Project Consultant : Christine Shaw
The design of the Earthworks is best seen from the Wroughton Site presentation
The exact date of
this picture is not recorded but it is from the first or second
year after construction, as there is little or no plant invasion
of the bank, other than where it was turf covered from the start,
as part of the design. The details of the basic design are given
under the Wroughton
Site
heading.
A noteworthy difference from any other site is that the ditch
commonly contains water. In winter the ditch is full nearly to
overflowing. Only in mid-summer does the ditch dry out
completely. This eventually led to a U-shaped profile but,
somewhat surprisingly, the sides of the ditch did not collapse
and growth of seedlings recurred every year, as the water level
fell. It is presumed that the water movements were so slow and
gentle that little mechanical erosion occurred.
The vertical split plank fence at the end of this arm is there
because the centre grass area was required for animal grazing and
so there is a causeway here. Over the years both horses and cows
had access to this grazing. Both types of animals dislike sudden
drops and the main effect of their grazing was to reduce the
inner face of the bank with little outward effect on the outer
face, which was part of the annual experimental recording
programme.
A standard one metre square survey pit was dug near the centre of the inner grazing area. This was used to get a geological profile of where the earthworks is located, for comparison with other known profiles and explanations of the local geology. This picture, regretably, does not show the layer of gravel believed to correspond to a known raised beach in this area. The results have been reported in a Newsletter of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeology Society, as "A Geological Section from the Grounds of Fishbourne Roman Palace" Roger Hedge, Newsletter 42 August 2004 pp10-13.
Another interesting "find", during construction of the earthworks, was the presence of a field drainage system using earthenware pipes, a common improvement of poorly drained farmland, remembering that the winter water table is barely sub-surface. These pipes were rather less than a metre below the existing surface.
Several noteworthy features were observed during the plant colonisation of the earthworks. Due to the richness of the soil and the abundance of water, once plants were established growth was rampant and quite unlike the tardy growth of plants on the chalk based earthworks elsewhere. The plant species also tended to be associated with specific arms. Bulrush [greater reedmace] favoured arms F anf G predominantly, while bramble initially spread around the entrance between Arms H and A and along Arm C. Over time bramble bridged Arm C and later part of D. However, bramble also took over the top of these banks and formed great "mounds" of impenetrable depth. Sallow took hold in Arms D to H and soon produced veritable "trees"
In the diagram above, Arm A is to the left of the entrance opposite the Car Park and the arms are lettered clockwise.
All this growth led to considerations that had not arisen elsewhere. The underlying philosophy of the work was to leave the Earthworks "unmanaged" and relatively intruder-free .... children and animals notwithstanding! With the single species beginning to exclude other plants and to alter the behaviour of the erosion, the question arose, "Should these plants be removed or cut back?" One idea was that bulrush, sallow and blackberry are all "resource" plants. Had these developed around a "real world" earthworks, at any time, let alone the Iron Age, then they would have been utilised. In that circumstance, then oorampant intrusion would not have arisen and a greater variety of plants would likely be present. All this would lead to a different erosion pattern from that being experienced. Thus, around year ten [records have to be checked], active cutting down of the sallow was started and repeated every two or three years [manpower was limited and there was the problem of disposal of the waste].
Because the fields for cereals and herbs was only available for four years, due to the needs of the Roman Palace and demands on the Ancient Farm Site itself, most of the data from this location is for this earthworks alone.
The only known project report giving an overview for this work has recently come to light, although there are detailed reports on the long-term survey of the earthworks in the Year Books. A CD containing the botanical surveys for all sites in digitised form, along with few sections an profiles from use of the Protofit, and a copy of Monograph No4 with additional background note, is available at no charge from the Chairman of the Friends.
We are still seeking photographs from the time.
This page is under continuing preparation.
Created 20 January 2004 - Updated 24 February 2008