News / archeology
‘Incredible’ Roman discovery made at spot that could be built over
An excavation team has discovered evidence of “possible Roman glass-making” at a site where there are plans to build hundreds of homes.
Seventy-two glass beads and fragments of glass waste, dating back to the second and fourth centuries, have been found at Brislington Meadows – a green space in south Bristol.
The field team from Cotswold Archaeology have celebrated the find as “incredible”.
is needed now More than ever
Meanwhile, the owners of the site off Broomhill Road have plans in the pipeline to build 300 homes where the discovery was made.
Over in #Bristol, less than a kilometre from Brislington #Roman Villa, we’ve been investigating an area of what looked to be later prehistoric or Roman activity, highlighted during geophys… (1/3)#Archaeology #BristolHistory #CASiteTeam pic.twitter.com/qDGrVuxX5F
— Cotswold Archaeology (@CotswoldArch) August 8, 2022
Homes England bought the land in 2020 but within a year mayor Marvin Rees pledged Brislington Meadows as a local green space, saying that the wildlife haven was too ecologically precious to be built on.
Rees later admitted that he cannot rule on planning applications as mayor.
Campaigners have been fighting for the land to be kept as a local wildlife haven since and in spring marched on the meadows in protest of it being developed.
Tasking archaeologists with investigating the land to inform a planning application, a team from Cirencester carried out the excavation in 2021 and have now released their findings.
Bristol24/7 has approached Homes England for comment.
Locals ‘marching on the meadows’ in June – photo: Oren Taylor
The dig was prompted by a previous geophysical survey that highlighted an area of late prehistoric or Roman activity within the south-western part of the site.
About the treasures identified during the fieldwork, Cotswold Archaeology’s Alex Thomson said: “It is currently unclear whether the beads represent a single string of beads (such as a necklace), but it’s a real possibility.
“Their association with glass vessel fragments and glass-waste is noteworthy, possibly suggesting that manufacture of such items took place at the site, or that they had been cached ahead of being recycled.”
Similar glass beads were recovered from the site of Brislington Roman Villa, about 900 metres west of the site.
Thomson added: “Evidence for glass working is in general very uncommon at Roman sites in the countryside.
“The south-western part of the site will require further excavation; hopefully CA will be involved in any future stages of work so we can find out more about this intriguing site.”
The archaeological report has now been sent to council planners as part of the planning application process.
For more information about the discovery, visit: www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk/possible-roman-glass-working-at-brislington-meadows-bristol/
Main photo: Save Brislington Meadows/ Cotswold Archaeology
Read more: Archaeologists to excavate ruined city centre church
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
