Calleva Atrebatum

Calleva Atrebatum. It was a significant oppidum of the Atrebates tribe during the Late Iron Age and later flourished as a major civitas capital in the Roman province of Britannia. Located near modern Silchester in Hampshire, the site is renowned for its exceptionally well-preserved town walls and the absence of subsequent medieval or modern overbuilding, providing a unique archaeological window into Roman Britain. Its development, peak, and eventual abandonment offer critical insights into the processes of Romanization and the subsequent transition to the post-Roman period.

History

The site originated as the tribal capital of the Atrebates, a Belgic tribe with strong links to Gaul, particularly under the rule of the exiled king Commius. Following the Claudian invasion in AD 43, Calleva developed a friendly relationship with Rome, evolving into the administrative hub of the Civitas Atrebatum. The town prospered throughout the Roman period, benefiting from its position on important routes like the Devil's Highway connecting it to Londinium and Aquae Sulis. Evidence suggests it remained occupied into the early 5th century, but like many Roman towns, it declined after the end of imperial administration. Its final phases are associated with the wider societal changes during the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain.

Archaeology

Systematic archaeological investigation began in the late 19th century under the auspices of the Society of Antiquaries of London, with major excavations conducted by Augustus Pitt-Rivers and later by Morten and Birthe Høgsbjerg. The most extensive modern research has been the long-running Silchester Town Life Project, a collaboration between the University of Reading and English Heritage. This project has employed meticulous, open-area excavation techniques, notably within the insula IX site, to reveal the complete life-cycle of a city block from the Iron Age through to abandonment. The site's archaeology is uniquely undisturbed due to the lack of later settlement, allowing for detailed stratigraphic analysis.

Layout and infrastructure

The town was enclosed by substantial, multi-period defensive walls, initially an Iron Age earthwork later fronted by a stone wall and external ditches in the 3rd century. The street grid followed a characteristic Roman cardo and decumanus plan, with the forum and basilica complex located near the centre. Public amenities included a substantial Roman amphitheatre built just outside the walls, public baths, and at least one temple to Mithras. The town was supplied with water via wells and possibly an aqueduct, and evidence of an extensive drainage system has been found. Private dwellings ranged from simple strip houses to larger, courtyard-style residences with hypocaust heating.

Notable finds

Excavations have yielded a wealth of artefacts that illuminate daily life. Among the most significant is the Silchester eagle, a finely wrought bronze eagle figurine discovered in the 19th century and long, though erroneously, associated with a Roman military. The discovery of the "Silchester ogham stone" provides rare evidence of Irish influence in late Roman Britain. Numerous inscriptions on stone and pottery, including a famous roof tile with a cat's paw print, offer personal glimpses into the past. A large hoard of over 10,000 late 3rd-century Roman coins was also uncovered, alongside everyday items like Samian ware, glass vessels, and bone hairpins.

Post-Roman period

Unlike many Roman towns such as Londinium or Eboracum, Calleva was not reoccupied in the Anglo-Saxon period, leading to its preservation. Evidence from the insula IX excavation suggests organized, clean demolition of buildings and deliberate backfilling of wells in the 5th or 6th centuries, possibly indicating a planned, ceremonial abandonment. The site is mentioned in early medieval sources, including the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle which records a battle at "Caelesford" in AD 556, potentially nearby. By the time of the Domesday Book, the settlement had shifted to the nearby village of Silchester, leaving the Roman ruins as an earthwork known locally as "Silchester Roman Town," now in the guardianship of English Heritage.

Category:Roman towns and cities in England Category:Archaeological sites in Hampshire Category:Atrebates