There's No Place Like Rome (Blacklands, Somerset) | S14E02 | Time Team

Time Team Classics42 minutes read

The Blacklands site in Somerset challenges the narrative of Roman invasion by revealing early Roman structures likely built by Britons before conquest, shedding light on a smooth transition to Roman ways. Discoveries at the site, including roundhouses and a substantial stone building, provide insights into the locals who adopted Roman lifestyles, extending Roman life by 200 years and offering local archaeologists ample material for further exploration.

Insights

  • Local Britons constructed a stone roundhouse shortly after the Roman invasion, showcasing a rapid adoption of Roman architectural techniques and indicating a smooth transition to Roman ways, challenging traditional narratives of resistance and highlighting a nuanced local perspective towards Roman influence.
  • Excavations at the Blacklands site in Somerset unearthed multiple roundhouses, including a high-status Iron Age one and a massive stone roundhouse post-Roman conquest, suggesting a significant and unique building from 60 to 80 A.D. that incorporated Roman technology, filling a crucial gap in understanding the site's occupation history and revealing a complex blend of Iron Age and Roman influences.

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Recent questions

  • What significant discovery was made at the Blacklands site in Somerset?

    Stone roundhouse built by Brits post-Roman conquest.

  • What insights did the Blacklands site findings provide about the locals at the time of the Romans' arrival?

    Locals quickly adopted Roman ways post-Roman conquest.

  • How did the Blacklands site findings contribute to understanding the Romanization process in Britain?

    Extended Roman life by 200 years, showcasing cultural exchange.

  • What structures were found at the Blacklands site in Somerset besides the stone roundhouse?

    Three roundhouses, including Phil's high-status Iron Age one.

  • How did the Blacklands site findings impact the work of local archaeologists?

    Provided about 30 more years of work for local archaeologists.

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Summary

00:00

Early Roman Villa Challenges Iron Age Narrative

  • In 43 A.D., Romans invaded Britain, facing resistance from Iron Age Brits, leading to a slow Romanization process.
  • A villa near Somerset, built shortly after the Roman invasion, challenges the narrative by being occupied by Brits, raising questions about local attitudes towards Romans.
  • The Bath and Camerton Archaeological Society excavated the Blackland site, revealing an Iron Age site with an early Roman villa and a gatehouse.
  • Despite initial skepticism, the site's mysteries prompt further investigation, including dating the villa and exploring potential earlier structures.
  • Geophysical surveys and excavations aim to uncover more about the villa's history and its connection to the Iron Age settlement.
  • Collaboration with local archaeologists reveals early dates for the villa, suggesting it was built by Britons before Roman conquest, possibly indicating a smooth transition to Roman ways.
  • Excavations uncover significant finds like a well and a roundhouse, shedding light on the site's occupation history.
  • Dating evidence suggests the villa was built in the late 1st century A.D., making it an exceptional early structure in the region.
  • Discoveries like a red deer antler provide insights into Iron Age life, including diet and trade practices.
  • While progress is made in understanding daily life in the Iron Age, the exact moment of Roman influence remains elusive, despite ongoing excavations and analyses.

15:14

"Exploring Roman and Iron Age sites"

  • The geophase is notably noisy, with a clear boundary at the end of the field, suggesting potential continuation beyond.
  • In Somerset, a Roman villa and a possible Iron Age roundhouse are being investigated, with numerous finds prompting further exploration.
  • Geophysics in a neighboring field is being conducted to uncover potential structures beyond the boundary, possibly a village.
  • Pottery findings indicate a gap in Roman material dating from the Roman conquest to around 75 A.D., hinting at missing buildings.
  • A potential timber building or farmstead is speculated to bridge the gap in Roman pottery findings, leading to further geophysics exploration.
  • A stone wall discovered in a trench hints at a significant structure, possibly a replacement for a timber building, prompting extended excavation.
  • A large gatehouse discovered in past excavations poses a mystery due to its scale in relation to the villa, requiring further investigation.
  • A planned deep well excavation yields disappointing results, leading to a shift in focus towards an Iron Age roundhouse site.
  • An Iron Age coin discovery in a trench suggests high status and power, potentially linked to a large roundhouse found in the area.
  • Excavations yield various finds, including window glass, fine wheels, and pottery dating to the first century A.D., providing evidence of occupation during the Roman conquest period.

30:17

"Roman conquest reveals wealthy Iron Age site"

  • The first Iron Age coin found on Time Team and the first Dubonic coin discovered in Britain, indicating wealthy Britons in the Iron Age.
  • Discovery of fines hinting at a conquest period building.
  • Archaeologists puzzled by a large gatehouse not aligning with a villa, suggesting it leads to something else.
  • Speculation on the purpose of the gatehouse, possibly pointing to a Romano-Celtic temple or ritual site.
  • Uncovering rare coins from the Roman conquest period, showcasing the transition before Roman arrival in Britain.
  • The search for a building from the time of the Romans' arrival, potentially a Romanized roundhouse or villa.
  • Excavation revealing a stone-built roundhouse post-Roman conquest, incorporating Roman technology.
  • Discovery of massive foundations and construction cuts indicating a significant building from 60 to 80 A.D.
  • Unearthing late Iron Age and early Romanized artifacts around the foundation, filling a gap in understanding the site's occupation.
  • Impressive findings suggesting a unique and substantial building, possibly unparalleled in Roman Britain.

44:32

Romanized Stone Roundhouses Unearthed in Somerset

  • The team discovered a stone roundhouse, a Romanized building constructed by Brits shortly after the Romans arrived, at the Blacklands site in Somerset. They found three roundhouses, including Phil's high-status Iron Age one and Bridge's massive stone one, shedding light on the people who quickly adopted Roman ways. The site extended the Roman life by 200 years, delved into an Iron Age roundhouse, and provided insight into the locals at the time of the Romans' arrival, likely giving local archaeologists about 30 more years of work.
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