Aylsham Roman Project
Have you ever looked in your back yard for a Roman?
In 2014 Mr Peter Purdy asked Britannia archaeology to conduct a Geophysical survey of his back garden to look for just that! He said "I believe that there was a Roman farmstead in my back yard."
As part of our project to find out more about Roman Aylsham we went to Aylsham Heritage Centre to learn a bit more about the dig at Woodgate Nursery on Cawston Road.
At the Heritage centre, we firstly scrubbed some ancient artifacts straight from the dig. We had to clean the mud and dirt from each piece with a toothbrush. Then we had to weigh and measure each piece and record it on a spreadsheet, just like the volunteers at the Roman dig have to do. Some people found CBM (ceramic building material) others found parts of bone a Victorian smoking pipe, and parts of a Roman roof tile possibly printed by a deer which could have trodden on the tile whilst it was out drying.
As part of our project to find out more about Roman Aylsham we went to Aylsham Heritage Centre to learn a bit more about the dig at Woodgate Nursery on Cawston Road.
At the Heritage centre, we firstly scrubbed some ancient artifacts straight from the dig. We had to clean the mud and dirt from each piece with a toothbrush. Then we had to weigh and measure each piece and record it on a spreadsheet, just like the volunteers at the Roman dig have to do. Some people found CBM (ceramic building material) others found parts of bone a Victorian smoking pipe, and parts of a Roman roof tile possibly printed by a deer which could have trodden on the tile whilst it was out drying.
Did you know that pottery and kilns is one of the main things that have been found?
Lots of pottery has been found on the site. The oldest bit of pottery the Aylsham Roman Project have found was made in 2000 B.C. Pottery was for use at Woodgate and it was not for trade. It was used to carry things like oil and water to places. Some of the pottery that was discovered were very decorative. The Romans would use stick tools and their very own hands to carve and make patterns on pottery. The pottery was made in a kiln which - if you don't know what a kiln is - is a little dome with a grill and a fire underneath it. Pottery was put in it to dry it and make it solid. The Aylsham Roman dig have found two kilns and one of the kilns was full of wasters (which means fallen or damaged pottery.) One of the kilns has been found well preserved with the floor still in one piece. At Woodgate Nursery the roman dig crew are making a replica of a Roman kiln to find out how exactly it worked.
Amongst the unique finds uncovered during the dig, there were tesserae (pieces of mosaic ) and flooring. We will tell you about heated flooring or hypocaust. This is where, in the basement, there was fire and it burnt all day and night. The hot air produced from this fire heated their homes. We know that this type of heating was used at Woodgate because evidence has been found on the tiles which have been uncovered. When the tiles have been washed up, parts of it were black which shows that the tile had been heated, so that's how we know they had a hypocaust system here.
|
After cleaning lots of the tiles, the volunteers at the dig also found evidence of animal foot prints in some of the tiles like: dog cat, otter, deer, mice, fox, newts, lynx and pine martens. Human fingers prints have also been found. That tells us that the tiles were possibly left out to dry and different animals walked over them while they were left outside. It also shows that there was a water source near by as many of these animals like to live near water.
In June 2018 a year 5 student named Daniel Ambrose found the first ever part of mosaic uncovered at Woodgate. This was a tiny piece of flooring called tesserae. A mosaic is a little part of tile which made a big picture on the floor. Some told a story some didn't. These can be very decorative.
In June 2018 a year 5 student named Daniel Ambrose found the first ever part of mosaic uncovered at Woodgate. This was a tiny piece of flooring called tesserae. A mosaic is a little part of tile which made a big picture on the floor. Some told a story some didn't. These can be very decorative.
Decorative artefacts have been found on the site including a jet bead which evidence suggests is from a jet necklace. The bead is made from the material of jet wood. Although this necklace is not the one that has been found in Aylsham, it shows what the necklace may have looked like. There is an estimate of 100 beads in one necklace.
Significantly at the dig the have found brooches, tweezers and coins of different varieties including an Emperor Elagabalu coin. |
The oldest artefact which has been found is a fossilised sea anemome being 450 000 000 years old. It was believed that a Roman had found the fossil and kept it because it was interesting. They probably dropped it later on and so it was left and years later it was found. The smallest artefact which has been found is a paleolithic flint which was extremely fragile. It has been suggested that it was an arrow head which would have been used for killing birds as it is too small to have killed larger animals. During a visit to the school, Peter Purdy showed us the flint and we were lucky enough to hold the it. Not only were Roman finds discovered, there were other finds too from different parts of history. One significant find is the king Edward 3rd penny from the 14th century. There is also evidence of a Victorian pipe that it was used for smoking in the Victorian times. |
Aylsham's Roman project in Norfolk was voted the best community archaeology project in Britain. Isn't it so fascinating that Marsham is the closest Roman camp to the farmstead. The people in the farmstead are believed to have been Romanised which means people who bought Roman objects and lived a Roman life. There are so many things that were found in Aylsham. just imagine that people lived here!
It seems that Peter did find a Roman in his garden .... or at least where he lived!!
We would like to say a thank you to Peter Purdy and Jayne Andrew.
It seems that Peter did find a Roman in his garden .... or at least where he lived!!
We would like to say a thank you to Peter Purdy and Jayne Andrew.
Visit the Aylsham Roman Project website to find out more.
Try our Roman Quiz!
What year did the dig start?
A. 2017.
B. 2014
C. 2010
When was the oldest piece of pottery that has been found at the Roman dig made?
A. 2000 BC
B. 2500 BC
C. 3000 BC
What is a waster?
Which of these animal footprints were found on the tiles?
A. A Bear
B. A Lynx
C. An Eagle
What is the name of the Emperor on the penny?
A. Elagabalus
C. Edward III
What is the oldest artefact that has been found?
Where was the closest Roman Camp?
A. Caister
B. Norwich
What was the biggest artefact found?
A. A Kiln
B. A shield
C. A flint