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Catcote : Further Information The more we learn about Catcote the more distinct it appears as an Iron Age and Romano-British settlement. It was clearly long lived and almost certainly of a high status. It appears to have played an important role in north-east coastal trade of the period. The circumstances of the end of the settlement are completely unknown. Economically it may have fallen into decline with the end of Roman control, as trade links broke down with the rest of the Empire. The lack of Roman influence led to a resurgence of native British tribalism. Catcote may have been abandoned for social reasons as its past links with the Romans were seen a hindrance to its redevelopment. There are good indications that there was a high status post-Roman settlement at Newton Bewley, approximately 5 miles to the south-west. It is possible that, following the end of Roman control, this was the successor to Catcote. There is still a great deal to learn about the settlement at Catcote. We are still not certain of its date span or of the full nature of the transition which occurred with the arrival of the Romans. Nor do we know if parts of the settlement had specific purposes. However it is hoped that the continuing research programme will throw greater light on these and other questions. Reports Archaeological
Excavations at Catcote, Hartlepool - A Prehistoric and Romano-British
settlement
1963 Rescue excavations The first archaeological finds came to light in 1963 during the levelling of the playing fields at English Martyrs School on the eastern slope of the hill. There are few records of exactly what was found other than observations of local amateurs who were hard pressed to make fuller records with next to no resources. Diaries and archive photographs suggest that a large part of the settlement was destroyed including substantial stone buildings. 1964 & 1987 - Research excavations The rescue work was followed by an excavation organised by the University of Durham in 1964 (Long, 1988). This uncovered a round house and human burials. It was over twenty years before any further work took place. This occurred in 1987 when excavation took place prior to the construction of allotments to the immediate north-east of the hill. This resulted in the discovery of an earlier, Bronze Age settlement and a rectangular Romano-British building (Vyner & Daniels, 1989). 1998 onwards - Research Project In 1998 Tees Archaeology established a long-term research and training project with the University of Durham and the Summerhill Woodland Centre. Four weeks of excavation have taken place every year since then with students from the University and local volunteers taking part. This has resulted in the excavation of more buildings and the discovery of further human burials. Further Reading Long, C. 1988. The Iron Age and Romano-British Settlement at Catcote, Hartlepool, Cleveland. Durham Archaeological Journal 4, 13-35. Pryor, F. 1999. Farmers in Prehistoric Britain. Tees Archaeology. 2002. Iron Age Teesside. Tees Archaeology Booklet No. 2. Vyner, B.E. & Daniels, R. 1989. Further Investigation of the Iron Age and Romano-British Settlement Site at Catcote, Hartlepool, Cleveland, 1987. Durham Archaeological Journal 5, 11-34. |
Map Reference NZ 566 184
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