This document summarizes an archaeological investigation into the material culture from the transition period between the Iron Age and Roman era in the Marches region of Herefordshire and Shropshire. It discusses evidence from coinage, artifacts like horse harnesses and dress accessories, and exceptional finds that provide insights into continuity and change during this period. It concludes by calling for more systematic fieldwork and a research strategy to answer remaining big questions about the people who lived in this area.

1. ‘ Drawing lines in the sand: continuity and change in the Marches during the Iron Age / Roman transition ’ An archaeological investigation based on the material culture Peter Reavill : Finds Liaison Officer

2. The Portable Antiquities Scheme in Herefordshire and Shropshire is supported by the following institutions

5. Reconstruction of Hen Gaer Iron Age hillfort, Bow Street, near Aberystwyth

6. IA reconstructions

7. Preconceptions

8. Images of Ritual Feasting and Roman / Native interaction

9. Iron Age v Roman

11. Celtic If I use the word Celtic in this talk then I am not referring to a pan European group with a shared identity. However, if I do use the term Celtic then I may be referring to a shared form of design or expression of artistic nature. In Archaeology neat ‘catch all’ terms do not work– everything is much more messy and more complicated then we could possibly imagine.

12. The Coinage Evidence Money makes the World Go Round Or does it?

13. Gold Stater Inscribed CATTI of the Dubonni (North Shropshire)

14. Gold ¼ Stater Inscribed COR[IO] of the Dubonnni (Herefordshire)

15. Silver unit of Dubonnic Tribe – Weston Under Penyard HESH-544227

16. Iron Age Coins Material only from Celtic Coin Index and PAS Dataset This chart shows the material the coin is made from. The blue shows Shropshire, purple: Wroxeter This chart shows the Source / ‘Tribe’ The blue shows Dobunni (Western), purple: Other

17. Reece Period Analysis of the Data This analysis shows considerable activity in the period R1 pre Claudian / Iron Age (pre 41 AD) - R10 Severus (238 AD) specifically R1 (pre 41 ) –R7 (138 AD) This material is taken from Phillipa Walton PhD at UCL – completion date 2010

18. Herefordshire compared with the British mean 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 Reece periods Coins per mill Per Mill Britain Per Mill

19. Comparison between Wroxeter (after Casey 1980) and PAS Data

20. Coin Hoards Some recent Hoards and what they tell us about money and circulation of currency

21. Albrighton Coin Hoard deposited AD 37 ish

22. Some examples of the coinage

23. Overley Hoard deposited during reign of Vespasian c. 79 AD

24. Pattingham Hoard Shropshire

25. Hoard of nearly 100 Silver Denari from the Oswestry Area

26. When encounter coins like this then care should be taken Denarius of M Antonius 32-31 BC From Rossett, Wrexham HESH-B3BB24

27. Roman Denarii Left: Domitian AD 89 (HESH 927906) Right: Marcus Aurelius AD170-171 (HESH BC7744)

28. Roman coin known as a Barbarous radiate (contemporary copy or forgery) dated between 260 – 290 AD. Found in North Herefordshire. HESH-F1B8F6

29. Reece Period Analysis of the Data This analysis shows considerable activity in the period R1 pre Claudian / Iron Age (pre 41 AD) - R10 Severus (238 AD) specifically R1 (pre 41 ) –R7 (138 AD) This material is taken from Phillipa Walton PhD at UCL – completion date 2010

30. Artefacts These have been separated into a series of case studies showing relatively functional types. I have specifically highlighted those which are common or unusual in the Marches / West Midlands. Thoughts as to deposition or use will be given as we go along – site deposition will be discussed at the end.

31. Horse and Harness

32. Terret Rings ( HESH-78A2E1 and HESH-951174 )

34. Polychrome enamelled fragment from a skirted terret 1 st century AD ish (WMID-3867F2 )

35. Late Iron Age Bridle Cheekpiece Cockshutt: CPAT-E87263

36. Paralleled with this example (the first from Wales) from Maescar, (Brecon) Powys (NMGW-31C972 )

37. Linch pin Linch Pin from Staffordshire border 1 st century AD WMID-94763

38. Strap Slide (HESH-116CA2) Mount ( HESH-165726 ) Strap Junction ( HESH-F35BD6 )

39. Dress Accessories

40. Iron Age La Tene (II) Style Bow brooch HESH - 49FBD8

41. La Tene III Bow Brooch – N Shrops

42. One Piece Colchester Brooch ( HESH-B5A7C1 )

43. Colchester Derivative Brooches (Dolphin Types. 43 – 150 AD. Found in South Herefordshire

44. Polden hill (Dolphin) type copper alloy (bronze) brooch. 43 – 100 AD. Found in East Shropshire. HESH 2CBA21

45. Rare complete Roman bow (Polden Hill type) Brooch with pin found in East Shropshire (HESH-4FE278)

46. Early Roman (75-150 AD) Trumpet Brooch – Whittington

47. Roman Trumpet Brooch – Bayston Hill – Shrewsbury HESH-53EAC7

48. Dragonesque Style Brooch, Bridgnorth Area HESH-69B018

49. Plate Brooch – Early Roman. HESH-040BF6

50. Gilt disc brooch – Cockshutt – 3 rd Century HESH-E14AF3

51. Bulls Head Bucket Mounts

52. Bulls Head Bucket Mount from Staffordshire Border

53. Illustration of Bulls Head Mount

54. Late Iron Age Bulls-head Vessel Mount HESH-E00294

56. Bulls Head Vessel Mount, Newport Area ( HESH-C96C96)

58. From Frodesley after Wroxeter Hinterland Project Now in Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery

59. The Distribution of Bovine Vessel Mounts in Relation to Their Methods of Discovery or Recording

60. Cosmetic mortars HESH-88D672 West Felton HESH-83A395 Whitchurch

61. National Distribution of Cosmetic Mortars after Worrell 2007

62. Button and Loop Fasteners Found in North Shropshire. HESH-CB73D7

63. B&L Fastener – Newport HESH-61B3C2

64. B&L Fastener, Bayston Hill

65. B&L Fastener, Pattingham HESH-101F56

66. Enamelled Button and Loop Fastener HESH-157F63

67. 1 st Century AD Toggle (HESH-786D48)

68. National Distribution of Button and Loop Fasteners after Worrell 2007

69. Tankard Handle (HESH-7757A4)

70. Three exceptional finds

71. 1

72. Telford Torc

74. Snetisham Torc, Norfolk

75. Gold Pellet like ingots of Iron Age composition from the Rowton Area Shropshire

76. 2

77. Pair of Iron Age Spoons Mid Shropshire – 2005 T228

78. Distribution of Spoons After Fitzpatrick 2008

79. Spoons from Penbryn, Dyfed

82. 3

83. Copper alloy scabbard guard studied by Adam Gwilt and Mary Davis NGMW Cardiff

85. And the only site which consistently produce Material from both the Roman and Iron Age periods

86. Tankard Handle (HESH-7757A4)

87. What Next Although I have spoken for too Long (Sorry) There is very little site specific information about finds in Shropshire when compared to the other known archaeology Finds tell you about people and can tell you as much about an area as any other form of archaeology More fieldwork is desperately needed A well thought out research strategy for the county is also needed – with this practical research can be carried out to answer some of the big questions Who can do this: I suggest the audience may have the answer Although I will lend a hand!

88. Peter Reavill; Finds Liaison Officer Ludlow Museum Resource Centre 7-9, Parkway. Ludlow. Shropshire. SY8 2PG Telephone: 01584 813 641 Email: [email_address] Website: www.finds.org.uk. or visit me at one of my regular finds ID days