➤REVENGE of the Antiquarians | Time Team Compilation

Time Team Classics・2 minutes read

A team is excavating Roman sites in Cambridge using antiquarian maps to locate a large villa, uncovering Roman artifacts and relics within the area of lington and a potential villa location in the cops. The team's efforts have revealed Roman structures, artifacts, and potential burial sites, shedding light on the historical and cultural evolution of the Isle of Man through archaeological discoveries.

Insights

A local Vicor discovered a potentially large Roman villa and cemetery in Britain 180 years ago, but records of these findings have been lost, leading to modern excavations based on century-old information.
Despite challenges and uncertainties in using antiquarian maps, recent excavations in lington have unearthed Roman artifacts, hinting at the presence of a substantial Roman building, with some trenches revealing medieval artifacts instead.
The excavation in Caster, led by Edmund Artist, has uncovered impressive Roman artifacts and structures, including a possible pretorium behind the church, sparking debates and efforts to recreate past archaeological methods to uncover hidden Roman walls and structures.

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Recent questions

What Roman artifacts were discovered in Cambridge?
Hairpin, tile, roof tile, tesselated pavement, medieval artifacts.
What was found in the cemetery at lington?
Human bones, pottery, coffin-like structure, kissed burial.
What challenges did the team face during the excavation?
Unreliable antiquarian map, difficulties in locating villa accurately.
What insights were gained from the excavation in the woods?
Potential bathhouse or building, Roman floor discovered.
What did the team uncover in the Keel at Mount Murray Golf Course?
Stone-lined grave, kissed burial, stone box with relics.

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Summary

00:00

Lost Roman Villa Unearthed in Cambridge Woods

180 years ago, a local Vicor discovered what he believed to be one of the largest Roman homes in Britain, along with a nearby Roman Cemetery, but records of these finds have been lost.
The area of Cambridge being excavated has had minimal modern archaeological investigation, with most knowledge based on century-old digs.
A plan from 1836 depicts a massive Roman villa at lington, suggesting a structure nearly 200 meters across, potentially extending under modern houses.
Despite uncertainties, the team decides to dig based on the old map's depiction of a large villa, leading to the discovery of Roman artifacts like a hairpin and tile.
The antiquarian map used for guidance proves unreliable in some areas, complicating the search for the villa.
Previous digs by antiquarians in the early 20th century yielded limited findings, with little written evidence of the villa's existence.
Excavations reveal a Roman floor in the woods, hinting at a potential bathhouse or building, while the main field remains elusive in terms of significant Roman structures.
A 170-year-old map guides the team to a potential villa location, leading to the discovery of Roman roof tile and further excavation in the cops.
The excavation uncovers a tesselated pavement, indicating a substantial Roman building, although some trenches yield medieval artifacts instead of Roman remains.
Test pits in gardens reveal more Roman artifacts, aiding in understanding the possible size and layout of the Roman building in lington, despite challenges in locating the villa accurately.

15:07

"Uncovering Roman Lington: Archaeological Discoveries"

In 1820, a cemetery was discovered by gravel Quarry diggers in a field, with antiquarians later excavating it and leaving behind human bones and pottery dated to late Iron Age/early Romano British.
A survey in the field revealed a large enclosure with a square enclosure, a pit, and a circular wall, prompting further excavation.
A trench was dug to investigate a potential melum, revealing a solid floor surface, indicating progress in understanding the Villa's layout.
In another garden, a Roman period wall was found, aligning with other Roman buildings in the area, suggesting a corridor Villa with two wings.
The team's efforts are piecing together the layout of Roman Lington, with more discoveries expected despite challenges faced.
At the cemetery, human bones and a coffin-like structure were found, indicating the presence of a Roman burial ground.
The team's work has provided a detailed record of the Roman building's walls and layout, surpassing previous antiquarian excavations.
The text reflects on the challenges and benefits of modern archaeological methods compared to antiquarian approaches, highlighting the need for faith in current documentation.
The Isle of Man's cultural history, influenced by British, Irish, and Viking settlers, is explored, focusing on the Keels, small chapels once abundant on the island.
The excavation of a Keel at Mount Murray Golf Course presents a rare opportunity to study a well-preserved chapel and its surrounding archaeology, shedding light on the island's religious and cultural evolution.

30:07

Ancient Earthworks and Graves Uncovered in Field

Earthworks observed in the field, with a slope and geophysical anomalies near a road.
Excitement over a stonelined grave protecting a well-preserved skeleton, a rare find.
Discovery of the full extent of a kissed burial and another grave in a trench.
Speculation on a potential bone deposit shrine in a stone box.
Uncovering of graves in a cemetery, aiding in dating and chronology.
Unusual curving arc of graves hinting at earlier features or reuse.
Establishment of wall lines, an altar, and a stone-built relics box in a Keel.
Identification of augum script, possibly from the 11th to 12th century Norse tradition.
Progress in locating the chapel door and reconstructing the Keel.
Uncovering of prehistoric burials and evidence of a Bronze Age burial mound.

45:02

"Mystery of Roman Artifacts in Caster"

Quartz pebbles used on altar surface and around altar forming a box with soil inside.
Stone dimensions fit for a possible box containing relics, possibly moved over time.
Venerated objects in quartz-lined box at East end of chapel on quartz floor, within stone and turf-walled Keel.
Augum script translation reveals Gaelic words from 11th century, hinting at 50 warriors' presence.
Gaelic script possibly first found on Isle of Man, indicating direct communication from past.
Edmund Artist's archaeological work in Caster, uncovering Roman artifacts and structures.
Artist's detailed map of Roman buildings in Caster, with discrepancies between his findings and modern excavations.
Current archaeologists creating new map of Caster, focusing on Roman wall remnants and bathhouse.
Impressive Roman artifacts found in Caster, including pottery, wall plaster, and coins.
Speculation on massive Roman building behind church, possibly a pretorium or headquarters.

01:00:36

Uncovering Roman Mystery in Churchyard Excavation

An artist suggests using a trench to uncover potential archaeological finds in a churchyard.
Permission is granted for a one-day excavation in the churchyard to search for a mysterious Roman pretorium.
Anticipated discovery of bones due to unmarked graves and disturbed soil.
Emphasis on ensuring all excavated material is returned to the ground.
Focus on the northern part of the churchyard where antiquarian Edmund Artis identified mysterious structures.
Uncertainty and debate surrounding the definition and significance of a pretorium.
Efforts to recreate the archaeological methods of the past using period-appropriate tools.
Discovery of a potential Roman structure in the rectory garden trench.
Challenges in finding substantial Roman walls as described by Artis.
Reliance on Artis' plans and observations for understanding the site's layout and structures.

01:14:50

Roman structure uncovered in garden excavation.

Uncovering a potential Roman structure in a garden, with a significant wall and step foundation discovered, indicating a large building from the same era.
The discovery aligns with findings from the 1950s, suggesting a single large building with similar construction techniques and dimensions.
Evidence of a hypercore system and two Roman phases in the building, indicating different construction periods and a probable earlier building at the site's south end.
Speculation on a hidden Roman wall based on bone fragments' alignment, supported by mapping evidence and the alignment of tesserae and the church, confirming the massive construction's presence.

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