Venta Belgarum: Prehistoric, Roman, and Post-Roman Winchester

This is a detailed study of the archaeology of Roman Winchester-Venta Belgarum, a major town in the south of the province of Britannia– and its development from the regional (civitas) capital of the Iron Age people, the Belgae, who inhabited much of what is now central and southern Hampshire. The archaeology of the Winchester area in prehistory is considered, and so too is the later evidence from the town, between the end of organized Roman life shortly after 400 and the foundation, c.650, of the church later known as Old Minster. At the heart of this account is the publication of the relevant phases of the sites excavated in 1961-71 by the Winchester Excavations Committee, and of the finds recovered from these excavations. Volume 1 (Excavations) outlines previous work of relevance, and describes the WEC excavations and the post-excavation analysis of the discoveries, including full reports on the prehistoric, Roman, and post-Roman (to c.650) phases of the 14 sites excavated in 1961-71, with gazetteers for Roman Winchester, listing and describing all significant observations of the defences, and the streets and buildings within the walls. Volume 2 (Finds) presents about 4000 of the finds from the excavations of 1961-71, with additional significant objects from earlier excavations in Winchester or other Winchester collections. Finds are described and discussed by era and type, with coins and selected pottery followed by objects grouped by industry or purpose. Concordances list these finds by site and phase or by material.

PART 1. INTRODUCTION 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION 2. PREVIOUS WORK 3. THE WINCHESTER EXCAVATIONS COMMITTEE EXCAVATIONS OF 1961-71 PART 2. GENERAL DISCUSSIONS 1. GEOLOGY AND PHYSICAL SETTING OF WINCHESTER 2. PREHISTORY OF THE WINCHESTER AREA 3. ROMAN WINCHESTER 4. POST-ROMAN AND EARLY ANGLO-SAXON WINCHESTER PART 3. SITE REPORTS 1. ON THE DEFENCES 2. INSIDE THE WALLS 3. OUTSIDE THE WALLS PART 4. ROMAN WINCHESTER: GAZETTEERS 1. GAZETTEER OF DEFENCES 2. GAZETTEER OF STREETS WITHIN THE WALLED AREA 3. GAZETTEER OF BUILDINGS WITHIN THE WALLED AREA PART 5. FINDS: INTRODUCTION 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION 2. RECORDING OF FINDS ON SITE AND IN THE FINDS SHED 3. POST-EXCAVATION FINDS PROCESSING 4. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE OBJECTS 5. CONTEXT DATES AND RESIDUALITY PART 6. PREHISTORIC FINDS 1. COINS 2. POTTERY 3. OTHER OBJECTS 636 PART 7. ROMAN FINDS 1. COINS 2. POTTERY 3. INDUSTRIES AND THEIR TOOLS 4. INSCRIPTIONS, STATUARY, AND RELIGIOUS OBJECTS 5. PERSONAL POSSESSIONS 6. EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHINGS 7. HORSE EQUIPMENT 8. MILITARY EQUIPMENT 9. MISCELLANEOUS OBJECTS PART 8. POST-ROMAN AND EARLY ANGLO-SAXON FINDS 1. BYZANTINE COINS OF THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES 2. EARLY ANGLO-SAXON POTTERY 3. OTHER OBJECTS FINDS CONCORDANCES 1. THE FINDS LISTED BY SITE AND FINAL PHASE 2. THE FINDS LISTED BY MATERIAL 3. THE FINDS LISTED BY SITE AND FIND NUMBER APPENDIX. LANKHILLS RECONSIDERED 1. INTRODUCTION 2. TOPOGRAPHY AND CHRONOLOGY 3. PEOPLE WHO ARRIVED c.350 4.OTHER ASPECTS 5. CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS,

