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PREHISTORIC, ROMAN AND EARLY POST-ROMAN FINDS IN THE PARISH (Map II)

In contrast with much of the surrounding chalkland area, the traces of prehistoric activity in Burbage are minimal. The recorded evidence consists basically of unstratified and unlocated surface finds. For the Neolithic and early Bronze Age period the only evidence lies in the discovery of an unlocated, partly polished stone axe and an unlocated bronze socketed axe (WAM XXXIX:479). Of a somewhat more substantial nature is Crowdon Clump or Godsbury on the southern boundary of the parish (Plate 3). This is an undated, unexcavated oval prehistoric enclosure with an average diameter of 100 yards (WAM XLI:287). Iron Age pottery sherds were found on Burbage Down in the south of the parish but no settlement has been recorded in the vicinity within the parish. The only other evidence for the Iron Age is an unlocated 1st century B.C. Gallo-Belgic stater and the possibility of Iron Age kiln sites in Savernake Forest. However, all those which have been excavated have proved to be of Roman date (WAM XLI:425).

During the Roman period the nearest traces of Roman occupation lie in the neighbouring parish of Great Bedwyn where a villa was discovered in Brail Wood. In the grounds of Tottenham House, just east of Durley, a tessellated pavement was unearthed which suggests the presence of a Roman building of some description although not necessarily a Roman villa. Within the parish the Roman presence is also shown by the internment of a male skeleton found at Southgrove Farm with the bone and iron fittings of a crossbow, a whetstone, bronze tweezers, an iron hammer-head and 2 knife blades (WAM XXVIII:87-90).

Two Roman roads run through the parish - from Old Sarum northward to Mildenhall/Cunetio, the Roman station near Marlborough and northwest from Winchester to Cirencester via Mildenhall. The former is barely visible on the ground, particularly where it runs through the forest. I.D. Margary has suggested that since it does not reflect the rigid straightness of the true Roman layout that it should be viewed as a Romanized trackway rather than a road. The other road remains in the route from Marten to Wilton and then running up into the Forest towards Mildenhall.

The kilns in Savernake mentioned earlier with reference to the Iron Age lie about 100 yards south of Bitham Pond. When first noted by A. J. Watson they appeared as an area of intensely black earth with numerous sherds (WAM LVIII:143). The excavation in the early 1960s revealed seven horizontal-draught kilns which were in production from the initial years of the 2nd century A.D. Near to the site there were signs of clay-digging and obviously the forest was an ideal situation for such activity since it provided the raw materials - clay and fuel. Thus the general picture of the pre-Saxon period in Burbage is one of utilization of the resources provided by Savernake Forest but of no definite settlement.

To turn to the early Saxon period and a brief account of Burbage in the context of Saxon penetration of Wiltshire. The British victory at Mons Badonicus, if this refers to Badbury Ridge in Dorset, suggests that Dorset and perhaps the area east of that was still in British control c. 500 A.D. However, by the mid-6th century there were a number of Saxon victories near Burbage - 522 A.D. at Old Sarum, 556 A.D. at Barbury near Swindon and 577 A.D. at Dyrham near Bath. Perhaps this should be seen as the period when the Saxons penetrated to the area of the Pewsey Vale and first began to settle.

The nearest pagan Saxon burial lies outside the parish at Crofton where a large chalk pit was found in which were placed large numbers of skeletons, some of which radiated from a common centre like the spokes of a wheel. It is considered to be late 6th or 7th century (WAM xxvi, xxxviii, xli). There is also a group of tumuli in Square Copse near the canal which are considered to be of this period but none have actually been excavated.

In connection with the Saxon period as I.D. Margary points out, in prehistoric times the high ground provided the natural routeways; in Roman times their course was determined by military strategy and administrative convenience whereas in Saxon times a new feature was the growth of roads along river valleys, e.g. the road from Pewsey to Burbage. The remnants of the Saxon herepath are usually considered to be visible in Harris Lane, Easton Royal and Dark Lane between East Grafton and Crofton. There is certainly a connecting footpath that can be traced along this route.

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