The ruins of the Roman regional town of Caistor (or Venta Icenorum) are located just beyond the outskirts of Norwich. One of only three Roman towns in Britain not built over by later medieval or modern towns, the traces of Romano-British life from the time of Boudicca’s rebellion in AD 60 lie just beneath the surface.
Towns at the edge of empire
Caistor Roman Town (Venta Icenorum): the Roman world beneath our feet
Caistor Roman Town: key features
- Intact visible remains of the Roman town wall
- Complete town plan reconstructed from scientific mapping and excavation
- Excavated evidence for a forum, a basilica, temples, and bathhouse
- Evidence for later Anglo-Saxon occupation, allowing us to trace British life in the centuries immediately after the departure of the Romans
- Insights into Romano-British daily life, including such finds as a defixio or ‘curse tablet‘ dedicated to the water god Neptune, found in the River Tas
Aerial image of Caistor revealing the defences and street plan - Credit: Mike Page
Reconstruction image of Caistor Roman Town - Credit: Norfolk Archaeological Trust
Samian ware pottery - Credit: Will Bowden
4th century burial - Credit: Will Bowden
Excavating south wing of forum - Credit: Will Bowden
Send a Postcard
Aerial view of Caistor Roman Town (© Mike Page), and Manga style cartoon of Caistor excavations (Hugo Yoshikawa)
CONTACTS
Principal Investigator: Dr Simon Kaner,
Sainsbury Institute, University of East Anglia
Co-Investigator: Dr Sam Nixon
Sainsbury Institute, University of East Anglia
SOCIAL
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Towns and empires worldwide
8th Century Fort
Japan
The story of empires and their fortified towns is one seen around the world – in Japan, for example, we find the 8th century Taga fort, established by the Yamato state to control northern Japan
Taga fort, Japan15th – 16th Century Inca Imperial Town
Choquequirao: Peru
The interaction between imported imperial culture and pre-existing local culture seen at Caistor is also mirrored globally, as for example at the 15th-16th century Inca imperial town of Choquequirao in Peru
Choquequirao fortified hilltop town, Peru - Credit: Mi Peru
