Silchester Roman Town, or Calleva Atrebatum, was an Iron Age and subsequently Roman town and capital of the Celtic tribe named the Atrebates, located near the modern village of Silchester on what is today the border between the English counties of Berkshire and Hampshire.

Description

Most Roman towns in Britain continued to exist after the end of the Roman era, and consequently their remains underlay their more recent successors, which are often still major population centres. Silchester is unusual in that, for reasons unknown, it was abandoned shortly after the end of the Roman era and, with the establishment of Reading Abbey, local political and commercial activity moved to nearby Reading. As a consequence, Silchester has been subject to relatively benign neglect for most of the last two millenia.

The site covers a large area of about 230 acres (0.9 km²) within a polygonal earthwork. The earthworks and, for much of the circumference, the ruined walls are still visible. The remains of the amphitheatre, situated outside the city walls, can also be clearly seen. By contrast, the area inside the walls is now largely farmland with no visible distiguishing features other than the enclosing earthworks and walls, together with a tiny mediaeval church in one corner.

Excavation

Silchester was completely excavated by the Society of Antiquaries of London between the years 1890 and 1909, and while this excavation provided valuable information about civic life and daily life in the first centuries of the Common Era, as well as a complete map of a Romano-British town, it was believed to have destroyed evidence that might have been analysed in more careful detail not only with current technology and practices, but with the tools and knowledge of future generations. As archaeological study of this kind can be a destructive process, the excavation of Silchester is frequently mentioned as an example of why complete excavation should not be performed.

However, since the 1970s the University of Reading has become increasingly involved in new excavations. Work has been undertaken on the amphitheatre and forum basilica , which revealed remarkably good preservation of items from both the Iron Age and early Roman occupations. Currently (2004) exploration of one of the central insulae of the town is being undertaken. This indicates that the scope for further work inside and outside the walls is enormous.

Location

The site of Roman Silchester is adjacent to the modern village of Silchester, in the English county of Hampshire adjacent to the border with Berkshire. Reading is some 10 miles to the north-east, whilst Basingstoke is 5 miles to the south.

Access

Now jointly owned by English Heritage and Hampshire County Council, the site of Roman Silchester is open to the public during daylight hours, seven days a week and without charge. The full circumference of the walls are accessible, as is the amphitheatre. As mentioned above, the interior is farmed and, with the exception of the church and a single track that bisects the interior, inaccessible. Current excavations are not generally open, but occasional open days are held; see the Reading University web site ('External links' below) for details.

The Museum of Reading, located in the Town Hall in central Reading, has a gallery devoted to Silchester, displaying many archeological finds from the various excavations.

External links

• Reading University web site on Silchester Roman Town
• English Heritage web page on Silchester Roman Town
• Hampshire County Council web page on Silchester Roman Town