In some exciting news, our work at Holme Hall Quarry for Breedon, is now available to read about in the July issue of Current Archaeology magazine!
Discussing the early Roman frontier region prior to the advance northwards to the Hadrianic frontier, the piece reveals how the landscape in this area was transformed into extensive, carefully planned field systems and farmsteads during the early Roman period. But was this development the work of local Iron Age communities, or could it have been a land-grab by an occupying army?
While these questions (and more) have been posed over the years about these field systems, the picture is becoming clearer thanks to the recent large-scale excavations at Holme Hall Quarry. Investigations here have contributed significantly to our understanding of the area, from the earliest Mesolithic findings to detailed insights into how the early Roman frontier region in Britain was organised prior to the invasion of the territory of the Brigantes in c.AD 69.
The work at Holme Hall has been extensive, including an initial geophysical survey and fieldwalking, plus excavations in 2015 and 2019–2022, and then the post-excavation work. The findings have revealed a busy landscape of multi-period remains across an area where very little archaeology had previously been known. Volunteers were involved in the excavations and there have been archaeological displays at the quarry’s open days, bringing the past to life for the local community.
Want to read the full article about this fascinating site? Check out Current Archaeology, issue 424, available here: Current Archaeology 424 – The Past
You can also read more about our work at Holme Hall Quarry here: Holme Hall Quarry – Archaeological Research Services Ltd
We have also produced an ebook which you can download here or you can buy a hard copy via print-on-demand through Archaeopress.