Calleva Atrebatum, Iron Age oppidum near Silchester, England
Calleva Atrebatum is an ancient fortified settlement near Silchester with remains of houses, public buildings, and streets from different periods visible across the site. Excavations have revealed foundations and wall fragments that show how the town developed and was used over several centuries.
The Atrebates founded this settlement in the late 1st century BC as an important trading center. After the Roman conquest in 43 AD, the town grew into a prosperous Roman community before gradually being abandoned in the 5th century.
The forum basilica served as the administrative center, featuring an extensive marketplace, meeting halls, and commercial spaces for the local population.
The site is accessible year-round, with panels at key excavation areas helping visitors understand the visible structures. The visit requires appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear since it is an open archaeological site with uneven ground.
The town was completely abandoned and never resettled, leaving the original Roman street layout hidden beneath fields and intact for centuries. This makes it possible to understand the urban planning of a Roman community in an unusual way.
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