BUTSER ANCIENT FARM Founding Director: Dr P.J. Reynolds

NEXUS HOUSE, GRAVEL HILL, WATERLOOVILLE, HAMPSHIRE PO8 0QE

TELEPHONE & FAX: 023 9259 8838 www.butser.org.uk

7 November 2002

One year on, it is timely to provide a report on the continuing experimental work at the Ancient Farm.

The main project is the construction of the Roman Villa based on the archaeological evidence from the excavation of the Sparsholt Villa. True to Peter’s initial work and his established principles, this is not an attempted replica but a faithful interpretation, using all available evidence, from which deductions can be made and on which experiments can be undertaken. The process of building a construct this way has always shown up where knowledge of techniques and even total absence of data, such as for the roof construction, is lacking. This is part of the experimental learning process. An added conundrum is the need to match veracity with meeting modern regulations (building standards, access requirements, safety, etc.), both during construction and to allow visitors to use the finished building. This is a lesson for all who wish to engage in this type of project.

A lot has already been learnt about the skills and techniques needed to build walls in a manner reflecting the Roman style. This has proved just how long it really takes, compared with first estimates. Peter had already published his work on the hypocaust floor and praefurnian arch. At that stage, the plan was to complete just sufficient of the building to make experiments on the hypocaust room substantive. There was at that time no real expectation of ever being able to complete the entire villa. With the welcome intervention of Discovery Channel Television using Siguy Films as their main agent, resources to complete the entire villa have been provided. The early hypocaust construction proved to be at a level that meant the only realistic way to accommodate the slope of the site was to demolish Peter’s work. This was not allowed for in the first schedule.

What has been agreed is to carry on working through the winter. This is contrary to what we know of earlier practice but having built up and trained a team we need to keep them together rather than dispersing them and starting again in the spring. In order to practically do this we have given priority to bringing up to roof level, the half of the villa containing the hypocaust. This will happen before Christmas and will mean that a covering can be put over it. Should the weather become significantly worse after Christmas this will give the option of “indoor” working and to bring on the interior of the villa. It will also allow us to gain the practical experience of finishing part of the villa which can be applied, with any changes learned from the experimental techniques, to the rest. A monitored schedule of works has been drawn up taking us to Christmas. This will be reviewed in early December.

Meanwhile, substantial progress has been made with the Geophysics Test Bed with students already benefiting from utilising the resource.Work on cereals is being expanded to include crop processing.

There is also good news on other fronts. Funding has been obtained which together with donations in memory of Peter Reynolds means that the much needed rethatching of the great roundhouse can go ahead at the end of November. You may have also spotted Butser standing in for the Italian Late Bronze Age with communities being destroyed but roundhouses preserved in Pompeii –style by an eruption of Vesuvius.

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Created 11 November 2002 - Updated 11 November 2002