Colchester Museums have been working with archaeologists and specialists to ‘decode’ the hidden stories of 40 of Colchester’s earliest inhabitants.
Through new scientific research techniques, they have reconstructed the identity and lives of these people: where they came from in the empire, what illnesses they lived with, and how they were cremated at their funerals.
Decoding the Roman Dead is an exhibition that explores the results of new scientific analysis and archaeological research into Colchester Museums’ Roman cremation burials. The project, a collaboration with the University of Reading and supported by our partners, Durham University and the Colchester Archaeological Trust, has already shed new light on the lives of those who lived occupied and lived under Roman occupation almost 2000 years ago.
Recently, Dan Snow visited Colchester Museum and spoke to some of the leading archaeologists, osteologists and scientists to find out more about the ‘Decoding the Roman Dead’ archaeological project.
Up Next in Season 1
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The Road to Rome
The Roman Empire was one of the greatest in history. At its height it stretched from northern Britain to the Persian Gulf, its might epitomised by the effectiveness of its core military unit: the Roman legion. The aqueduct, sanitation, irrigation, medicine, education, wine, public baths – all thi...
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The Roman Emperors: With Mary Beard
Classicist and national treasure Mary Beard speaks to Dan about Ancient Rome and its emperors.
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Killing God: The Assassination of Jul...
15 March - 'The Ides of March'. It is arguably the most well known date in ancient history. On that day in 44 BC the Roman statesman Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of senatorial conspirators in the heart of Rome. But why was this political giant of ancient Rome assassinated? How did th...
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