Heronbridge Strip Settlement

[Arturus Uriconium]

I posted this image elsewhere, but wanted to included it in the archaeology section because of what we discovered when creating the 3D model.

This is an example of an image created using CGI and photos, done for Dr David Mason. It was a test only so don't worry if you see yourself or some friends in there it was never used or published! Also excuse soldiers of the wrong period. Had we done it for real, and been paid to do it, I wound have asked for accurate reenactors who I could have photographed myself rather than grabbing whatever I could from the internet.

This strip settlement, a few miles south of Deva on Watling Street, is a fascinating place. It's almost half a mile long for a start. The buildings found show they were approximately 20 feet wide and 60 feet long and set in blocks of three. What we realised when seeing the models is that if all these three building were of the same height, which was the accepted theory, then the central building would get virtually no light. It was great to be able to demonstrate this.

We did some experiments and Dr Mason and ourselves came to the conclusion that either they didn't mind the darkness and just got through a hell of a lot of candles, or the central building was taller than the rest.

The site is also the find of a major battle grave, thought to be from the battle of Chester 613 AD. You can find out more about via the links below:

[url:2zxmpz3i]http://www.chesterarchaeolsoc.org.uk/heronbridge.html[/url]

[url:2zxmpz3i]http://www.roman-britain.org/places/heronbridge.htm[/url]

[url:2zxmpz3i]http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=17234[/url]

You can see more images at the last link (Megalithic Portal), which, if you don't know about it, is an excellent site.

We did all our images merely as tests with a view to doing more but, unfortunately, there wasn't the money to go ahead with it.

[Graham Sumner]

Hi

It was a test only so don't worry if you see yourself or some friends in there it was never used or published!

Yes a mixture of Ermine Street Guard soldiers and Legio II Augusta civilians and off duty soldiers!

Interesting road surface, was there evidence for that?

The buildings found show they were approximately 20 feet wide and 60 feet long and set in blocks of three. What we realised when seeing the models is that if all these three building were of the same height, which was the accepted theory, then the central building would get virtually no light. It was great to be able to demonstrate this.

We did some experiments and Dr Mason and ourselves came to the conclusion that either they didn't mind the darkness and just got through a hell of a lot of candles, or the central building was taller than the rest.

Many Roman dwellings at Pompeii seem to have small windows, probably for security reasons. So presumably they were dark inside and needed lots of oil lamps or candles.

Graham.

[Arturus Uriconium]

Interesting road surface, was there evidence for that?

The road surface, like many elements of the image were quickly thrown together. There was evidence for the use of the red sandstone however, but had we done the image for real I would have used a far more accurate texturing for the road, rather than just a simple, repeating one.

As you probably know, the surface material of Watling Street changed a lot throughout its length, even being gravel in some places, including Wroxeter I believe.

[Arturus Uriconium]

Here's a very rough idea of what the road should be like:

[jvrjenivs]

No car-tracks in the road?

[Arturus Uriconium]

No car-tracks in the road?

Hi Jurjen, are you referring to car tracks, or cart tracks, like you get at Pompii? The image I used is of a real Roman road, which has no cart tracks, unfortunately. I would have thought Watling Street did.

Just to remind everyone, this post is about the archaeology of the buildings, not the accuracy of the image, either the road or the soldiers

[Arturus Uriconium]

Many Roman dwellings at Pompeii seem to have small windows, probably for security reasons. So presumably they were dark inside and needed lots of oil lamps or candles.

Makes you wonder if this was the real reason for expanding the Empire: tallow and oil! :lol: Imagine working and living in one other the central three buildings in a British winter.

[jvrjenivs]

Hi Jurjen, are you referring to car tracks, or cart tracks, like you get at Pompii? The image I used is of a real Roman road, which has no cart tracks, unfortunately. I would have thought Watling Street did.

sorry, I meant cart tracks like those in Pompeii indeed.

[Arturus Uriconium]

sorry, I meant cart tracks like those in Pompeii indeed.

It was the main supply route between Deva and Viriconium - and all places in between, so, yes, I would think it had them. Unlike the streets of Pompeii it's very wide so you probably had them either side of the central drain.

[Arturus Uriconium]

I should mention that Heronbridge was your original out of town retail park!

[Graham Sumner]

Hello Mak

It is fantastic that you can put in a new road like that instantly, I wish I could change paintings that fast!!

However the new road is Blackstone Edge which is not really a good idea. There are many archaeologists who doubt that it is Roman at all. The central groove is also apparently unique which gives it away. The road surface at the reconstructed fort at nearby Manchester might be a better idea if ever you want to take photographs.

However to be honest Blackstone edge looks much better and works really well in your image. The buildings look great by the way.

Graham.

[Arturus Uriconium]

Thanks Graham, if I ever do take this image further I'll take a look at that.

If I remember correctly, I'm sure they did find a central drain here, which then had drains running between the blocks down to the River Dee, although they may have been side drains. I'll check with my archaeologist friend who worked on the dig.

BTW, which part of North Wales are you from?

[Arturus Uriconium]

Thanks for the PM Graham.

My archaeologist friend couldn't remember exactly but he believes it had both side and central drains.