The Romans in Saltford

Principal investigator: Wendy Russ
Level: Undergraduate

The Romans in Saltford is an investigation undertaken to understand everyday life in an agricultural setting located between Bath (Aquae Sulis) and Keynsham (Traiectus). The 2012 discovery of a Carthaginian coin in the area made national news and, along with other material culture findings, has helped promote the importance of local heritage within the community.

Previous archaeological investigations, members of the local community and metal detectorists have discovered numerous Roman artefacts which suggest a possible settlement with the potential for road networks which may link with trade routes along the river Avon and the Via Julia.

The methodology will include desk based research, field walking, identifying features in the landscape, aerial photography, lidar mapping, map regression, interviews,geophysical surveying, museum visits and artefact handling.

It is anticipated that this research will reveal traces of a lost settlement and associated road networks as well as give an indication of everyday life in rural Roman Britain. At the very least it will contribute to the support and encouragement of continuing interest in community archaeology and its wider links with the Mediterranean more than 2,300 years ago.

(University of Bristol)

Audit data

• Created: 7 years ago
• Created by: Sam Moorhead