South East Coastal Strategy Pipeline, Magor
ST 4352 8480; Tim Carew; Evaluation; 29th February - 10th April 2000; Dwr Cymru / Welsh Water; MAG00
A Roman land surface was identified at the interface of two alluvial layers by a scatter of pottery sherds, at low density, and very occasional daub flecks in three of the trenches. This was at a level of about +5.15m OD.
Cut into this surface was a small ditch of Roman date found in two of the trenches. There was no direct evidence of the function of the ditch, but the most likely reason for it would have been for drainage. If this is correct, it would have been a 'grip', which is the smallest element within a larger hierarchical system of drainage and presumably boundaries. Models of the development of the Gwent Levels envisage the creation of sea walls and intensive systems of drainage behind them, during the Roman period.
Deposited immediately over the Roman surface was a 0.10m thick layer of alluvium that was more clayey than the rest of the sequence of sediments. While a natural explanation of this change is possible, it also may indicate human interference in the local environment and landscape development. Without further information, what could have caused this remains speculative. One possibility would be sea defences and drainage removing the area from the active intertidal zone, but leaving it subject to periodic, possibly seasonal, flooding, especially if the defences were either not fully effective or falling into disrepair.
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