Excavations on the Sites of the Amphitheatre and Forum-Basilica at Silchester, Hampshire: an Interim Report

Abstract

A research excavation was commenced on the site of the basilica which forms the western side of the forum of Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester, Hants) in IQ80. Its aim is to examine the Late Iron Age and early Roman occupation which, despite extensive Victorian excavations, was preserved beneath the masonry basilica. So far there is evidence of the Iron Age sequence dating back to the last quarter of the first century B.C.; it ends with the construction of a palisade dating to about the time of the Roman conquest. Two major phases of Roman timber building have been recorded, of which the later consists of a large basilica, interpreted as part of a forum-basilica and of Flavian date. The masonry basilica dates to the early second century. From the mid third until the later fourth century the basilica was given over to metalworking. The amphitheatre, with its well-preserved earthen seating banks, was first constructed during the third quarter of the first century A.D., when the seating, arena wall and entrance passages were built of timber. After several phases of repair the arena wall and entrance passages were rebuilt in stone in the first half of the third century. The full plan of this phase has been recovered; it consists of two opposing entrances on the long axis and two apsidal recesses on the short axis. The monument enjoyed a brief period of reuse in the twelfth and early thirteenth centuries.

Architectural and Social Change During the Roman Period

“…In contrast, the other great architectural development of the Roman period, public buildings, in particular the forum-basilica complexes, were primarily a feature of the early Roman period Unlike at Silchester, where the forum-basilica complex is given over to industrial purposes in the late Roman period (Fulford 1985), or Wroxeter, where it is burnt down and not replaced (Wacher 1974, 383). But it saw only relatively minor changes to its fabric, so that major capital outlay was confined to the early Roman period, often linking it with a failure of towns and the flight of capital to the countryside (Reece 1980).…”

From sub‐Roman Britain to Anglo‐Saxon England: Debating the Insular Dark Ages

“…Evidence from Verulamium suggested that urban-type rebuilding, featuring piped water, was continuing late on in the fifth century, if not beyond. 9 At Silchester, too, signs of sub-Roman occupation down to around AD 500 is gradually accumulating, 10 and it is quite possible that traces elsewhere would be more abundant had they not be removed prematurely in the past by impatient Romanists. At Wroxeter exceptionally careful excavation of the rubble of the Roman baths identified large-scale Roman-type buildings in timber in a sub-Roman context, but with barely any artefacts.…”

Calleva Atrebatum: An Interim Report on the Excavation of the Oppidum, 1980–86

“…Cunliffe and Rowley 1976). The project was eventually completed after seven seasons of excavation in 1986 (Fulford 1985a;forthcoming).…”