proportion of fabric (Norton types follow Hayes and Whitley 1950)
Figure 126: Norton reduced wares NORBB1, NORGW1 and NORCG
Figure 127: Folded beaker in Norton grey ware (No. 41)
Table 9: CRGR forms as proportion of fabric (Crambeck types follow Corder 1937)
Figure 128: Crambeck reduced wares CRGR, CRGR? and CRGRC
Figure 129: CRGR Basal sherd showing evidence of re-use (No. 58)
Figure 130: Mask-mouthed flagon in Crambeck grey ware (No. 60)
Figure 131: Left to Right- No. 61-3 Sherds from face-necked flasks in Crambeck grey ware
Figure 132: Face jar in Crambeck grey ware (No. 64)
Figure 133: Roundel-stamped face jar in Crambeck grey ware (No. 65)
Figure 134: Face pot fragments in Crambeck grey ware (left to right, 66-69)
Figure 135: Smith god pot sherds in Crambeck grey ware with applied tools and other motifs (Top row left to right 70-72, Bottom row left to right 73-76).
Figure 136: Applied wheels from Smith god and/or wheel god pots (Top row left to right 77-79; Bottom row left to right 80-81)
Figure 137: Crambeck grey ware sherd with applied snake (No. 82)
Figure 138: Various stamped and applied partial motifs. (Top row left to right 48 and 83. Bottom row left to right 84-86). Vessel 48 is in a Norton grey ware fabric NORGW1, the remainder in Crambeck grey ware CRGR
Figure 139: Holme-on-Spalding-Moor grey ware spindle whorl (No. 90)
Figure 140: Burnished sherd with applied pellet decoration (No. 94)
Table 10: Relative proportion of Norton, Crambeck grey wares and other reduced wares as proportion of whole assemblage by phase
Table 12: Calcite-gritted jar forms by % of Rim equivalents by phase
Table 13: Relative proportion of calcite-gritted wares and reduced wares as proportion of assemblage by phase
Figure 141: Illustrated calcite-gritted wares
Figure 142: Calcite-gritted jar from bustum cremation pit 475 (No. 108)
Figure 144: Proto-Huntcliff jar showing method of construction. Left- external, Right- internal surface showing hand building and wheel-finished rim (No. 126)
Figure 145: Illustrated calcite-gritted jars
Figure 146: Calcite-gritted other forms
Figure 147: Calcite-gritted ware miniature jar (No. 136)
Figure 148: Calcite-gritted ware body sherd cut down to a spindle whorl (No. 137)
Figure 149: Calcite-gritted baking plate (No. 138)
Figure 150: Fragment of portable oven in calcite-gritted ware (No. 140)
Figure 152: Fragment of portable oven No. 143 in calcite-gritted ware showing handmade manufacture technique (rim to the top)
Figure 154: Calcite-gritted ovens, large jars and a tray
Figure 155: Large calcite-gritted jar with internal finger pressed decoration jar (No. 147)
Figure 156: Vessels from Bustum burial 475
Table 14: Summary of selected excavated assemblages, the relative numbers of decorated and stamped vessels illustrating the potential size of those excavated in the twentieth century
Table 15: Quantity (by sherd count) of samian from recent excavations in Norton
Table 16: The Relative Frequency of Samian Form/Functional Categories at different site types, Brooklyn House, Norton and a comparative site from Worcester (Mills J. 2018)
Table 17: Crambeck Parchment wares as proportion of the assemblage by phase
Chapter 5
The post-Roman Pottery
C.G. Cumberpatch
Chapter 6
Figure 158: Counterfeit denarii of Trajan, Elagabalus and Orbiana (obverses only).
