Tar Barrow, Cirencester, Gloucestershire: A Roman or Iron Age ceremonial area. Aerial Photo Interpretation and Mapping
Author(s): H Winton
This report describes the archaeological features and technical details of the aerial photo interpretation and mapping of a small area around the possible Roman enclosures showing as cropmarks, by the scheduled earthworks of Tar Barrow (Gloucestershire 268), overlooking Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The form of a cropmark recorded in 2005 indicated a potentially significant site associated with the Roman settlement of Corinium. Research by Neil Holbrook and Richard Reece suggested that the area around Tar Barrow possibly functioned as a religious focus in the Roman period, and possibly later Iron Age, and may have influenced the routes of the Roman road system in the vicinity, and possibly even the location of the Roman town. This chance discovery from the air provides an opportunity to explore some of the theories about the early development of the town, and possibly the pre-Roman landscape. However, this will require work to determine chronological detail and a better understanding of the function of the features revealed as cropmarks and through geophysical survey.
- Report Number:
- 51/2009
- Series:
- Research Department Reports
- Pages:
- 20
- Keywords:
- Iron Age Medieval Post Medieval Roman Aerial Photograph Interpretation Aerial Photography
