Archaeology
Iron Age town discoveries displayed 50 years after first dig
Fifty years after the commencement of an archaeological excavation led by the University of Reading, a forthcoming exhibition will present the remarkable discoveries unearthed from digs at the ancient Roman site of Silchester in Hampshire.
Attendees of “Becoming Roman – Silchester, a Town of Change” will be transported two millennia into the past, delving into the life of the Gaulish tribe that founded the settlement and exploring the transformations that occurred following the Roman Conquest of Britain.
Professor Michael Fulford, of the University of Reading, is the Director of the Silchester Town Life Project. He said: “It is wonderful to contribute to an exhibition which showcases some of the great discoveries from the University of Reading’s excavations at Silchester. The objects on display range from those illustrating the international contacts of the Iron Age town beneath the Romans to those that show how life changed after the Roman conquest.
“I am extremely grateful for the huge contribution that generations of our students and local volunteers have made to the success of the excavations over the past 50 years.”
The exhibit, featuring 150 items, will include terracotta floor tiles preserving footprints of animals and children, a large Roman grain storage jar undergoing its first display post-restoration, intricately carved gemstones, and a Roman roof tile stamped with Nero’s mark. Additionally, visitors will get an insider’s view of the ongoing archaeological dig that continues to unveil the secrets of Silchester’s inhabitants.
Silchester, once a prosperous capital with its Iron Age mint, engaged in trade not only with neighboring tribes in Britain but also with the broader Roman Mediterranean world. The exhibition sheds light on their trading prowess and metalworking skills, showcasing chariot fittings and a discovered smithy. Emotional glimpses into Iron Age life include the skeleton of what is believed to be Britain’s first lap dog, imported from across the Channel.
With the arrival of the Romans came inevitable changes. The exhibition explores how the Iron Age settlement, known for its round houses, evolved with the introduction of a Roman street grid, a forum, and a bathhouse. Visitors will learn about the functioning of a Roman bathhouse, complete with a complex underfloor heating and gas system, and view personal items like hairpins and jewelry left behind by bathhouse users.
Nick Suffolk, Head of Heritage Experience at Hampshire Cultural Trust, highlighted the emotional connection fostered by “Becoming Roman – Silchester, a Town of Change,” where everyday artifacts offer a glimpse into the daily lives of individuals living thousands of years ago.
Becoming Roman – Silchester, a Town of Change, will tour the Red House Museum in Christchurch, Andover Museum, The new exhibition begins its tour at the Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery in Basingstoke on Saturday 10 February and will close on Sunday, 28 April.
Header Image Credit : University of Reading
This content was originally published on www.heritagedaily.com – © 2023 – HeritageDaily
The Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the provinces of Caserta and Benevento have announced the discovery of a vast Iron Age necropolis in Amorosi, located in the Italian province of Benevento.
The necropolis was found in the Valle Telesina in the vicinity of the Volturno River during works for a new power plant being constructed by the Terna Group.
Excavations over an area of 13,000 square metres have identified 88 burials belonging to the “Pit Tomb Culture”, an Iron Age people that inhabited Campania before the emergence of the Italic Samnites.
The burials date from the 8th to the mid-7th century BC, and are a mix of male and female burials containing associated grave goods and funerary offerings. Ceramics of various shapes were placed as offerings at the feat of the deceased.
Image Credit : Superintendency of Archaeology
The male burials mainly contain weaponry, while the female burials have ornamental objects such as fibulae, bracelets, pendants, worked bone and amber.
According to the archaeologists, the burials are the interred remains of high status individuals, evidenced by the “objects of extraordinary prestige” that includes finely decorated bronze belts or bronze-rolled vessels.
The most significant discoveries are two monumental mound burials indicated by the presence of substantial stone circles measuring approximately 15 metres in diameter. The archaeologists theorise that the mound burials belonged to the elite members of the culture, possibly the ruling chieftain.
Samples of soil taken during the excavations were sent for an archaeobotanical analysis to provide data on the environment and flora, in addition to an anthropological analysis of the bone remains.
Header Image Credit : Superintendency of Archaeology
Sources : Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the provinces of Caserta and Benevento
This content was originally published on www.heritagedaily.com – © 2023 – HeritageDaily
Archaeologists from the Ministry of Culture (Peruvian State) have uncovered ceramic vessels from the Chancay culture in the Chancay district of Lima, Peru.
The discovery was made following reports by locals of illegal excavations, an endemic problem in the region known as “Huaqueo” involving the exploitation of archaeological sites for artefacts to be sold on the black market.
Around 20,000 archaeological pieces are illegally extracted and trafficked out of Peru annually, which poses a constant danger to the preservation of the country’s cultural heritage.
Following a joint inspection by officials of the Municipality of Chancay and the Ministry of Culture, archaeologists have recovered ten pre-Hispanic ceramic vessels belonging to the Chancay culture at the Lauri Archaeological Site.
The Chancay culture emerged after the fall of the Wari civilisation around AD 1,000 on the central coast of Peru. Parts of the southern Chancay area were conquered by the Chimú in the early 1400s, and by around AD 1450 the Inca had dominated the entire Chimú territory.
Among the recovered vessels are ceramic jugs, pots and plates, which the Chimú manufactured using moulds.
The vessels are decorated with the “black on white” style, a technique commonly associated with the Chimú that involved painting a white background on a rough matt surface, followed by a dark colour for the decorative elements.
According to the Peruvian State: “The initial evaluation of the vessels confirmed that they are noticeably deteriorated, and in some cases fragmented due to their exposure to adverse environmental conditions or their violent manipulation. Subsequently, the pieces were transferred to the institutional headquarters for their preservation.”
Header Image Credit : Ministry of Culture
Sources : Peruvian State
This content was originally published on www.heritagedaily.com – © 2023 – HeritageDaily
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