The coins
Richard Brickstock
Figure 159: Graphical summary of Shiptonthorpe (1985-91) coins
Figure 160: Graphical summary of Malton vicus (1968-70) coins
Figure 161: Graphical summary of Malton vicus (1949-52) coins (regular and copies largely undifferentiated)
Table 18: Summary of coin finds from Brooklyn House, Norton (2015-16)
Table 19: Summary of coin finds from Brooklyn House and Malton Vicus (1968-70)
7a – The small finds and vessel glass
H.E.M. Cool and S.J. Greep
Chapter 7
Table 20: The catalogued small finds by site phase and functional category. (Note: see text for exclusions. The column labelled ‘Later’ combines the Phase 7, unphased and unstratified material)
Figure 162: Personal ornaments. Copper alloy (Nos 1-3) and iron (No. 4) brooches and bone hairpins (Nos 6-7). Scale 1:1
Figure 163: Personal ornaments Bone hairpins. Scale 1:1
Figure 164: Personal ornaments. Bone hairpin( No. 17), glass beads (Nos 19-20), copper alloy bracelets (Nos 21, 23) and shale bangles (Nos 24-27, 29)
Figure 165: Personal ornaments and toilet equipment. Shale (No. 30), jet (No. 31) and bone (No. 32) bangles and bracelets and copper alloy tweezers (No. 34). Scale 1:1
Figure 166: Textile equipment. Iron needles (Nos 36-37), bone needle case (No. 38) and shale spindle whorl (No. 39). Scale 1:1
Figure 167: Household equipment. Copper alloy spoon (No. 40). Scale 1:1. Glass vessels (Nos 41-43) and iron ladle (No. 45). Scale 1:2
Figure 168: Household equipment. Iron candlestick (No. 46), upholstery nail (No. 47). Scale 1:1. Iron trivet (No. 49). Scale 1:2
Figure 169: Recreation and writing equipment. Glass counter (No. 50) and iron styli (Nos 51-52). Scale 1:1
Figure 170: Writing equipment. Iron styli. Scale 1:1
Figure 171: Writing equipment. Iron styli. Scale 1:1
Figure 172: Transport equipment. Iron bits. Scale 1:1
Table 21. Types of iron nails present according to Roman phases (quantified by heads and according to Manning (1985) types)
Figure 173: Structural ironwork. Joiners dog (No. 60), angle bracket (No. 62) and nails (Nos 64-70). Scale 1:1
Figure 174: Iron knives (Nos 71-76), bladed tool (No. 78) and punch (No. 79). Scale 1:2
Figure 175: Iron tongs. Scale (drawing) 1:3
Figure 176: Iron chisels (Nos 82-84) saw blade (No. 85), awl (No. 86) and handle socket (No. 87) and antler handle (No. 88). Scale 1:2 (Nos 82, 84, 86, 88), 1:1 (Nos 83, 85, 87)
Figure 177: Fittings. Iron key (Nos 90-95), box fitting (No. 97), ferrules (Nos 101-102), nailed socket (No. 103), loop-headed spike (No. 104) and copper alloy double-spiked loop (No. 96). Scale 1:2 (Nos 90, 91, 93-95, 97, 101-104), 1:1 (No. 96)
Figure 178: Agricultural and military equipment. Iron ox goad (No. 115), copper alloy lorica squamata scales (Nos 116-118), lorica segmentata fitting (No. 119), stud (No. 120) and phallic pendant (No. 121). Scale 1:2 (No. 115); 1:1 Nos 116-121; 2:1 detai
Figure 179: Weapons. Iron bolts (Nos 122-123) and arrowhead (No. 124). Scale 1:2
Figure 180: Miscellaneous items. Shale pendant (No. 125), iron rod (No. 132) and toothed strip (No. 136), copper alloy terminal (No. 136) and curved band (No. 137). Scale 1:1 Nos 125, 135; 1:2 Nos 132, 136, 137)
Table: 22: Distribution of the catalogued metal items through time
Table: 22: Distribution of the catalogued metal items through time (excluding nails and hobnails)
7b – The finds from the cremation burial
H.E.M. Cool and S.J. Greep1
Figure 181: A selection of the pyre goods. Scale 1:1
Figure 182: Reconstruction of the belt
Figure 183: Belt set. Copper alloy buckle and plates (Nos 1-2). Scale 1:1
Figure 184: Belt set and baldric fittings. Copper alloy plates with frogs (Nos 3-4) and baldric fittings (Nos 7-8). Scale 1:1
Figure 185: Other fittings from pyre. Iron and copper alloy blade (Nos 9-11), copper alloy brooch (No. 12), iron hobnail (No. 13), bone inlay (No. 15) and scroll holder fittings (Nos 16). Scale 1:1
Figure 186: Other fittings from pyre. Bone (No. 17), copper alloy (Nos 18-20) and copper alloy with iron (No. 21). Scale 1:1
Chapter 8
Table 23: Ceramic Building Material by form in relation to period
The ceramic building materials
