Welcome to Caistor Roman Project
Find out about our work and get involved
Working in partnership with the University of Nottingham, the Caistor Roman Project was set-up in 2009 to encourage community involvement in archaeological research in and around the Roman town of Venta Icenorum – present-day Caistor St. Edmund in Norfolk.
Caistor St Edmund (Venta Icenorum) is one of only three Roman regional capitals in Britain that were not succeeded by medieval and modern towns; the others are Wroxeter and Silchester. The aim of the project is to investigate the origins of the site in the late Iron Age and its development as a Roman town as well as the relationship between the town and its surrounding countryside.
The Caistor Roman Project is a registered charity
Walls of Caistor Roman Town looking west. Photo Nick Stone.
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Since the conclusion of major excavations at the Roman town in 2012, Caistor Roman Project has continued to develop as a research organization in its own right, working in partnership with the University of Nottingham, Norfolk Archaeological Trust, South Norfolk Council and Norfolk Museums and Archaeological Service, with the aim of investigating the origins, development and demise of the Roman town and its relationship with the surrounding hinterland.
Caistor Roman Project actively seeks to involve the local community in programmes of excavation, field survey and other research. We always welcome new members, experience is not necessary.
We are always grateful for contributions, large or small, to help us continue this work.
The development of this website was supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Emergency Fund.
Absolutely wonderful! – such exciting work being done. An inspiration to younger generations, as the grandmother of two young girls who are fascinated by the whole idea of finding lost things and the stories it tells us of the past!
What we do
For more detailed information on what we do click here.
The area
Find out more about Caistor St Edmund and the area we work in.
The Roman town site is owned by Norfolk Archaeological Trust
Who we are
The Caistor Roman Project is a community archaeology organisation
Local volunteers have been a key part of the University of Nottingham’s Caistor project from its inception. In 2009 a separate charitable organisation, Caistor Roman Project (CRP), was established to facilitate the development of community participation in archaeology at the site. Since the conclusion of large-scale excavations at the walled town in 2012, CRP has focused its efforts on developing its members’ skills through archaeological research in the hinterland of the Roman town.
This work, involving geophysical survey, test-pitting and larger-scale excavation (supported principally by grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Sharing Heritage and Our Heritage schemes, and the Foyle Foundation), has demonstrated the extent of Roman and later archaeology beneath the present village of Caistor St Edmund.
Equally, it has created a structure and skills base for CRP that has allowed it to become a sustainable independent organisation carrying out research in its own right, such as at Thorpe Abbotts (What The Americans Left Behind) and Burnham Market.
The trustees of CRP provide oversight of CRP from funding and strategic direction across all its activities. See Trustees section for further details
We currently have over 100 members who get involved in all of our activities
The ethos of CRP is that its members have the opportunity not simply to participate in the practicalities of fieldwork, but to carry out research from project design to publication, working in partnership with academics and professional archaeologists. The charitable remit of the group is educational in the widest sense. Members work in schools and the community as a whole to bring participation in archaeology to the wider public (working in partnership with the Norfolk Archaeological Trust), as well as taking the practical and organisational skills that they have learned at Caistor to other community archaeology projects.
What we do
Working in partnership with the University of Nottingham since 2007, Caistor Roman Project and its members have been involved with excavations and surveys in and around the Roman town of Venta Icenorum.
What we do
For more detailed information on what we do including research, excavation, post-excavation, education and to find out more about the area we work in click here.
Came last year and decided to come back to see the next stage. Great crowd. Very knowledgeable and keen to answer questions. Shame history wasn’t like this when we were at school. Long may it continue. Happy to support.
Excavations and surveys
From 2007 CRP was involved in research and excavation within the walled area of Venta Icenorum, including major digs between 2009 to 2012. From 2016 and 2019 the project was awarded a major National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to help develop the skills of its members and enhance the wider public benefit through a new broader programme of work around the Roman town.
Conferences & talks
CRP organised a one-day conference in 2017 with the University of Nottingham – ‘A town of the Iceni’. Sponsored by the British Academy, the conference brought together specialists and archaeologists to summarise results to date. We also offer educational talks and projects to local history groups and other organizations.
Amazing! I didn’t know this history was on our doorstep. Thanks for enlightening me.
Caistor St. Edmund village
During 2014 and 2016, CRP members investigated the extra-mural area of the Roman town that lies in the area of the present village using test-pitting and surveys. In particular looking at the area that lies within the surrounding triple-ditch enclosure.
Archive work
As part of our recent Heritage Lottery Fund project, our members have been carrying out archive research relating to the site and the village itself.
Enthusiastic and knowledgeable explanations of the site suggest a thoroughly professional organisation.
News
May 2022 “Mausoleum” Dig
The photo blog is being put together but in the meantime here's a lovely short film courtesy on Ian MGM Jackson Caistor Hall Hotel 2022 Mausoleum Excavation - Small
Research and excavation at Caistor Hall Hotel May, 2022
Research and excavation at Caistor Hall Hotel May, 2022 Those of you who have previously worked at Caistor Hall Hotel will have heard talk of the Roman ‘mausoleum’ that lies in the wooded area between the lawn and the field. It was originally dug in 1846 and appears...
The barn reopens & 2022 excavation plans update
Barn Reopening As you can tell from the sunny weather it’s nearly Spring and the CRP Barn at Kirby Bedon will reopen in March We meet on Monday and Thursday mornings from 9.30 to 12 ish. The first session will be on Monday 7th March. The focus for the spring will be...
NNAS Conference on Community Archaeology – 9th April
Booking is now open for Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society’s day conference to be held at UEA, on Saturday 9 April on Community Archaeology. Booking is now open at www.nnas.info/activities The themes of the day will be: Community and Diversity Specialisms...
2022 gets off to a quick start
CRP members got 2022 off to a fast start with a thorough metal detecting survey (with permission) of the paddock behind the Caistor Hall Hotel as the hotel had cut the grass. Some interesting finds and a lot of rubbish as usual. Setting out an enormous grid in a cold...
CRP Members Briefing July 2021
The recording of the July 2021 Members Briefing via Zoom with feedback on the Temple 2019 excavations can be accessed via the following link: https://youtu.be/ZUQ1bOjMrVM