What influence did Romans have on Britain?

Romans influenced Britain's roads, buildings, economy, gods, and rituals.

What was discovered in a field in Hertfordshire?

A field in Hertfordshire reveals Roman influence, near Saint Albans.

Cursers found in the trench are rolled up sheets of lead with handwriting, used for making requests to the gods.

The temple's location near Watling Street suggests a strategic commercial establishment to attract visitors.

The site transitioned over time, from a sacred place with burial pits to abandonment post-Roman invasion, with roundhouses falling into disrepair.

The site in Hertfordshire shows significant Roman influence, with a temple complex dating back to the third century, indicating ceremonial importance and the presence of offerings like cursers for requests to the gods.
The archaeological findings at the site reveal a transition over time from an Iron Age settlement with Druidic associations to Roman influence, showcasing a rich historical narrative that includes a diverse group of Druids and the presence of early Roman coins, reshaping our understanding of ancient British customs and traditions.

What influence did Romans have on Britain?
Romans influenced Britain's roads, buildings, economy, gods, and rituals.
What was discovered in a field in Hertfordshire?
A field in Hertfordshire reveals Roman influence, near Saint Albans.
What were cursers found in the temple used for?
Cursers found in the trench are rolled up sheets of lead with handwriting, used for making requests to the gods.
What was the significance of the temple's location near Watling Street?
The temple's location near Watling Street suggests a strategic commercial establishment to attract visitors.
What was the transition of the site over time?
The site transitioned over time, from a sacred place with burial pits to abandonment post-Roman invasion, with roundhouses falling into disrepair.

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Romans influenced Britain's roads, buildings, economy, gods, and rituals.
A field in Hertfordshire reveals Roman influence, near Saint Albans.
Aerial survey in the 1970s identified Roman temple footprints in the field.
Time Team struggled to find a complete Roman Temple despite aerial photos.
Excavation reveals a substantial Roman wall and preserved flooring.
Discovery of tesserae suggests a plain mosaic floor in the temple.
Concentric walls and a wide walkway indicate a temple structure.
Geophysics and trenching reveal the layout of the temple complex.
A coin from the third century found in the temple suggests its age.
Excavations uncover a Constantine the Great coin and a goddess-themed brooch in the temple.

15:07

Offerings in the temple were made deliberately, not for safekeeping but as a group offering.
The temple site is under pressure for excavation due to its ceremonial significance.
Cursers found in the trench are rolled up sheets of lead with handwriting, used for making requests to the gods.
Requests on cursers could range from petty issues like stolen cloaks to more serious matters like causing harm to wrongdoers.
Cursers were deposited at the temple site in hopes of the gods fulfilling the requests.
Finding cursers in a religious context is rare, indicating the significance of the temple for offerings.
The temple complex had different levels symbolizing sanctity, with the central Keller being a focal point.
The temple ceremonies were described as more brutal and pagan, closer to the natural world's unpredictability.
The temple's location near Watling Street suggests a strategic commercial establishment to attract visitors.
Excavations revealed a rare and significant temple complex with massive foundations and altars, dating back to the third century.

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The oldest recorded building on the site dates back to the 1300s, showing agricultural features, possibly a Farmstead.
Lack of early medieval pottery suggests no medieval archaeology before the 15th century, except for one piece of Saxon pottery.
Geophysics reveal anomalies, possibly indicating rubbish pits or houses, with domestic debris like tile, shell, and pottery.
Anomalies suggest shipbuilding activity, with metal, nails, and clinker found, possibly indicating a furnace or Smithy.
Discovery of twisted piles in the river suggests a waterfront structure, possibly a dock, with erosion dating back to the 15th century.
Excavation uncovers medieval pottery dating back to the 14th century, including French, German, and Dutch pottery, typical of a medieval port town.
Evidence of a wealthy end of town near The Priory, but no proof of an earlier settlement developing at the time of The Priory's construction.
Discovery of a flu chamber, potentially a furnace or counter, with handmade Tudor early Stuart bricks, indicating a 16th to early 17th-century structure.
Unearthing of boat rivets and boat-building materials, suggesting boat construction or destruction, possibly dating back to the 16th century.
Discovery of Iron Age and medieval pottery, including a rare Middlesex and German wine jar, indicating a Saxon settlement with structures and imported goods.

45:09

Ritual deposition involved gifting objects like swords, bent and broken, into bogs and wet places, attributed to The Druids in the last three centuries.
Archaeological findings revealed a structure initially thought to be Iron Age Rampart but turned out to be part of a post-medieval farm site.
Fine specialist Kai Payton identified Roman coins, potentially from the first century, found on the site, indicating early Roman presence.
The Druids were a diverse group including priests, soothsayers, and bards, with roles in teaching, foretelling the future, and peacemaking.
The Romans depicted The Druids as blood-drinking cannibals, but historical evidence suggests a more complex and varied role for them.
Iron Age Chieftain's hilltop home showcased economic and spiritual power, with evidence of a stone wall and substantial houses.
Discovery of Bronze Age grave, about 4,000 years old, alongside Iron Age settlement evidence, reshaped the historical narrative of the site.
The site transitioned over time, from a sacred place with burial pits to abandonment post-Roman invasion, with roundhouses falling into disrepair.
Reconstruction of a wicker man, a gruesome spectacle in ancient times, highlighted potential connections between ancient British customs and modern traditions.