Ancient Roman town — with coins, shackles and even makeup — unearthed in England

An excavation of a sprawling Roman settlement in the English countryside has “surpassed expectations,” yielding hundreds of ancient artifacts and deepening researchers’ understanding of ancient Roman life.

A team of about 80 archaeologists spent a year uncovering the site, known as Blackgrounds, located near a small village in central England, according to a news release from HS2 Ltd, a company building a high-speed rail line.

Among the discoveries were a massive road, decorative pottery, glass vessels and jewelry.

The road, which cut through the site, measured about 30 feet in width, indicating a large volume of commerce took place there. Carts filled with goods were likely transported back and forth on the thoroughfare.

Over 300 coins were also unearthed, further suggesting that extensive quantities of wealth passed through the area.

Additional artifacts uncovered in the once “bustling and busy area” include kilns and rows of stone walls. Traces of mineral galena and lead sulphide — ingredients used to create makeup — were also discovered.

A “particularly interesting” find was a partial set of shackles, suggesting the existence of slave labor or criminal activity.

The dig also revealed an integration of native and foreign cultures. Local inhabitants of what was once an Iron Age village likely adapted to a new way of life when the Romans arrived, taking on their customs and building techniques.

Evidence suggests that the settlement, which had humble beginnings, expanded and grew prosperous during the Roman period.

The artifacts are being cleaned and analyzed, and the layout of the entire settlement is being mapped.

The settlement, “one of the most impressive sites,” holds the potential to “transform our understanding of the Roman landscape in the region and beyond,” James West, the site manager, said.

England, once a provincial piece of the Roman empire, is dotted with an abundance of Roman archeological sites, including Hadrian’s Wall and remarkably intact baths, according to Historic UK.

This story was originally published January 11, 2023 at 5:59 PM with the headline "Ancient Roman town — with coins, shackles and even makeup — unearthed in England."