Illustrator and general finds guru Emma shares eight of her favourite artefacts from over 20 years of excavating in Colchester. From beautiful to bizarre, each Roman or Late Iron Age object has its own story — and Emma brings them to life with insight, humour, and a deep appreciation for the small things that make the past personal.
Find out about the most surprising and exciting archaeological discoveries from Colchester made over the past few years. Drawing on CAT’s latest excavations and ongoing research, this talk offers a captivating glimpse into unexpected artefacts and remains that continue to reshape our understanding of Roman Colchester.
Join us for a magazine-style tour of fresh finds that reveal new stories hidden beneath the city’s streets – perfect for anyone eager to stay up to date with the cutting edge of local archaeology and history.
This richly illustrated talk explores nearly 20 years of fieldwork at the Colchester Garrison site – one of CAT’s largest and most significant projects in terms of understanding the Iron Age and Roman landscape outside of the walled city. From rural farmsteads to sprawling cemeteries, Ben reveals the archaeological landscape that once lay at the heart of Camulodunum, and how it contributes to our picture of life in Roman Britain.
CAT Lecture Series 2025
Camulodunum: What is it, Where is it, and How Do We Know?
Begin your journey in the Late Iron Age with a deep dive into Camulodunum, the tribal capital of the Trinovantes and one of the earliest Roman settlements in Britain.
Drawing on decades of excavation, this talk explores how we define the ancient oppidum, what we know about its layout and life, and why it remains central to understanding Roman Colchester.
Speaker: Howard Brooks
Please note : This series of talks describe and discuss ancient life from an archaeological and historical perspective. Due to the nature of the period some aspects of this topic may cause offence to a modern audience. The intention of the presenter is to be informative and to represent the past as accurately as possible, both for its good elements and bad.
Join historian Richard Bale for an engaging talk on Colchester’s Roman Temples and Theatres, exploring the town’s ancient civic buildings and their role in religious, political, and community life. Discover how Colchester, once Camulodunum, the first Roman capital of Britain, showcased both Roman influence and local traditions through its temples and theatres. The talk will highlight the use of temples for imperial cult worship, civic rituals, and local devotion, and examine how theatres served beyond entertainment, hosting festivals, performances, and public gatherings. Drawing on archaeological evidence and historical accounts, Bale will provide insights into the enduring legacy of Roman Colchester.
Paint a plate in the traditional ‘Roses & Castles’ canal art style. Join Rosa Lea’s workshop at the Roman Circus to celebrate the enchanting world of canal art! CLICK HERE […]
Essex Society for Archaeology & History Annual Archaeology & Local History Symposium All welcome, both members and non-members , please join us! £10 (including sandwich lunch, tea & coffee) This […]
Join master mosaicist, Lawrence Payne, at Roman Circus House for a one-day mosaic course:
“The Centre Tesserae System”
“Use The Centre Tesserae System to decipher any strand pattern, repeat the process to ‘read’ any mosaic pattern!
No experience is needed in either geometry or technical drawing, you learn one system that you use for any pattern, from the simple to the most complex.
This workshop is very much hands on, you will gain the ability and confidence be able to look at any of the mosaic strand patterns and quickly see what is important and use that vision to break the pattern down and then reconstruct it for a mosaic.
“In my week with Colchester Archaeological Trust, I have learned so many different things about archaeology🧐 Monday I learnt about the Romans, the past of Colchester and what Roman Colchester […]