Archaeological excavation of Romano-British Settlement at Rattenraw

Image: © Andrew Curtis Taken: 24 Jul 2019

A community archaeology excavation at Rattenraw Farm, near Otterburn in Redesdale, in July 2019 was part of the Revitalising Redesdale project and involved 53 volunteers aged from six to 80. The dig explored a farmstead site believed to date from the late Iron Age and later Roman-British period. Finds include pottery, a whetstone for tool sharpening, part of a quern stone for grinding grain, iron-working slag and over 50 brightly-coloured glass beads from a necklace or bracelet. The excavation also revealed areas of extensive stone paving, consisting of large flag stones, positioned on top of an earlier cobbled stone floor, suggesting the settlement was lived in by successive generations and was altered and updated over time. The dig follows archaeological surveys carried out on the farm over the last 18 months, with support from the owners and led by members of Tynedale North of the Wall Archaeology Group (NOWTAG). Newcastle Chronicle 29th August 2019: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/getting-insight-lives-north-east-16827144 Hexham Courant 4th September 2019: https://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/17880857.iron-age-jewellery-discovered-redesdale-farm/

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