Roman treasure of “international importance” found under a Colchester department store has gone on public display in the town’s castle.
The Fenwick Treasure, named after the parent company of the Williams & Griffin High Street store under which it was found, was unveiled at a public launch at the castle museum last night.
The treasure consists of a small box filled with gold and silver jewellery – two pairs of earrings, five rings, two gold bracelets, two silver bracelets, a silver armlet – and 26 coins was discovered by the Colchester Archaeological Trust under the floor of a Roman house beneath the department store in September 2014 during redevelopment works.
The house had been destroyed by fire during the attack on Colchester by Queen Boudica and her Iceni warriors in 60 AD.
Human remains are rarely found within the layer of earth marking the revolt but pieces, including part of a jaw and shin bone, were uncovered which appeared to have been cut by an implement such as a sword – suggesting there was some Roman resistance during the revolt.
Some food was also found – material which usually does not survive, but had been preserved by the heat of the fire when Boudica set Colchester alight.
Tim Young, Colchester borough councillor for culture, said: “I am extremely excited this fascinating display is at Colchester Castle. This is a remarkable archaeological find of international importance, which provides dramatic evidence of a key event in Colchester’s history.
“The Fenwick Treasure has been very generously donated by Fenwick to Colchester Borough Council for display in the castle. This is recognition of the archaeological importance of the find, and also underlines Colchester Castle Museum’s position as one of the region’s leading heritage tourism attractions.”
Hugo Fenwick, Fenwick Group trading director, added: “We were pleased to fund this excavation at our Williams & Griffin store as part of its redevelopment programme.
“There was always a very real possibility of unearthing a significant find in the centre of Colchester, with its antiquity and stature as Britain’s oldest recorded town.
“We are delighted the archaeologists found this treasure during the very last week of their excavations, strengthening our understanding of this important Roman town and the ferocity of the Boudican raid.”
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