Archaeologists have uncovered what they believe to be the cremation remains of a high-ranking Roman at a 2nd-century settlement near Peterborough. The discovery was made by DigVentures, a community archaeology organisation, during an excavation of a site that has already yielded several villas over the years.
Discovery at Trench One
Senior project officer Nat Jackson led a tour of the three trenches being dug, saying, “We’ve always known there’s something going on here. But this is really exciting.” The team pointed to what looked like a glass vase, which they said holds the cremations of a high-ranking Roman.
Another senior project officer, Harriet Tatton, described the find as “up there with some of the best moments of my career.” The remains are set to be taken to a lab after the dig concludes for further analysis.
Volunteers and Ukrainian refugees join the dig
The excavation team includes senior archaeologists and a group of passionate volunteers, several of whom learned about the dig through a Reddit forum. A number of people who recently arrived from war-torn Ukraine are also lending their hands to the operation.
One volunteer mentioned a harrowing escape from a Kyiv train station, saying, “We are happy to be away from that place…at least for now.” The group is united by a love of the past in this rural setting.
Harriet Tatton expressed her gratitude, saying, “There really is nothing like this. I feel incredibly privileged and lucky to be here.” The dig continues as the team works to uncover more about the Roman presence in the area.
