Gill Mill

The valley floodplain landscape covered by the Gill Mill quarry, almost 130ha, was intensively exploited from about 300 BC at a variety of Iron Age settlements. The largest of these remained in occupation into the early 3rd century AD, but meanwhile a large nucleated settlement grew up around a road junction roughly 1km distant to the NW. This became the sole focus of occupation, covering an area of about 10ha. Featuring multiple ditched enclosures, some in very regular layouts associated with one of the roads, the settlement contained relatively few identified buildings and appears to have had a specialised economic role related to systematic cattle management, illuminated in part by large finds and environmental assemblages. It may have been an integral component of a wider estate holding and perhaps had an administrative focus (including a shrine) at its unexcavated centre. It is notable that occupation of the site had almost entirely ceased by about AD 370.

Peisajul inundabil al vaii acoperit de cariera Gill Mill, de aproape 130 ha, a fost intens exploatat incepand cu aproximativ 300 i.Hr., intr-o varietate de asezari din epoca fierului. Cea mai mare dintre acestea a ramas ocupata la inceputul secolului al III-lea d.Hr., dar intre timp o asezare mare nucleata a crescut in jurul unei intersectii rutiere la aproximativ 1 km distanta de NV.