BAS2025_P01
This project aims to inform the residents of Wickham of the archaeology and history of the place where they live through direct participation in archaeological fieldwork and post-excavation analysis, and participation in site tours and lectures. This project also aims to provide BAS volunteers with hands on experience and training to develop the archaeological capacity within BAS Society to engage with communities across the wider Berkshire area.
Past analysis of Wickham’s material culture assemblage and extensive geophysics surveys undertake by BAS suggest it was the location of a Roman period settlement at the intersection of two Roman roads. The focus of this settlement later ‘shifted’ northwards during the Medieval period to the location of the village centre. Evidence suggests continuous occupation at Wickham from prehistory to the present day.
2025 Season
This excavation focuses on the ‘building #2’ geophysics anomaly to the east of Wickham House, interpreted as a sizeable multi-roomed rectilinear building adjacent to (and aligned with) the Roman road Ermin Street. The evaluation excavation of building #2 aims to reveal diagnostic evidence to confirm the building’s morphology, function, chronology and the identities of its past occupants that can be used to further enhance the historic character of Wickham House.
Update on 2025 season
This season of excavation ran from April through to the end of June 2025 with 83 individuals participating as volunteers from BAS, other local societies and local residents. In total 8 trenches were opened, 148 context identified and 3 (possibly 4) buildings discovered with this previously unresearched Roman roadside settlement and the later Medieval settlement built on top of it.
Memories of this seasons’ BAS excavations at Wickham House may already be starting to fade – but post-excavation analysis (Post-Ex) activities are already ramping up! All of the finds discovered have now been washed, and are currently being sorted into material type categories (e.g. pottery, ceramic building material, iron objects, animal bone etc) ready for post excavation analysis of each assemblage.
There will also be a wide range of other Post-Ex projects mobilising in the months ahead- all of which require no previous experience or specialist knowledge, and training will be provided to get you started. Artefact assemblages range from Roman/Medieval pottery, metal objects to analysis of environmental soil samples – so you are free to choose any/all areas that are of interest to you!
The first milestone for Post-Ex analysis will be the presentation of a summary of discoveries made and interim interpretation from this season’s excavation at Wickham House to be presented at the BAS Day School on 11th October 2025 in Newbury, details of which can be found on the BAS website.
Post-excavation analysis to refine the stratigraphic analyses of the 8 trenches excavated to develop initial interpretations of the archaeology revealed took place by 4 groups involving 15 BAS members. The results of this analysis were reported in plenary at the Study Group on 11th March and recommendation incorporated into the 2026 (season 2) excavation plan.
L1 and L2 pottery analysis have completed with initial L3 dating having been undertaken to provide sufficient information for the first iteration of phasing within the interim report that is now being drafted for season 1. TVAS have very kindly offered to undertake a comprehensive analysis of the Season 1 Roman pottery assemblage to provide not only provide more accurate dating and identification of vessel form, but to serve as a reference collection for future work on this site and other Roman period sites nearby. The small Medieval pottery assemblage will be passed to a 3rd party specialist for assessment in due course.
Specialist reports have now been drafted for Glass (Peter Clifford), Animal Bone (Paula Levick), CBM (Jo Skerry), Coins (Lindsey Bedford), Iron Slag (Peter Clifford), Clay Pipe (Geoff Anderson) and Worked Flint (Fay Heblich). Other specialist reports are in the process of being completed. A comprehensive stratigraphic narrative for the season 1 excavation is also well underway to form the basis for an interim report.
2026 Season
BAS is undertaking a second season of excavation at Wickham to explore the archaeology of a Romano-British roadside settlement. Post excavation of last year’s excavation is telling us, from pottery, coins and other artefacts recovered, that this settlement was established during the early Roman period and likely fell into disuse before a second phase of occupation during the Late Roman period. There is no evidence so far of continued occupation of this site into the Early Medieval period, but in the late-12th century AD a medieval manor house was built on top of the Roman road. Not only is there evidence of domestic occupation, but there is also much evidence of industrial activity taking place nearby. The objectives for this season are focused on shedding new light on the Roman period roadside buildings that are emerging as well as the Medieval manor house.
Work on site starts on 31st March 2026, and an evening lecture/site tour will be scheduled for June together with an opportunity to visit the sites on 14th June as part of the Wickham House Open Day event. Further details of these two events will be circulated to BAS members in due course.
Follow the project on our YouTube channel
DAILY BLOGS
Follow the progress of the project day by day
2026 blogs will appear on the home page of this website
2025 blogs are available below: