New research suggests that Colchester, Britain's first Roman capital, was a far more diverse and cosmopolitan settlement than previously understood. Scientists analyzing the ashes of 22 individuals buried in Roman Colchester, known as Camulodunum, found evidence that some had traveled to the town from regions corresponding to modern-day Spain, Italy, and Lebanon.
This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the early Roman presence in Britain, indicating a significant influx of people from various parts of the empire. The study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, utilized an innovative technique examining strontium and lead isotopes within cremated skull bones to trace individuals' origins. This method was crucial for identifying migrants, as cremation was the dominant burial practice at the time.
Most of the analyzed individuals appeared to have originated in southern Britain, but several showed distinct isotope signatures pointing to childhoods in Mediterranean regions of the Roman Empire. One notable individual, whose ashes were found within the famous Colchester Vase—a vessel decorated with scenes of gladiators and wild beast hunts—had isotope markers suggesting a possible origin in Italy or Spain. Researchers speculate this person could have been involved in gladiatorial activities, perhaps as a trainer or a sponsor.
The study also identified individuals who had moved to Colchester from other parts of Britain, including areas with older geology such as Wales, Scotland, and southwestern England, with some arriving as children and others later in life. These findings align with existing archaeological theories about Colchester drawing people from diverse backgrounds and highlight its role as a thriving provincial capital connected by extensive trade routes across Europe and the Mediterranean.
"For me, this is a real game-changer piece of science," said Glynn Davis, a co-author of the study, in comments to The Times. "In a sense, we had been missing the first two centuries of the people of Roman Britain."
Colchester's significance as the first capital of Roman Britain, serving as a major military, trading, and administrative center, is further underscored by this evidence of its diverse population. The study sheds new light on the social, cultural, and political transformations occurring in Britain during this pivotal period following the Roman conquest.