PART 1. INTRODUCTION

1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION

2. PREVIOUS WORK

3. THE WINCHESTER EXCAVATIONS COMMITTEE EXCAVATIONS OF 1961–71

PART 2. GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

1. GEOLOGY AND PHYSICAL SETTING OF WINCHESTER

2. PREHISTORY OF THE WINCHESTER AREA

3. ROMAN WINCHESTER

4. POST-ROMAN AND EARLY ANGLO-SAXON WINCHESTER

PART 3. SITE REPORTS

1. ON THE DEFENCES

2. INSIDE THE WALLS

3. OUTSIDE THE WALLS

PART 4. ROMAN WINCHESTER: GAZETTEERS

1. GAZETTEER OF DEFENCES

2. GAZETTEER OF STREETS WITHIN THE WALLED AREA

3. GAZETTEER OF BUILDINGS WITHIN THE WALLED AREA

PART 5. FINDS: INTRODUCTION

1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION

2. RECORDING OF FINDS ON SITE AND IN THE FINDS SHED

3. POST-EXCAVATION FINDS PROCESSING

4. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE OBJECTS

5. CONTEXT DATES AND RESIDUALITY

PART 6. PREHISTORIC FINDS

1. COINS

2. POTTERY

3. OTHER OBJECTS 636

PART 7. ROMAN FINDS

1. COINS

2. POTTERY

3. INDUSTRIES AND THEIR TOOLS

4. INSCRIPTIONS, STATUARY, AND RELIGIOUS OBJECTS

5. PERSONAL POSSESSIONS

6. EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHINGS

7. HORSE EQUIPMENT

8. MILITARY EQUIPMENT

9. MISCELLANEOUS OBJECTS

PART 8. POST-ROMAN AND EARLY ANGLO-SAXON FINDS

1. BYZANTINE COINS OF THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES

2. EARLY ANGLO-SAXON POTTERY

3. OTHER OBJECTS

FINDS CONCORDANCES

1. THE FINDS LISTED BY SITE AND FINAL PHASE

2. THE FINDS LISTED BY MATERIAL

3. THE FINDS LISTED BY SITE AND FIND NUMBER

APPENDIX. LANKHILLS RECONSIDERED

1. INTRODUCTION

2. TOPOGRAPHY AND CHRONOLOGY

3. PEOPLE WHO ARRIVED c.350

4.OTHER ASPECTS

5. CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS

Francis Morris has a particular interest in the late Iron Age, Roman, and early Anglo-Saxon periods in Britain and in contemporary connections between Britain and continental Europe at that time. He took a DPhil in Archaeology at the University of Oxford in 2010 and subsequently worked at the Oxford Celtic Coin Index and on the publication of the Biddles’ excavations at the chapter house of St Albans Abbey (forthcoming). Since 2012 Francis has contributed to the publication of books in the Winchester Studies series, especially WS 3.i (this book), WS 4.i The Anglo-Saxon Minsters of Winchester (forthcoming), and WS 11 The British Historic Towns Atlas of Winchester.

Martin Biddle has an extensive archaeological career, but is perhaps most recognized for his excavations in Winchester where he introduced into urban archaeology a multi-period and multi-disciplinary approach employing archaeology, topography, and historical archives, treating all periods from the Iron Age to the post-medieval with equal weight. This is the first of the Winchester Studies series to publish detailed site reports of the field and urban archaeology from his Winchester excavations.

• By (author) Francis M. Morris
• By (author) Martin Biddle

‘…the single fullest and most impressive volume on any Roman town [bringing] together the observations and excavations over three centuries. The plans and sections from WEC’s excavations will allow future scholars to evaluate further, and marvel at what was achieved. The finds reports are accorded equal prominence, a real godsend to anyone working on Roman site reports in Britain and Western Europe. A volume of prime importance to everyone interested in Roman Britain, it should be on the shelves of every Archaeological Unit and indeed every excavator.’ – Martin Henig, Wolfson College, University of Oxford

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‘These two volumes reveal a remarkable depth and detail of discovery, covering a breathtaking expanse of time. They are a definitive achievement, even though precise locations of some key structures of Roman and Anglo-Saxon Winchester remain to be discovered. The volumes represent six decades of patient, assiduous and careful excavation, as well as thoughtful analysis, on the part of its two authors and 62 other contributors, plus over 50 staff and volunteers. The result is a model of its kind, beautifully produced, illustrated and indexed by Archaeopress.’ – Craig R. Davis (2024): Bryn Mawr Classical Review

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The two volumes are very well cross-referenced with the first reporting the excavations and the second reporting the finds, including some outstanding pieces found before 1961. Volume 1 has an introductory section detailing excavation and post-excavation methods, which is followed by general discussions on the contribution of early discoveries and the 1961–1971 excavations to deepen our understanding of the geology, prehistory, Roman and post-Roman and early Anglo-Saxon periods of Winchester and surrounding area. The meat of the volume follows with the reporting of the individual excavations themed by ‘On the Defences’, ‘Inside theWalls’ and ‘Outside theWalls’. Succinctly describing the excavations, the reports are of a very high standard and are supported by beautiful line drawings of plans and sections and excellent photography. – Michael Fulford (2024): Antiquity Vol. 98

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