Iron Age village discovered in Essex may have been burnt down by Roman forces in retaliation for the Boudiccan revolt of 61 AD, archaeologists claim
Experts excavated the 'important' settlement at Tye Green, near CressingThe ancient village was built on a prominent ridge overlooking the Brain Valley
It sported at least 17 roundhouses and screens that may have protected hearths
After the main enclosure was abandoned, the site appears to have been farmed
But the team found a site for offerings that operated on into the 3rd Century
From here they have found hundreds of brooches, as well as coins and beads
By IAN RANDALL FOR MAILONLINE
21 December 2020
Archaeologists have dug up remains of an Iron Age village in Essex — one that may have been burnt down by Romans in retaliation for the Boudiccan revolt of 61 AD.
Experts from Oxford Archaeology East have revealed at least 17 roundhouses within a large defensive enclosure at Tye Green, Cressing, in the district of Braintree.
The village — built on a 'prominent ridge' overlooking the Brain valley — was likely of 'some importance' in the late Iron Age and early Roman period, the team said.
After the main settlement was razed, however, its significance dwindled — although offerings appear to have been made at the site well into the 3rd century.
Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of an Iron Age village in Essex, pictured — one believed burnt down by Roman forces in retaliation for the Boudiccan revolt of 61 AD
The village — built on a 'prominent ridge' overlooking the Brain valley — was likely of 'some importance' in the late Iron Age and early Roman period, the team said. Pictured, a copper alloy cockerel figurine, one of the numerous finds recovered from the Essex-based site
'The substantial enclosure ditch and the roundhouses themselves were clearly built to impress,' said Oxford Archaeology East's project officer Andy Greef.
The roundhouses would have been up to 49 feet (14 metres) in diameter, and were enclosed in gullies some 1.6 feet (0.5 metres) deep.
'The enclosure itself has an avenue-like entrance leading up to [it], aligning with the central roundhouse within, which hints at its prominence within the local landscape,' Mr Greef added.
Alongside the roundhouses, the researchers also uncovered the remains of other semi-circular structures, which they believe were screens or wind-breaks.
Many of these small structures were found in association with hearths, the team said — sporting artefacts including a tiny crucible, a casting sprue through which molten lead would be poured into a mould, and fragments of copper slag.
According the the researchers, the Iron Age settlement continued to expand even after the Roman conquest of 43 AD — with an enlargement of the main enclosure and and increase in construction to the east.
'At some point during the later 1st century AD, the main enclosure was cleared, while a number of the larger roundhouses were burnt down,' Mr Greef explained.
'There is potential that this represents evidence for reprisals on local important families following the Boudiccan uprising,' he added.
'The local Trinovantes tribe joined the AD 61 rebellion — and after Boudicca's defeat we know the Romans punished everyone involved,' Mr Greed told BBC News.
After the main settlement was razed, however, the site's significance dwindled — although offerings appear to have been made in the site's west into the 3rd century
'The substantial enclosure ditch and the roundhouses themselves were clearly built to impress,' said Oxford Archaeology East's project officer Andy Greef. The roundhouses would have been up to 49 feet in diameter, and were enclosed in gullies some 1.6 feet deep
Alternatively, the researchers conceded, the abandonment of the site could simply represent the relocation of the local elite to other villa sites nearby — leaving Tye Green to devolve into smaller farmsteads.
Evidence for this theory comes in the form of new large enclosures, built in the late 1st and 2nd centuries, which contained the remains of two granaries.
One of these appears to have been somewhat atypical in its design, the team explained, being made with 12 large posts and bearing more similarities to medieval granary stores than a Roman building.
It is possible, they said, that the granary was used as storage for grain taxes.
Alongside the roundhouses, the researchers also uncovered the remains of other semi-circular structures, which they believe were screens or wind-breaks. Many of these small structures were found in association with hearths, the team said — sporting artefacts including a tiny crucible and a casting sprue through which molten lead would be poured into a mould