Ancient Roman Wells found in Cambridgeshire!
A recent archaeological dig along the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvement project has uncovered two Roman wells, shedding light on both the ingenuity and occasional failures of Roman engineering. These wells, discovered by the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), date back to the early Roman period (CE 43-410) and offer a fascinating glimpse into the trial-and-error methods used by Roman builders nearly 2,000 years ago.
Photo Credit: Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA)
The Historical Context
The excavation took place at a site on the border of Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, once a quiet farmstead in the Middle Iron Age (around 350 BCE). By the early Roman period, this settlement had transformed into a bustling hub of industrial activity. Evidence of extensive metalworking, carpentry, and woodworking activities suggests a well-organised industrial centre within a large, gated enclosure. The discovery of the two wells highlights the crucial role of water supply in the settlement and reveals the Romans' approach to overcoming engineering challenges.
The First Well: A Bold Attempt with a Dramatic Failure
The first well, located just outside the gated enclosure, was an ambitious project, reaching a depth of about 8.5 metres (28 feet)—roughly the height of a modern two-story building. However, despite the effort invested, the well’s walls were not properly secured, leading to a catastrophic collapse just before completion. This collapse buried a wooden ladder inside, which had been used by the workers. Fortunately, no human remains were found, indicating that no one was harmed during the incident.
Simon Markus, a MOLA project manager, reflected on this failure, stating, “The clay literally peels away from the more compacted earth and stone. We’ve all done a bit of DIY that hasn’t quite gone to plan, but this was a failure of Roman engineering on an industrial scale. A lot of effort would have gone into digging this well, which they then had to completely abandon.”
Photo Credit: Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA)
Learning from Failure: The Second Well
Undeterred by the collapse, the Roman settlers quickly adapted and began work on a second well about 20 metres (65 feet) away from the first site, this time within the enclosure. This new well was slightly shallower, at 6.5 metres (21 feet) deep, and featured significant improvements to prevent another collapse. The walls were carefully lined with wooden boards to reinforce the structure and prevent the surrounding clay from caving in. Additionally, cobblestones were placed at the base to filter the water, indicating a deeper understanding of engineering principles to ensure a cleaner water source.
Markus highlighted these improvements, noting, “We can sympathise with the original well diggers because excavating these required as much careful design and effort as building them. This time, they used wooden boards to support the structure, and it worked.”
Photo Credit: Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA)
A Glimpse into Roman Industry
The well contained various wooden scraps, including branches, woodchips, and off-cuts from planks. Some larger pieces even featured decorative carvings, such as horizontal lines and crosses, suggesting they were initially intended for other purposes, possibly recycled from old furniture. This finding points to a substantial woodworking industry that was not merely for local use but likely involved broader trade networks.
In addition to the wells, archaeologists also found evidence of a Roman road at the southern edge of the site. This road likely connected the settlement to major Roman routes, facilitating the transport of goods and materials to larger settlements like Godmanchester and nearby Roman estates. This discovery highlights the settlement’s integration into a broader economic system, reflecting its importance in the region.