NHER 52206 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Site of probable Roman amphitheatre to the south of the Roman town of Venta Icenorum

This site was previously recorded under NHER 9836.

November 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The site of a probable Roman amphitheatre is visible on aerial photographs (S1-S3) to the south of the Roman town of Venta Icenorum (NHER 9786). The site is centred on TG 2289 0308. This possible amphitheatre has been the subject of a number of geophysical surveys (S4-S7), with the resistivity survey undertaken in 1995 producing convincing detecting the remains of the stone or masonry foundation of the amphitheatre (S6), whilst the results of the other surveys produced comparatively poorer results for the structure itself. The amphitheatre is not particularly convincing on many of the aerial photographs, although the edges of the probable central arena are always sharply defined and forming a neat oval shape, 40m by 33m (S1-S3). The centre of this possible amphitheatre is slightly sunken and on some aerial photographs, for example (S8), has a similar appearance to an infilled pit. The fact that only nineteenth century and modern finds (see secondary file for NHER 9836 for details) were produced from this area during metal-detecting has led to an assumption that this is a former post medieval pit and not an amphitheatre. However the photographs, most notably the vertical coverage from 1961 (S1) and geophysics (S6) would appear to indicate the remains of a considerable embankment or masonry wall surrounding the oval arena to the east in particular, with it showing less convincingly to the west. This rampart or wall appears to have been up to 10m wide. Breaks in this structure are visible at each of the cardinal points, suggesting two main entrances to the north and south and more minor breaks in the seating to the east and west. The widest gap in the surrounding seating bank appears to be to the north, as might be expected given the location of the amphitheatre to the town itself. A possible recessed area within the southeastern seating bank may be visible on aerial photographs (S1), although this is far from certain. The cropmarks surrounding the seating banks would suggest the presence of possible associated structures and boundaries, in particular to the north. It is not clear whether the pits to the south of the structure are contemporary or not. To the immediate southeast of the amphitheatre is another large area of seemingly cut ground, with a well defined eastern face. The seating bank appears to sit onto of this or abuts it. It seems likely that additional material for the construction of the seating banks was required than that provided by the excavation of the oval arena. The small size of this amphitheatre has led to the suggestion that it does not represent a typical Roman amphitheatre, instead that of a Romano-Celtic theatre (S9).
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 November 2009.