Is This Ancient Roman Sarcophagus Time Team's Most Important Find? | Time Team | Odyssey

Odyssey - Ancient History Documentaries・2 minutes read

The text explores Roman history in Lincolnshire, focusing on evidence of Roman life, including burials, artifacts, and defensive structures. Excavations reveal insights into the town's development, including potential religious sites, industrial activities, and the blending of Christian and pagan beliefs through discoveries like a stone coffin with a unique burial, an inscription to the god Viridius, and alterations made by the Romans to the existing settlement.

Insights

  • The History Hit Network channel focuses on Roman history in Lincolnshire, detailing the establishment of a Roman base in Ancaster in the 1st Century A.D., with continued Roman presence for four centuries, showcasing evidence like a cemetery with over 250 burials and artifacts such as coins and a statue of the Goddess Minerva.
  • The excavation in Ancaster, led by Roman expert La Bedouin, reveals intriguing finds like a stone coffin with a unique "kiss burial," an inscription to the god Viridius, and evidence of a settlement in the late Iron Age later reoccupied by the Romans, hinting at a blend of Christian and pagan beliefs and a potential major religious shrine center associated with Viridius, showing a rich and complex historical narrative of the site.

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Recent questions

  • What is the focus of the History Hit Network channel?

    Roman history in Lincolnshire.

  • What prompted a three-day investigation by Time Team in Ancaster?

    Building a defensive wall around the town center.

  • Who leads the exploration of Ancaster's history in extreme weather conditions?

    Roman expert La Bedouin.

  • What is speculated to be housed in Corenza's field?

    A temple or sacred site.

  • What is the significance of the inscription to the God Viridius found by the team?

    A significant discovery indicating a blend of Christian and pagan beliefs.

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Summary

00:00

"Exploring Roman History in Lincolnshire"

  • The channel is part of the History Hit Network, focusing on Roman history in Lincolnshire.
  • Roman legionaries established a base in Ancaster in the 1st Century A.D, with a continued Roman presence for four centuries.
  • Evidence of Roman life includes a cemetery with over 250 burials and affluent artifacts like coins and a statue of the Goddess Minerva.
  • In the late 3rd Century, the town built a defensive wall around its center, prompting a three-day investigation by Time Team.
  • The dig faces extreme weather conditions, with Roman expert La Bedouin leading the exploration of Ancaster's history.
  • Previous excavations revealed a wall and ditches around Ancaster in 280 A.D, with theories ranging from defense to status symbol.
  • Outside the walled area, dense clusters of artifacts hint at Roman activity, prompting a focus on two sides for exploration.
  • Phil uncovers a Roman cemetery outside the churchyard, with indications of domestic activity and a dating challenge.
  • A mysterious empty trench with geophysical anomalies leads to the discovery of a hard layer of natural iron, possibly indicating metalworking or cremation activities.
  • Corenza's field is speculated to house a temple or sacred site, with geophysical surveys and trench digging revealing potential religious structures.

15:38

"Roman town's history uncovered through excavation"

  • The town grew around a key Roman hub, with a small walled area compared to the expansive town spreading onto a hill.
  • The cemetery areas suggest a need for defenses due to occupation, with a possible strategic location for controlling routes.
  • Mysterious burials found in Karenza's field raise questions about the site's history and the origins of the bones discovered.
  • Examination of bones reveals differences in size and wear, indicating potential multiple individuals and questioning their Roman origin.
  • The site may have been reused as a cemetery, showcasing the rich archaeological history of Karenza's field.
  • Phil's team discovers shell-tempered Ware, possibly from the Iron Age, hinting at early settlement in the area.
  • Evidence of a kiln suggests industrial activity in the region before it became a Roman cemetery, adding to the town's historical narrative.
  • The team debates resource allocation between the cemetery field and Karenza's field, focusing on the need to explore the town's history and occupation.
  • Excavations in Karenza's field reveal evidence of a building inside the enclosure, suggesting a substantial suburb to the east of Irman Street.
  • Phil's team uncovers an intact stone coffin in the cemetery field, raising concerns about potential lead content and health hazards during excavation.

30:50

"Surprising Discoveries in Roman Cemetery Field"

  • Earl expresses concern about the manpower needed for a cemetery field project.
  • The team is surprised by the progress made in the field, exceeding their expectations.
  • The focus shifts to uncovering the contents of a stone coffin in the cemetery field.
  • Geophysical results suggest a larger Roman suburb than initially thought.
  • Trenches are planned to investigate potential industrial areas in the suburb.
  • A unique burial type, a "kiss burial," is discovered in the stone coffin.
  • Margaret advocates for excavating the burial due to its unusual nature.
  • Phil cautiously inspects the coffin for potential biohazards before excavation.
  • Discoveries in the suburban field hint at a higher-status occupation in the past.
  • An inscription to the God Viridius is found, a significant discovery for the team.

45:15

Roman Alterations to Iron Age Settlement

  • Evidence from excavations reveals a settlement in the late Iron Age that the Romans later reoccupy and drastically alter, with a significant portion of the town disappearing due to earthwork ditches.
  • The Roman central government ordered the construction of a defensive wall around Ancaster, disregarding the impact on the local community, potentially indicating a major religious shrine center associated with the pre-Roman god Viridius near a significant spring site.
  • A rare inscription to the god Viridius is discovered inside the grave of an elderly man, possibly indicating a blend of Christian and pagan beliefs, with the inscription suggesting a deliberate placement rather than a coincidence, hinting at the man's religious affiliation.
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