Field work over the Autumn and Winter 2010 -11 has revised the map given below, which up-dates that in Ref 1.
This area on the Centuriation grid is given in http://www.nehhas.org.uk/wincent.htm. The large ditch excavated on the western edge of Chawton Park Wood at SU669 365, Ref 2, is shown as its air photo marks as a dark line 63' wide bounded by light lines (shown as dotted) with indications of a central light line in places (not so far seen in excavation). The northern light line was found to be a band of packed flint 11' wide on the edge of the ditch, the southern light a more lightly metalled running lane of crushed flint. The width of the air photo line tapers at its western end towards its northern edge (not shown on the map). The line was field walked through Chawton Park Wood, but no ground evidence was seen - it only showed in the field by the excavation in the stubble or newly sown wheat - http://www.nehhas.org.uk/pxro09.htm. The line was continued beyond it showing on the air photo - shown as a dashed - to the bottom of the valley and the Zig Zag. This is a gentle decent down the valley side, again with no ground evidence. This line appears to be parallel to the limb of the Zig - Zag descending on the other (north) side of the valley.
The remains of a causeway have been detected from this Zig - Zag limb, crossing the bottom of the valley. At which point the northern side of the ditch (if it continued this far) would meet this causeway - which the excavation suggested contained a narrow metalled stone running surface. This suggests a connection between this 63' wide ditch, and the typical Roman Zig - Zag. Furthermore, measurements made from the air photo and this limb of the Zig Zag suggests the centre of the ditch is 126' from this limb, or 130 Roman feet or 1.08 Roman Actus. Thus within limits of measurement these features may be parallel and 1 Actus apart. It is however still not understood what a wide ditch, with running lanes on its sides, cut down 30 - 40cms into the natural clay, was supposed to do. The air photo line runs from the summit of the downs - if it ran all the way to the valley bottom and the Zig - Zag then possibly it collected water for some sort of water power. Or it was a way of hauling timber? When wet the clay would give low friction, with the running lanes acting like a tow path of a canal. Or both - with water power for a saw mill?
It was also noticed that a light air photo line continues the line of the above Zig - Zag limb, towards the excavation site on the edge of Chawton Park Wood (Ref 3). This line is also being picked up on air photos running across fields from Chawton Park Wood as a light line bounded by dark lines - a more regular Roman Road signature (Ref 4 - 7). A binocular swelling is seen in this field, starting at the southern dark air photo line, with its crown over the light line. This runs north of our excavation site, and we will continue to dig across this air photo line over Easter and first May Bank Holiday weekends 2011.
This line from the Zig - Zag has been field walked - though much of it is through thick young trees. A clear slope change follows the Zig - Zag line south of the track, which may be the remains of the Cut-back for a Mixed Terrace - large earth movements in forestry operations may have destroyed other evidence. When the line runs north of the track there are also clear slope changes with a relatively flat area beyond - if the ground was cleared optical evidence may well suggest an Agger Terrace. These escarpments have been omitted from the map as they would obscure and confuse the Ditch feature. The dotted lines of the light air photo streaks do not show up well in the wood, and arrows point to them.
Further alignment
There are further complications in this area. In the excavations in September 2010 in the field to the west of Chawton Park Wood disturbance was found to a considerable depth - which may indicate that fortifications were constructed along the parish boundary on the edge of the wood which were later filled in. Roman Roads were sometimes controlled by dykes in the Dark Ages. The extent of this will be investigated when cropping allows.
The Winchester Road survey was conducted from East to West, and when the Ref 1 map was being prepared the evidence to the west was largely that in the Centuriation Maps with the link given above - with apparently large remains around Stancomb Farm shown therein. The Ref 1 map was working on an alignment whose pencil survey lines are left visible on the above map. A large terrace was found through Chawton Park Wood - shown on the Ref 1 map. This alignment appears to be parallel to the large ditch, and 2 Actus from it. The Roman set up here is likely to be even more complicated. The problems in 2005 were that no connection with the Zig Zag could be found, and it seemed unlikely that this southerly alignment would connect with Stancomb Farm. An estimate with likely OS and Roman surveying errors could give the Zig Zag limb as on the edge of the connection with Stancomb Farm, while the air photo streak which turned out to be the large ditch was the most likely.
Since 2005, the survey has proceed to the A31 shown in the Centuriation Map, and unlike this map where the alignment goes slightly north of the A31 direction change, in fact it is found that the this alignment goes exactly to this direction change (Ref 8). The Stancomb Farm remains may not be part of this Road - as the air photo streaks go slightly to the north. The result is that the limb of the Zig Zag is on the best line - and is the start of the Centuriation grid. In the process we have found some other complex likely Roman features which warrant further investigation.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to the surveyors Simon & Christina Kinghorn and Charlotte Potter. Richard Whaley
REFERENCES
1. Richard Whaley, NEHHAS Newsletter 96, Summer 2005; NEHHAS Jn 3, Part 3, No 12 2007
2. Richard Whaley, FAB e News No. 1 Autumn 2010
http://www.nehhas.org.uk/rd06-9.htm, the 2010 dig report in preparation.
3. Bing Maps Air Photo www.bing.com for GU34 5LG
4. MultiMap Air photos www.multimap.com
5.Live Search Air photos, http;//local.live.com
6. Google Earth
7. OS/RAF scaled 6" : 1 mile 1947 - 9
8. Richard Whaley, NEHHAS NL 110, Summer 2009