Time Team Comes to Colworth
24th July 2008
For the past few years a band of amateur archaeologists have been surveying the Colworth farm. Although significant archaeological remains from all periods may be found across the estate, without doubt the most impressive site is the high status Romano-British Villa complex.
Investigations of the site have been supported by the Bedfordshire County archaeological team with county archaeologist, Martin Oake describing the Colworth fields as the most finds dense in North Bedfordshire.
The Channel 4 programme Time Team hosted by Tony Robinson is now into its 16th Season and has been widely credited with creating community interest in local archaeology. The Time Team has dug a number of Roman Villas, what is so different about the Colworth Villa?
The high status Roman Villa located at Colworth is an exciting find in a county poorly represented by high status Roman sites. Economic activity, measured by level of coin finds, appears to have declined in the early 380's - 30 years before the end of Roman administration. A very unusual military style buckle of unique Romano British origin points to the presence of a 'Tribal Militia' in the fading years of the province of Britannia. The Villa and the surrounding complex of support buildings appear to have been destroyed by fire, a series of accidents or something more sinister?
The Time Team will investigate what our site can tell us of this period of 'late antiquity' during the break down of Roman rule and authority from which a few generations later, Anglo Saxon England emerged.
Loyd Wix, member of Colworth Archeolgy Society states "It is very exciting to have Time Team dig our principle site. The resources and expertise that the Team will bring are beyond the means of a small amateur group will hopefully add significantly to our understanding of the later Roman period at Colworth. We are hoping that the local interest generated by Time Teams visit will provide the Colworth Archaeology Society with opportunities to pursue our field work on the North Bedfordshire Clay lands beyond the Colworth Estate"
Filming will take place this summer and is expected to be screened as Episode 9 early next year.
Late Roman Military 'bird' buckle from the Yelnow Grand Villa, Colworth.
