Evidence of later Roman settlement at Alconbury Weald 
shared with local families

Over 100 people donned their wellies to attend four archaeological ‘show and tell’ sessions to find out how a dig site operates and see some of the later Roman artefacts discovered so far. This includes coins, a small amount of metalwork, a tiny bead made from a fossil that is thought to have been used in a necklace or bracelet, and pottery in good condition, which suggests it had not moved far from where it was used. 

Archaeologists have also discovered ditches that indicate settlement boundaries, possible evidence of round houses and animal bones with butchery marks.

Chris Thatcher, project manager at Oxford Archaeology, said: “It’s fantastic to find evidence of a settlement spanning the Late Iron Age into later Roman period, as this shows continuity of people living and working here for hundreds of years.  By this stage, they would also have been travelling across the landscape and trading with other local settlements as well as having established trade routes with the wider area.

“It was great to be able to give residents a brief glimpse into what life would have been like here over 2,000 years ago. The children were fascinated by the dig site and what we have found so far; with some budding young archaeologists asking lots of questions about what is involved before, during and after a dig.”

Previous archaeological excavations have revealed that Alconbury Weald has been home for many people through the millennia, from evidence of Prehistoric settlement and Iron Age round houses through to Roman artefacts and Medieval remains.  The latest finds, which will be on display at Alconbury Weald’s Heritage Open Day on 9 September, have added another piece to the jigsaw of the site’s past.

Natalie Leigh Brown, Community Development Lead at Alconbury Weald, said: “Alconbury Weald has a fascinating heritage - from its very earliest settlers through to its more recent military history – and events that help bring the past to life always prove popular with the local community and connect them to the history around them.

“This rich heritage is stitched into the new development; from street names and park designs to Watch Office Green and events such as Heritage Open Days. The next phase of Alconbury Weald will include a heritage area focused on the listed Cold War buildings and we continue to work with the Alconbury Weald Heritage Group to ensure each layer of history is captured within the future plans and that it continues to engage the new community and our neighbours.”