On the trail of the Trinovantes
As we approach the latter stages of our fascinating study into the mysterious and unique Black Ditches at Risby and Cavenham, we’re back on the trail of the Trinovantes. They were one of two late Iron Age pre-Roman tribes, along with the Iceni, that inhabited Suffolk and Norfolk from 1st Century B.C to 1st Century A.D.
In 1992, seven sherds of ‘Belgic’ pottery dated 350 to 50 B.C [1] were found in the neighbouring parallel ditch 10 metres to the East of the Black Ditches. We believe these are the archaeological smoking gun that places this epic linear Earthwork within late Iron Age Trinovantian territory. The grog-tempered rounded-rim clay form marked a transition in wheel-thrown pottery in Britain and reflected continental influences, especially from Northern Gaul. We had the privilege of handling the Pottery earlier this year courtesy of the Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service, and although visually unassuming, the power of physically connecting to these ancient artefacts should never be underestimated.
In line with evolving ideas around the Iceni over the last 50 years, the Trinovantes tribal boundary now appears to place this around the River Lark, with the Black Ditches emanating southwards across the clay-land edge. [2] The Trinovantes may have also been responsible for constructing the largest Earthwork in South Suffolk, Clare Camp. This Iron Age Polygonal D shaped enclosure, or Hill Fort, is approximately 190 metres East-West and 150 metres North-South with ditches 9.5 to 13 metres wide. It sits at the edge of the presumed Tinovante territory, with the Iceni to the North and the Catuvelaunians to the West. Once believed to have been Saxon, Clare Camp’s irregular form is better suited to an Iron Age context [3] and the discovery of an Iron Age pottery sherd in 2008 from the East-West aligned ditch provides additional support for this hypothesis. [4]
Our field research also took us to the impressive Warham Camp, one of the finest preserved Iron Age Hill Forts in Norfolk. Situated in Warham, south of Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk, it was built by the Iceni and is a staggering 212 metres in diameter.
It’s a real treat to visit these spectacular ancient sites and we look forward to sharing our research when it concludes.
References
1. Garland (2017), 2. Rippon (2018), 3. Oswald and Kenney (1993), 4. Martin, Pendleton, and Plouviez (2009).