I'm an archaeologist currently working on the Roman circus excavations at the Garrison site in Colchester. It's been cold & wet, but I wouldn't trade places with anyone right now. Absolutely fantastic stuff and a true, 'once in a lifetime' excavation!
I'm an archaeologist currently working on the Roman circus excavations at the Garrison site in Colchester. It's been cold & wet, but I wouldn't trade places with anyone right now. Absolutely fantastic stuff and a true, 'once in a lifetime' excavation!
quote:Originally posted by Tetricus: Will this eventually be made into a TV documentary Steve ?
Looks that way. We've had visits from the producer of Time Team, as well as an independent production company. I think a final decision will be made this week.
Steve - well done to everyone! It was fantastic to see the dig and have it explained so clearly. Truly a once in a lifetime dig as you say. Glad you've blagged an extra week's excavating time but I wish it could have been longer. I'll look forward to the TT special in mAy or whenever it is.
quote:Originally posted by Chris Walker: Nice photos I think you'll all agree.
I do indeed - difficult to understand what was what without captions but the pic of the diagram and aerial photo helped a bit ! I was pretty amazed by the number of complete and near complete vessels found - stunning! One dig the excavators will be talking about at tea-breaks for years to come!
There are two rows of parallel trenches, which were the inner and outer boundaries of the seating , similar to a modern stadium. The vertical scaffolding with the flags on top, are to indicate the possible slope of the earth embankment, which would probably have had stone seating inset.
The trenches had been mostly robbed out, to provide local building material. The total length of the stadium, was about 300 metres. There were also a considerable number of burials in the area, both cremations and inhumations.
........................................................................ Support the PAS Go with the FLO
Co - brilliant photos. You took even more than I did, and I thought I'd taken a lot (24 in my case, or rather 24 on an old camera and a dozen or so on my new toy).
You must have been in the first 50 or so. I think I was in the fourth batch (each of 50) and it was getting pretty crowded, plus the exhibition tent was packed so you did well to get those photos.
When some kind soul has helped me download mine, I'll send you them if you like as I've one or two that don't seem to duplicate yours. Including those two rather nice Roman soldiers and even nicer horses
For anyone who can't quite fit the photos to the plans, keep looking at Steve's website as it's good and I hope he'll incorporate some of the material from the Colchester Archy magazine which is a really excellent description of the whole site and where the excavations fit into the Circus as a whole and the relationship to the Roman town.
I can, but I do it laboriously by getting a disk cut then loading it onto the computer but I'm not a techno and it takes forever. Hence the new toy (a !) which will make it easier. But I've yet to load the software......... I shall do it soon.....
CHARIOT TRACK MUSEUM HOPE. Colchester’s Roman chariot racing track will be turned into a major tourist attraction.
Museum chiefs are working on a plan that will see a section of the 2,000-year-old stadium become part of a “cultural arc” leading from Abbey Field to Colchester Castle. Three parts of the buildings walls have been unearthed during excavations at the garrison, giving archaeologists enough information to map out the route of the 940-metre circuit.
But the baulk of the structure must remain underground to prevent it’s decay, leaving Colchester Council’s museums service with a dilemma over how best for it to cash in on the internationally- important discovery.
It has now hit on a solution that would see one of the garrisons cavalry barracks, left exposed and protected from the elements by a new building that would also house a permanent chariot racing exhibition.
The mini museum could even take the form of a grandstand to give an idea of what the remains once looked like. The plans are still at an early stage. But the councils cabinet agreed at an informal meeting to stump up cash for the project and to seek more cash from funding bodies.
Kevin Bentley, portfolio-holder for business, tourism and leisure, said members were unanimously agreed on the importance of the discovery for the town. He said: “We have a long way to go on this, but we definitely want to make the chariot track another big heritage centre for Colchester. As I see it, visitors could walk from there through the new St Botolph’s quarter, up to the art gallery at the bus station site and on to the castle. “This discovery is unique in Britain. We are very proud and we are very keen to preserve it for future generations.”
AMAZING FINDS AT ABBEYFIELD.
Experts have unveiled more internationally significant finds dug up during the excavations at Colchester.
Museum Chiefs are beside themselves with excitement over the perfectly preserved artefacts, discovered in graves unearthed near the Roman chariot racing track at Abbeyfield. The most important of all is a lampstand –complete with bronze legs made to look like horses feet-which archaeologists suspect may have been buried along with a famous charioteer. Nothing of the same design has been found before, even among the thousands of relics retrieved from the ruins of Pompeii.
The Gazette can today reveal that it will stay in Colchester, after the British Museum agreed not to pursue a cliam. The other rare artefacts included a child’s ring, fitted with a yet-to-be-identified gemstone and a tiny bear carved from jet that is thought to have been part of a necklace. The dig also turned up an intact clay pot, identified as coming from Germany.
Phillip Wise of Colchester Museums service said along with the discovery of the chariot track, the artefacts would have huge significance for historians. “We now know Colchester remained a really important place in Roman Britain-even after the Boudiccan revolt” he said. “We think it may have been like London and Canterbury are today with London as the capital and Colchester as the religious centre. “All this will lead to the text books being rewritten”
BALDRICK GOES MUCH FURTHER BACK IN TIME.
Hit archaeology show Time Team is planning to unearth more sections of the chariot racing track discovered at Colchester Garrison. Producers of the Channel Four programme, presented by Tony Robinson, are making a documentary special about the excavation about the excavation of the Roman circus at AbbeyField.
And now the Gazette can reveal that they now plan to fund four extra digs, in a bid to gain further fascinating insights into the towns Roman past. Colchester Archaeological Trust funded by developer Taylor Woodrow, has so far uncovered three separate sections of the buildings walls. They have already amassed enough evidence to prove the structure was an 8,000-seater stadium. But the Time Team cash will extend the period of work- and heritage bosses are hoping more valuable finds will come to light.
Phillip Wise of Colchester Museums Service said “Time Team is paying for it, and it will be happening over the next few weeks. They might find more artefacts, or perhaps even evidence that will allow us to precisely date when the circus was built”,
In a curious coincidence, one of the excavation sites to feature in the programme has already received a visit from Mr Robinson, who has presented Time Team for ten years.
The cavalry barracks parade ground- a stones throw from one of the existing digs-featured in the opening title sequence of Blackadder Goes Forth, in which the comic actor-turned history sleuth starred as Baldrick in the First World War.
“It’s the bizarre link between Roman Colchester, chariot racing, Time Team and Blackadder” said Mr Wise.
)
!) which will make it easier. But I've yet to load the software......... 
