Chronos Camulodunum

We can learn a lot about a person from their skeleton. Not only can we estimate their age, sex, height, diseases, and, on occasion, occupation, but thanks to the work of DNA and isotope analyses we can also estimate things like ancestry, where someone was born and grew up, and familial relationships. This talk will introduce you to the work of osteologists and scientists as far back as 1998, carried out on select individuals from Roman Colchester excavated by Colchester Archaeological Trust.

Imagine you were a pedestrian walking through one of Colchester’s town gates, into the town centre and along the High Street in the 12th or 13th century. What would you see to either side of you? Shops, houses, pubs? No. The town was dominated by churches and religious houses – Abbeys, Priories and Friaries, and of course the Castle. Some of these sites have only recently been revealed by excavation. Howard will take you on a mini (virtual) tour, so keep your eyes peeled!

The final talk of our night concludes the timeline of Colchester - while known primarily for its roman heritage, the Victorian secrets this city holds are the crown jewels of the modern era. From all our humble beginnings with nursery rhymes to our industrial strength in Engineering, Colchester remains a hidden diamond in the coal. Discover the final secrets of our local heritage in this exciting talk.