J.M. McComish
Figure 187: Curving tiles with vents from context 758
Figure 188: Chimney sherd from context 206
Figure 189: Chimney or finial fragments from contexts 202 and 236
Figure 190: Combed box  flues from contexts 253 and 309
Figure 191: Finger drawn keying on a box flue from context 4023
Figure 192: Parietalis from context 202
Figure 193: Tesserae from context 202
Table 24: Ceramic Building Material in relation to phase
Chapter 9
Table 25: Stone Building Material by form and stone type
The stone building materials
J.M. McComish
Figure 194: Two stone tesserae, RF 6 context 201 and RF 296 context 202
Figure 195: Stone roof flag of rectangular shape, context 816
Figure 196: Stone roof flag of elongated hexagonal shape, context 207
Figure 197: Stone roof flags with a curving upper edge from contexts 202, 220 and 830
Figure 198: Roof tiles re-used as lids, RF 194, context 235 and RF 308, context 202
Figure 199: Roof tile with scratched surface, possibly re-used as a hone, context 202
Figure 200: Limestone slab with bullnose profile, context 202
Figure 201: Carved stone RF 177, context 215
Figure 202: Carved block RF 96, context 202
Table 26: Stone Building Material from Phase 3 structures
Table 27: Tooling and burning on the Stone Building Material by structure
Chapter 10
Chipped stone lithics
Spencer Carter
Table 28: Lithics submitted finds composition summary
Table: 29: Lithics raw material types
Figure 203: Late Neolithic oblique arrowhead No. 8
Table 30: Lithic reduction technology
Table 31: Burnt lithics
Table 32: Chronological indicators
Table 33: Modified formal and non-formal tool forms
Chipped stone lithics Appendix
Chapter 11
Querns, millstones and associated material
John Cruse
Table 34: Saddle Querns, Rubbers and Polishers
Figure 204: Hand querns with a radial pattern of grooves on the rim. 204a: No. 11, RF 388, context 413; 204b: No. 13, RF 356, context 302
Table 35: Hand Querns
Table 36: Powered Millstones
Table 37: Phasing of the Querns
Table 38: Querns from excavations in Malton and Norton (from YQS Records)
Figure 205: Find spots of rotary querns excavated in Malton and Norton
Table 39: Roman sites in the vicinity of Malton and Norton
Figure 206: Roman sites with querns in the vicinity of Malton and Norton
Table 40: Comparison of Querns from the Study Area with YQS Quern Type Summaries
Figure 207: Fragment of a probable small millstone No. 15, RF 452, context 3117
Chapter 12
The whetstones
S. Tibbles
Table 41: Whetstones
Chapter 13
Human bone
Katie Keefe and Malin Holst
Table 42: Summary of osteological and palaeopathological results
Table 43: Summary of cremated bone assemblage
Table 44: Summary of cremated bone fragment size
Table 45: Summary of identifiable elements in the cremation burials
Chapter 14
Vertebrate remains
Alison Foster
Table 46: Hand-collected vertebrate remains (NISP – number of identified specimens) from Areas 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9
Table 47: Hand-collected vertebrate remains (NISP – number of identified specimens) from Phases 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Table 48: Tooth-wear stages recorded for sheep and sheep/goat mandibles.
Table 49: Tooth-wear stages recorded for pig mandibles.
Table 50: Number of sheep and sheep/goat mandibles that could be assigned to the various age categories of Payne (1973; 1987), by phase
Table 51: Number of pig mandibles that could be assigned to the various simplified age categories of O’Connor (2003), by phase
Table 52: Metrical data (following von den Dreisch 1976) for domestic mammals, by element. All measurements are in mm
Figure 208: Frequency of cattle, caprine and pig remains (NISP) as a percentage of total fragments for Phases (2 -5)
Table 53: Metrical data (following von den Dreisch 1976) for birds, by element. All measurements are in mm
Table 54: Estimated withers heights in centimetres by context and phase
Chapter 15
Shell
John Carrott
Chapter 17
Discussion
Pete Wilson
Figure 209: Roman Norton showing proposed revised cemetery areas along Langton Road
Bibliography
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