Stage 3

All the stone buildings were situated well away from the road, in a pleasant valley bottom, beside a small stream. Since this site was not under threat from any mineral extraction it was decided to delay the excavation of this area until the other digs had been completed. A research dig was started in 1969.

Above: the start of the research excavation in Area three

The excavation method used was hand-stripping, from the turf downwards. After the removal of the earth layers, the levels consisted of broken roof tiles, mortar, painted plaster and general building debris. Below these materials were the floors and the remaining walls. All tile fragments were washed and examined for graffiti and stamps. Inscribed tiles were found separately over the years. When assembled one revealed the latin alphabet. Another which made an impact on Romano-British tribal names was the Cori el Tauvi tile, which renamed the Coritani. This was reported in the Antiquaries Journal (1983 Vol LXIII part II).

A silver proto hand-pin and a great deal of painted plaster were also discovered here.

The first building excavated was the large "L" shaped mansio type building with a channelled hypocaust heating the triclinium and containing a small bath unit. Adjoining this was another rectangular building with outside stone walls and internal wooden ones. This contained six rooms and a passage. Another stone building lay beyond this. These buildings were reported in Volume 91 1984, of the Birmingham Archaeological Society.

Above: Building three/four in Area three