The
Romans built a
fort over an
Iron Age settlement sometime in the 1st century. It lay on
Ermine Street, a major
Roman road heading north from
Londinium (
London) and, after the army left, expanded rapidly in the early 2nd century into a small town. A defensive stone wall was built about 225 and external towers were later added. Not much is known about life in the town, but industry included pottery production and coin forgery. There may have been a sculptor's workshop as some fine carvings have been discovered. This includes a
Deae Matres sculpture and altar from a religious precinct around the present church.
Nottingham University Between 1955 and 1971 the University of Nottingham carried out several digs in Ancaster. A publication ‘The Roman Town at Ancaster’ by Prof. Malcolm Todd described some of their conclusions. It was jointly published by the Universities of Nottingham and Exeter.
Roman Trail In November 1996 a group of residents, parish councillors, church wardens, teachers and the Community Archaeologist created a way marked Roman Trail through the village taking visitors from the site of the Roman Temple ( at the church), to the Marching Camp ( near the station) and the cemetery which was, coincidentally also the Roman cemetery. The trail is accompanied by a booklet ‘Ancaster a Roman Town’ by Jenny Stevens and Henny Shotter. There is a permanent exhibition in the church.
Time Team excavation A dig by archaeological television programme
Time Team in
2001 revealed a
cist burial partly constructed with a re-used inscription to the god
Viridios. The dig also uncovered
Iron Age to 3rd-century pottery, a 1st-century brooch and some of the Roman town wall. ==References==