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An Investigation into the Archaeological History of Tidgrove Warren Farm |
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Why was there a Roman Villa at Tidgrove?
The many finds of stone tools and weapons in our area confirm that the downland above Kingsclere was regularly inhabited from Neolithic times. These early people who are sometimes referred to as ‘the Iberians’ (the little dark men) came to England from the Mediterranean area and settled on the chalk downland. At that time much of Britain was covered with dense forest and the downland would have provided dry upland pasture for their little flocks and herds with access to woodland for food and fuel and good water supplies.
They were a mainly pastoral race raising sheep, pigs and some cattle. With only primitive implements they could only cultivate small corn patches and crushed the grain for cooking between two stones. They made unleavened bread and drank milk. Meat was cooked on red hot stones or boiled in a clay pot by dropping red hot stones in.
The Iberians were followed from 1900 to 500 BC by successive waves of immigrants who had learnt the use of bronze for tools and wapons. These taller newcomers subdued the original inhabitants and amalgamated with them although they survived further west in Wales and Cornwall. They not only brought metal tools and weapons but also improved stock, especially oxen. Using these and a light wooden plough tipped with bronze they were able to cultivate the land more effectively and were able to introduce barley and flax as crops.
With bronze domestic utensils came the ability to cook on direct heat although the use of cooking stones continued. The development of spinning and weaving enabled linen and woollen cloth to be made although skin garments continued to be worn.
From about 500BC a new immigrant wave of Celts (known as the Brythonic Celts) brought with them the use of iron. They were accomplished agriculturalists and settled in open villages but also built the large hill top earthworks in which they could shelter for defence. They settled the high ground but with their superior tools were able to expand into other areas and the centre of civilisation gradually moved from Salisbury Plain to the more sheltered Thames Valley, Sussex and Kent.
They were followed by others, including the Belgae, a Celtic people from Picardy in Belgium. They settled in Hampshire and Wessex and established themselves in valleys and open spaces beside river crossings, their superior implements enabling them to clear forests and to cultivate the heavier soils using the heavy wheeled plough drawn by eight oxen.
When the Romans came to Tidgrove they would have found a well established agricultural community working the ‘celtic fields’ on the downs and clearing the woodland below the Clere Scarp. They had well developed stock-raising and dairying techniques and were using manuring techniques such as marling and chalking. They had flocks of poultry and grew wheat, oats, barley, rye and peas and beans. They still mainly lived in round huts although there is evidence of rectangular buildings, particularly for the more important inhabitants.
The Romans brought new agricultural implements, techniques and crops. They introduced the skills of woodland management and of vineyards and orchards. The rabbit was first introduced by the Romans and died out to be reintroduced by the Normans.
Modern historical thinking suggests that the Romans were the originators of the manorial system. Although there is little written evidence to support this in Western Europe, the evaluation of surviving papyrus records in Egypt suggests that influential Romans were living within local communities where they were responsible for gathering taxes from the indigenous people. It is a short step from being the tax gatherer to gaining financial control over a community and for debtors to become slaves. Equally, the need for effective tax collections within the whole empire makes it not unreasonable to conclude that similar communities were developing elsewhere. It has been suggested that the reforms of Diocletian in the 3rd century AD which created a powerful bureaucracy would have enabled successful administrators to acquire country estates.
The presence of Roman buildings at Tidgrove could be part of one such estate. It is a bare ten miles from Silchester using the Portway and Calleva was a large city for its time with an estimated population in excess of 10,000.
Click for details of 2004 excavation of the Roman Site