Catcote
Romano British Settlement
Further
Information
intro | bronze
age | iron
age & romano-british
gallery | reports |
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.
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.
intro | bronze
age | iron
age & romano-british
gallery | reports |
further information |
