Grape Britain! Scientists discover evidence the Romans produced wine in Cambridgeshire 2,065 years ago
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It is widely believed that the Romans introduced winemaking to England as early as 43 BC, when Emperor Claudius began the conquest of the British Isles.
Now new evidence suggests the existence of a previously unknown vineyard in Cambridgeshire dating back to the post-invasion years.
Archaeologists believe they have found grape pollen in cores taken from boggy soil, suggesting that vineyards were grown in this area in Roman times.
They also found remains of headless animals and a stylus—a pen-like device used to write on wax tablets—suggesting a long-standing settlement.
Discoveries were made during excavation work for a new 10 mile dual carriageway between Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet.
Findings from the site include grape pollen cores, animal bones, pottery shards and more. In the photo, archaeologists excavate the remains of a pig
According to National Highways, the government agency that monitors motorways in England, the findings show what life was like in Roman times (AD 43 to 410) — and possibly even further back into the Iron Age (800 BC). .
“These incredible discoveries show us that Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire were incredibly well connected to other regions of Britain and Europe,” said Lorraine Bennetts, senior project manager for National Highways.
“We’re working with schools and other community groups to showcase these finds through craft workshops and virtual realizations so people can really understand our local history.”
National Highways has been working with archaeologists from the Museum of London Archeology (MOLA) since 2021 to excavate the site of the new A428 dual carriageway.
The team has surveyed a vast expanse of land, the equivalent of 89 full-sized football fields, making it one of the largest excavations ever undertaken in the region.
Experts believe artifacts now recovered from the excavations show how new goods were imported through a Roman trade network.
For example, the existence of amphora – a type of ancient storage jar – may have brought olive oil from Spain to Cambridgeshire, while fragments of expensive crockery called Samian probably came from northern France.
The discoveries were made during excavation work for a new 10-mile dual carriageway between Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet.
Pictured, excavated remains of a sheep. Animal remains reveal more about human diets throughout history
In the photo, an employee digs up the sheep bones. Until recently, stone arrowheads were the only known objects from this area pre-dating the Iron Age
In addition, the remains of animals found, including sheep and pigs, reveal not only what the Romans ate in the area, but also how they ate.
Bones and pottery were dumped in two separate pits in different settlements—possible evidence of ancient feasts when the citizens put the remains of the meal in one pit and their used ceramics in the other.
Meanwhile, the discovery of a stylus suggests Romans might have used it to write on their wax tablets, much like modern digital tablets.
Styli (or styluses) were formed with a pointed end for writing on the wax, and a trapezoidal end for erasing the written words by flattening the wax surface again.
Researchers think they’ve also made discoveries dating back to the Iron Age, which began in 800 BC and ended with the arrival of the Romans in AD 43.
Until recently, the only known artifacts from this area pre-dating the Iron Age were stone arrowheads, suggesting that small hunter groups roamed Cambridgeshire until about 3,000 years ago.
However, archaeologists have now found an unusual loom used in cloth making, which could date back even further, to the Bronze Age (2500–800 BC).
Pictured is a Bronze Age loom weight used in cloth making, discovered at the excavation site
Styli (or styluses) were formed with a pointed end for writing on the wax, and a trapezoidal one for erasing the written words by flattening the waxed surface again
Fragments of expensive tableware, called Samian ware, probably came from northern France. Pictured, a piece of Samian pottery with maker’s mark
If it is proven to be from this period, it would indicate that people lived in this area for much longer than originally believed.
The early vineyards in Britain are thought to have been set up by the Romans, after the invasion by Claudius in 43 BC.
At that time the British climate was probably warmer and therefore the vineyards were more likely to produce decent yields.
There is evidence of Roman vineyards as far north as Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire, with others in Buckinghamshire and Cambridgeshire.
Dr. Andrew Sillett, a lecturer in classical languages at the University of Oxford, said the area north of London was the territory of the Catuvellauni, a clan who resisted the invasion.
Museum of London Archeology (MOLA) said ‘finds are carefully studied once cleaned and stabilised’
“Their leader Caratacus is the great figure in the opposition to Claudius’ invasion,” said Dr Sillett, who was not involved in the excavations.
“He is defeated, triumphantly paraded and pardoned – and the area afterward resigns itself rather quickly to the presence of Rome.”
Establishing winemaking in the area could have been part of a desire to “rebuild in harmony” with Roman cultural and agricultural practices, he said.
The most convincing evidence of wine drinking in Roman Britain is the discovery of amphorae, or wine jars, which were imported from Italy.
Last year, an analysis of three amphorae found near Rome suggests that red and white wine was made with grapes indigenous to the Italian coast during the Roman period.