Description

In September 2006 an archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Channel 4’s ‘Time Team’ at the site of Moss Brow Farm, Warburton, Greater Manchester (NGR 371100 388900) to investigate the remains of a possible Romano-British fortlet, previously unknown, and which may only have been occupied for a short period of time. The Site would have been ideally located for a fortlet between the two Romano- British settlements of Wilderspool and Manchester along the alignment of a
postulated Roman road.
The site has been under investigation since 1998 by the University of Manchester Archaeology Unit (UMAU) and the South Trafford Archaeological Group (STAG), following the discovery of numerous Romano-British finds through metal detecting in the surrounding area. The work by UMAU and STAG identified a ditch which was interpreted as having the classical Roman defensive profile, that of a ‘Punic’ ditch, in having one edge steeper than the other.
The programme of work undertaken by Time Team aimed to investigate the possible fortlet, by looking for buildings within the enclosure and their position in the landscape, and how the site related to the known Romano-British military sites and settlements in the area.