Ancaster Roman Town

Ancaster Roman Town was a small town in the Roman province of Britannia. Its name in Latin is unknown, although it is sometimes identified with "Causennis" (usually thought to be Saltersford). Today it is known as Ancaster, located in the English county of Lincolnshire.

Town development

The Romans built a fort over an Iron Age settlement sometime in the 1st century. It lay on Ermine Street, a major Roman road heading north from Londinium (London) and, after the army left, expanded rapidly in the early 2nd century into a small town. A defensive stone wall was built about 225 and external towers were later added. Not much is known about life in the town, but industry included pottery production and coin forgery. There may have been a sculptor's workshop as some fine carvings have been discovered. this includes a Deae Matres sculpture and altar from a religious precinct around the present church. Excavations have also found a cemetery containing more than 250 Roman burials, including 11 stone sarcophagi. There is also a Roman marching camp to the north-west of Ancaster.

Time Team excavations

A Time Team excavation in 2002 revealed a cist bearing an inscription to the God Viridius. The dig also uncovered Iron Age to 3rd century pottery, a 1st century brooch and some of the Roman town wall.

Further reading

*cite journal
last=Trollope | first=Edward
title=Ancaster, the Roman Causennæ
journal=The Archaeological Journal
year=1870 | volume=27 | pages=1–15
*cite book
first=Malcolm | last=Todd | year=1981
title=The Roman Town at Ancaster
publisher=University of Nottingham
isbn=0950761303