A
series of cropmarks were noted at Quarry Farm in 1970.
They were interpreted as belonging to an Iron Age or Romano-British
farmstead and its surrounding field system.
In
the mid 1970s planning permission was granted for a large
area of housing at Ingleby Barwick, developed as six 'villages'
over the next 40 years. One of the last 'villages' to
be developed included the area of the crop marks identified
in 1970.
Initial
investigation by geomagnetic survey revealed a series of stone
founded buildings typical of a Roman Villa. This was
a totally unexpected discovery. |
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The
developer of the site agreed that the main villa complex would
be preserved beneath a 'village green'. The remainder
was subject to archaeological excavations carried out by Archaeological
Services, Durham University in 2003-2004.
This
was a major piece of archaeological fieldwork and its results
are internationally important as this is one of the most northerly
surviving Roman Villas in the Roman Empire.
Although
the principal building of the villa was not excavated, the
surrounding structures (including a bath house, barn, mill
and several corn-driers) were very well preserved and allowed
a detailed picture of life on Roman Teesside to be painted. |
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As
well as housing a Roman Villa, the archaeologists found that
site has been occupied throughout prehistory. Evidence
from worked flints suggested that hunter-gatherers had passed
through the area in the Mesolithic (c. 4000 BC).
The
remains of three Beaker pots from the early Bronze Age (c.
2200-1900) suggested that the area was used for funerary purposes
in this period. Beakers are commonly associated with
burials, often within burial mounds. |
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One
of the biggest surprises at the villa site was a small building
to the east of the main complex with an under floor heating
system. These are usually associated with bath houses
or steam rooms.
The
room was very well constructed with stone pillars that would
have supported a wooden floor above.
This
room suggests a social aspect to the villa and may have been
used for relaxing and to conduct business. |
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The
aisled building is a type of Roman building found across eastern
England, but the example at Quarry Farm is the most northerly
one found so far.
They are large multiple-purpose buildings with functions that
seem to change over time. Typically they are used to store
crops and equipment; provide cover for animals and as living
and working quarters for estate workers.
The
building had one stone built wall which faced the main approach
to the villa, suggesting that it was designed to impress.
The other walls were timber on stone foundations.
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The
finds from the villa included all the trappings of daily life
including animal bones and broken pottery along with more
exotic items.
These
small, colourful fragments of glass, shown right, are all
that remain of a large shallow plate or dish. The base glass
is colourless, but thin sections of multi-coloured mosaic
canes have been embedded into the surface to create a floral
design. This object came from Egypt, and presumably
at great cost.
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A
Roman gilt copper alloy crossbow brooch (right) was another
of the principal finds. This type of brooch was used by the
Roman military and it was made in twelve separate pieces.
It dates from the 300s AD.
The
object was found buried with the skeleton of a dog.
Was the brooch an offering to a cherished pet?
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