ROMAN RECYCLING PRACTICES UNCOVERED ON ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS EXTENSION SITE – AutoMart Canada

• Roman well constructed from recycled timbers unearthed during
  Rolls-Royce archaeological dig
• Discovery made during detailed investigations on new Rolls-Royce
  extension site at Goodwood
• Comparable with evidence of Roman material reuse previously
  identified in York, Carlisle and London
• Adds to the long record of human habitation in the local area,
  dating back more than 6,000 years

 

“Working with the experts from Oxford Archaeology to uncover the
history of our Goodwood-based site has been both fascinating and
illuminating. It has long been understood that the Romans reused and
recycled materials; discovering direct physical evidence on the site
of our landmark new extension has been enormously exciting. The well
timbers uncovered on our extension site demonstrate that recycling
was a standard part of Roman construction practice, even beyond
large urban centres like London and York. Finds like this remind us
that recycling is not a modern invention – it is a legacy of the
ancient past, and one we are proud to continue here at Rolls-Royce
Motor Cars.”

Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

A rare example of Roman-era recycling was recently unearthed
during archaeological investigations on the site of the landmark new
extension to the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood.

Experts from Oxford Archaeology, one of Europe’s largest and
longest-established independent archaeology and heritage practices,
discovered the remains of a Roman well during the closing stages of a
six-month investigation, following earlier geophysical surveying and
exploratory trenching. The well would have stood seven tiers high and
was constructed from 28 timbers. The team identified evidence that
eight timbers had previously been used as they displayed mortices,
tenons and chamfered edges. These woodworking features suggest they
were formerly used in buildings, most likely as sill beams and posts,
before being reshaped to build the lining of the well. Comparable
examples of recycled timbers have been recorded at other major Roman
settlements, including York, Carlisle and London.

The timbers found at the Home of Rolls-Royce extension site
originated from the base of the well and would have been permanently
waterlogged; the timber bracing would have extended to ground level.
The timbers are now being sampled for dendrochronological dating,
which involves counting the rings to help determine the year in which
the trees were felled. Further analysis should reveal the kinds of
tools used to work the timbers; it may even be possible to reconstruct
the forms of the trees from which the timbers were cut, providing
insight into how woodlands were being managed and felled in the locality. 

The Home of Rolls-Royce lies on the outskirts of Chichester,
which from the mid 1st century when the Romans established the
settlement was known as Noviomagus Reginorum until the end of their
rule in Britain in the early 5th century; ‘Noviomagus’ widely thought
to mean ‘new market’ in Latin and ‘Reginorum’ referring to the Regni,
the local Celtic tribe allied with Rome. In addition to the well, the
dig has revealed evidence of human activity dating back to the
Neolithic period (4000-2200 BCE), including tools and pottery.

The artefacts are currently undergoing further study and
cataloguing to develop a more detailed understanding of life in the
local area over the past six millennia. One early hypothesis is that
the site was once used for metal-working activities. If confirmed,
this would suggest that Rolls-Royce is continuing a long, but often
overlooked, tradition in this part of southern England.

Throughout the process of preparing its planning application,
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has been committed to transparency and positive
engagement with the local community. In this spirit, the artefacts
were displayed at a Neighbours Information Evening and will eventually
be given to Chichester’s Novium Museum situated less than three miles
from the Home of Rolls-Royce, allowing the local community to gain new
and fascinating insights into the place they and Rolls-Royce call home.