Young archaeologists explore a Roman site near Colchester


 


This morning Colchester's young archaeologists honed their excavating skills at an extensive site in the village of Fordham, which Colchester Archaeological Group (CAG) has been investigating for more than ten years. Colchester Young Archaeologists' Club leaders brought trowels and kneelers to the site, which CAG supplemented with further trowels and kneelers, buckets, shovels and sieves. Among the finds were Roman brick and tile fragments a possible flint scraping tool, animal bones, and fossils.
     The site director gave health and safety instructions before the group made their way to the current part of the site being investigated. Changes in the colour of the soil gave clues to the possible presence of Roman wall plaster and mortar and there was an abundance of Roman brick and tile fragments. The actual function of the site is a conundrum. CAG archaeologists on the Roman site have discovered many large loose tesserae pieces, brick and tile fragments, a water feature in a probable central atrium, human remains, which are still being analysed, animal bones and grain fragments, which indicate the diet of the occupants, and  bone hair pins and fragments of an elaborate bone box.
   One of the young people asked if there were any snakes on the site. Apparently only a grass snake has been seen, along with lizards, butterflies and a wide variety of wild flowering plants.
   Our excavating experiences finished with find washing and identification. The site has views of the rolling Essex countryside and the City of Colchester which is a few miles away.


    

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