Invader or native? — vegetation clearance in northern Britain during Romano-British time

Abstract

Pollen diagrams from nine mire sites in the Hadrianic-Antonine frontier area have been constructed to assess the record of human impact on vegetation over the last 3,000 years. Of particular interest is the effect of the Roman invasion and occupation of northern Britain on vegetation, especially that related to the construction of the Hadrianic and Antonine walls, forts and roads. Pollen analysis was undertaken to investigate whether the impact was widespread across the frontier zone or was confined to the proximity of Roman walls and forts. The results of high-resolution pollen analysis, supported by radiocarbon dates, have demonstrated that there was little woodland clearance during the Bronze Age and that the first major and permanent clearance of vegetation at certain sites occurred during the Iron Age. This is followed by a second clearance relating to the Roman occupation. At Fozy Moss, Northumbria, minimal Iron Age clearance occurs and the first major clearance occurs at the time of the Roman occupation. The dramatic response of the grass pollen curves and the relatively low level of agricultural indicators is in accord with the archaeological evidence for the Roman impact being one of woodland clearance for military purposes rather than for settled agriculture.