Silchester Ancient Town

Calleva Atrebatum

United Kingdom · Hampshire, England

Ancient cityIntermittent excavation
Approximate period20 BCE — 650 CELate Iron Age–post-Roman Early Middle Ages See on the map ↓

In brief

The Iron Age center, founded around 20–10 BC, became the town of Calleva Atrebatum under Roman rule. Excavations have identified the street layout, houses and public buildings; the town is thought to have been abandoned around AD 550–650.

What was found?

  • 1Bronze eagle

    The cast bronze eagle found in the Roman town's basilica dates to the 2nd century AD. Although its wings are missing, the detailed rendering of its feathers demonstrates the sculptural skill of the period.

  • 2Stone with an Ogham inscription

    The stone pillar found in a well bears Ogham writing. According to researchers, this find indicates the presence in Silchester of people connected with Ireland or western Britain toward the end of Roman rule.

  • 3Tiles stamped with Nero's name

    These are building materials bearing Emperor Nero's name and titles. According to researchers, they suggest that imperial support may have been provided for the town's early construction; however, a building securely associated with Nero's reign has yet to be identified.

What does it point to?

The finds show that Silchester was a town connected with Roman administration and other parts of Britain. The sculpture and building materials shed light on public life, while the Ogham stone illuminates human mobility in the town's late period.

What did it teach us?

  1. The Roman town developed over an earlier Iron Age settlement.
  2. Building materials stamped with Nero's name raised the possibility of imperial support for early urbanization.
  3. The Ogham stone provided evidence of the town's connections with Ireland or western Britain in the late Roman period.

Images

Silchester Roman city walls 63
Simon Burchell · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Record

Culture
Atrebates; Roman Britain
First modern dig
1864
Team / historical
University of Reading; Michael Fulford
Coordinates
51.3572°, -1.0825°

Sources

  1. english-heritage.org.uk
  2. research.reading.ac.uk
  3. readingmuseum.org.uk
  4. research.reading.ac.uk
  5. en.wikipedia.org
  6. University of Reading — Silchester Archaeology

Nearby excavations


—
—
12.000

From beneath the soil: latest discoveries

  • Cupboard containing personal belongings, childhood amulets and coins found in Pompeii

    Grooming items, 38 bronze coins and a necklace made up of at least 24 amulets were found in a cupboard in a house in Pompeii that had remained closed since the eruption in AD 79. The preservation of these objects together provides detailed information about everyday life and personal mementos in Roman times.

    Arkeofili ↗ · Excavation notebook
  • Roman-period sarcophagus of a child buried with toys found in Romania

    A wheeled toy horse, a rooster-shaped rattle, jewelry and organic remains were recovered from a sealed child’s sarcophagus dating back approximately 1,800 years in the ancient city of Tomis. The preservation of wooden coffin fragments and the shroud also offers a rare opportunity to study child burials in Roman times.

    HeritageDaily ↗
  • Roman-period grave found in the seating area of the ancient theater in Gölyazı

    A tile-covered grave dating to the 1st century AD and containing cremated human remains was uncovered in the theater of Apollonia ad Rhyndacum. Why the burial took place in the theater despite the city having a separate cemetery remains unknown; the find raises new questions about the use of public spaces.

    Arkeofili ↗
  • Marble portrait of Antinoos and 13 inscriptions found at Teos

    A marble portrait of Antinoos and 13 inscriptions on reused stone blocks were found around the Temple of Roma and Augustus at Teos. The inscriptions shed light on the city’s political and legal relations, while researchers say the portrait and inscription fragments show that the temple was also connected to the cult of Antinoos.

    Arkeofili ↗ · Excavation notebook
  • 30,000-year-old human DNA reveals connections between distant communities in Europe

    The approximately 30,000-year-old genome of a woman from Isturitz Cave in France was analyzed alongside DNA obtained from cave sediments and other human remains. According to researchers, the results show that gene flow occurred between eastern and western communities in Ice Age Europe and that these groups were more connected than previously thought.

    Arkeofili ↗
  • Terracotta female figure found in the ditch of a 1,500-year-old tomb in Japan

    A terracotta female figure retaining traces of red paint was found in the ditch of a burial mound dating to the late 5th century at the Nishikaminomiya excavation site. According to researchers, the object depicts a shaman and is one of the rare, well-preserved examples of early human-shaped haniwa from the Gunma region.

    Arkeofili ↗
  • Inscribed burial chamber of an official named Weni found at Saqqara

    A burial chamber decorated with inscriptions identifying the Old Kingdom official Weni and his duties was found at Saqqara, along with two wooden statues and bronze tools. The finds shed light on the funerary practices of the ruling class of the period; researchers say the tools may have served medical purposes, but their functions have yet to be confirmed.

    Arkeofili ↗
  • Grave of a child buried with copper objects and 32 ceramic items found in Peru

    Copper objects and 32 ceramic items, including depictions of captives, were found in a child’s grave dating to the 6th or 7th century at Huacas de Moche. According to researchers, the richness of the burial indicates the child’s high status and provides new evidence for the use of objects associated with adult rituals in child funerals.

    Arkeofili ↗

    All excavation sites (389)

    Türkiye

    Ethiopia

    Federated States of Micronesia

    Guatemala

    Honduras

    North Macedonia

    Sri Lanka