Romans and Christians

Romans and Christians

The main Roman road from London to Colchester followed roughly the line of the old A12 and remains of a Romano-Celtic temple were found close to the road at Ivy Chimneys. The site had been known since the 19th.century when many finds from the Roman period were made. A major archaeological rescue dig was undertaken before houses were built at Witham Lodge. The principal objective of the excavation was to investigate the religious aspects of the Roman site which revealed two possible temples, a pottery kiln and an artificial pond, An early Christian baptismal font, a possible stone chapel and a further pond replaced the earlier pagan structures in the 4th.century A.D.

The earliest Roman pottery found dates from 70-96 A.D..The site revealed large numbers of "votive" offerings to the gods, which were deposited by the followers of the Roman Celtic religions in the same way we throw coins into a wishing well today. Over 1,000 coins were found dating from the 2nd and 4th centuries A.D. while animal bones and shells suggest extensive religious feasting on the site. The most interesting finds were Paleolithic axes which were deliberately deposited by the Romans at the temple sites. These stone axes were believed to be "thunderbolts" - the weapons of the god Jupiter. The discovery of 32 axes at Witham suggest Jupiter must have been worshipped here.

Large quantities of jewellery fragments were discovered that had been cut into pieces before being offered to the gods. Archaeologists suggest these were sold by vendors specifically for this purpose.

In the 4th and 5th centuries evidence for the arrival of Christianity is found in the baptismal font and possible stone chapel. The establishment of a Christian place of worship at Witham would have been part of a gradual conversion of the people, and a font would have been placed centrally at the old temple to denote the ascendancy of the new religion. The excavations offer a fascinating glimpse of the people of the area with its rich agriculture and its importance as a stop over for travellers on the London-Colchester road: a role which was to continue for the ensuing 1,600 years.