In 2015, the construction of a new road to bypass the towns of Bedale, Aiskew, and Leeming Bar began. The road spans approximately 4.2km from Bedale to a point east of Leeming Bar on the A684 Northallerton Road and intersects the A1(M) north of Leeming Bar. A pre-Roman enclosure, identified by aerial survey, was anticipated along the line of the road. However, the project also unexpectedly revealed the existence of a previously unknown Roman villa near Aiskew. Both the enclosure and the villa were situated alongside an ancient routeway, following a slightly elevated path above the local floodplains – the very same route chosen by modern engineers for the road.
In the past few years our knowledge and understanding of North-East England in the Iron Age and Roman periods has been transformed by archaeological investigations. Our work on these two key sites has enriched the evolving narrative, shedding light on the presence of sophisticated indigenous communities with their unique lifestyles and traditions, in stark contrast to the outdated notion of a subdued local populace oppressed by Roman authority.
This artist’s reconstruction of the enclosure site overlain onto an aerial photo of the excavation, shows how, remarkably, the line of the new bypass follows the route of a trackway established over 2000 years ago, following the higher, well drained land along the Bedale and Scurf Becks.
Various 2nd to early 4th-century AD mortaria (grinding bowls) from Mancetter-Hartshill (modern-day Warwickshire), the Lower Nene Valley (near Peterborough), and a more locally-produced vessel from Aldborough in North Yorkshire – the latter stamped by the potter VIATOR, giving a date of AD 100–140.
The material from the Iron Age enclosure provides vital new perspectives on the period with evidence for metal working as well as environmental and agricultural data that add materially to our emerging understanding of the region during this period of transition. Collectively, this evidence suggests a more diverse societal structure in the region than previously assumed.
The Aiskew villa, dating to the third and fourth centuries, was only partially examined; geophysics demonstrated that the complex covered a much larger area and included many other structures. Finds from these demonstrate a high-quality lifestyle befitting elite owners. Precisely who these elites were is open to debate but the proximity of contemporary military camps to the west and key settlements alongside Dere Street to the east place this villa in a most convenient location for access to both. While several villa sites have been examined in the region recently, this one stands out due to its larger size, opulence, and complexity, raising questions about its economic significance and its role within the broader landscape.
Involving the community was integral to the archaeological project. Where safe and practical, this included on-site experience during excavation works at the enclosure; a site tour and finds display for pupils of Bedale School, plus community events during the work and involvement afterwards. Following the excavations, pupils from Mowbray School in Bedale enjoyed a talk and finds display as well as an outdoor finds processing session. Local and national archaeological societies and regional community groups also enjoyed talks and displays. Swaledale and Arkengarthdale Archaeology Group helped to process finds, including washing the many animal bones, fragments of pottery and other artefacts, and members of Bedale Archaeology and History Society sieved soil excavated from one of the large quarry pits at Aiskew to recover small artefacts and animal bones.
The results of this extensive work have now been published both as a fully illustrated booklet ‘Before Bedale’ which is available as a free download here, and in PCA Monograph 25 ‘The Bedale Enclosure and Aiskew Villa’; click the links for further details.
