A Roman Pond at Wyre Piddle, Worcestershire, with a Brief Survey of Ponds in Roman Britain

Abstract

Artificial Roman ponds present in various guises, but they are relatively rarely found in the service of rural agriculture. This article focuses on a possible example of this type from Worcestershire, where extensive excavation has been carried out. The results demonstrate the potential of a pond for the reconstruction of wider landscape usage, while the considerable quantity of associated finds potentially sheds some light on social practice. A review of similar sites across Roman Britain suggests there may be practical (in essence curatorial) issues about the fuller investigation of such features once identified, in order that a similarly high level of data can be achieved more regularly, and suggests a need for prospection/mapping for the better management of this resource, especially employing newly available LiDAR data.

The importance of historical maps for man-made pond research: From the past extent of ponds to issues of the present landscape. A case study from the Czech Republic

“…Fairchild et al, 2013) and natural ponds are often blurred as well. A number of these water bodies are up to several centuries old (Hurst et al, 2016), and their integration in the landscape makes the distinction between natural and anthropogenic origin nearly impossible (Muir, 2004). This occurs mainly because the newly created pond is soon colonised by neighbouring macrophytes (Francová et al, 2019).…”