Friday, 11 August 2023
Archaeologists will begin excavating one of the most intriguing areas of a Roman town in Norfolk next week (13 August).
Caistor Roman Town was established in the AD70s and was the largest Roman town in East Anglia. It was once the territory of the Iceni tribe and the warrior Queen Boudica, who famously rebelled against Roman rule in AD 60/61. It is also one of only three “greenfield” Roman regional capitals in Britain that were not succeeded by medieval and modern towns.
Caistor initially came to public attention in 1929, when an aerial photograph, taken during a dry summer, revealed its streets and buildings in a famer’s field. Since 2006, archaeologists from the 糖心原创 have been carrying out excavations, in collaboration with the Norfolk Archaeological Trust (the site owners) and the community archaeology group. Although it is one of the country's most important Roman archaeological sites, many aspects of its history are still unknown.
This year, archaeologists will investigate a new area that hasn’t been accessed since the 1920s. The area lies within the grounds of Caistor Hall Hotel, outside of the walled site that visitors can visit. This is because, when it was first founded, the Roman town was much bigger than it appears today, surrounded not by walls but by a huge circuit of ditches with a perimeter of 2.4 km enclosing an area of 35 hectares. When the hotel grounds were excavated one hundred years ago, archaeologists discovered some of the earliest Roman finds to date, including evidence of metal working, dating to shortly after the Roman conquest (perhaps while the area was still under the rule of the Iceni). This year, thanks to the support of Brasteds and the Caistor Hall Hotel, archaeologists will finally return to the area again for further investigations.
It鈥檚 a wonderful opportunity to shed light on one of the least understood areas of the Roman town and to further extend our knowledge of the earliest development of the town.
We鈥檙e delighted that our team, drawn from the community and advised by professionals, will be working together on further extending our knowledge of the town and its environs. And we are looking forward to your visit!
Working with the Caistor Roman Project volunteers this year will be students from the Universities of Nottingham and East Anglia. They’ll also be joined by group of service veterans who will be using archaeology as a means of therapy to promote wellbeing.
Members of the public will be able to visit the dig from Wednesday 16 August through to Saturday 19 August in the first week, and Monday 21 August through to Thursday 24 August in the second week. There will be one tour per day, starting at 2.00 p.m. Admission is free, but all intending visitors must sign up with and they must bring proof of booking with them.
Notes to editors:
About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.