The latest season of excavations in the field adjacent to Cocks Farm Roman villa will take place 17th June - 23rd July 2023. The plan is to further explore magnetometry features in the field adjacent to the Roman villa, adding to our knowledge of human activity on the hill from prehistory onwards.

Dates are as follows: 17-20th, 22-26th June, 29th June - 3rd July, 6-8th, 13 - 17, 20-23rd July.  

If you are interested in taking part please contact us via romanstudiesgroup@btinternet.com

Emma Corke, director of excavations at Cocks Farm Abinger, will update us on progress made during the 2022 summer excavation in the field adjacent to the villa. Whilst the villa was first identified in 1877 and further excavations by SyAS took place 1995-7 the most recent series of excavation commenced in 2009. Use of magnetometry has enabled the targeting of features which reflect the agricultural land usage relating to both the villa and earlier settlement.

Our final speaker for the 2022-23 winter series is David Rudling who will be talking about Roman coins and their use in Britain. David is Academic Director of the Sussex School of Archaeology and former Director of the University College London Field Unit. He specialises in Roman archaeology and is particularly known for his excavations of several major Roman villa sites in the South-East of England.

A site at Lightwater was dug by Geoff Cole for Surrey Heath Archaeology and Heritage Trust back in the 1980s. It was found to be an IA/RB site with good evidence for ironworking, still regarded as of more of local importance.

The Carausian revolt of AD 286–296 was a fascinating period in Roman history  during which Britain and northern Gaul were ruled by Carausius, a Roman naval commander, who declared himself emperor.

We are pleased to welcome Paul Booth who will talk about the Roman settlement at Dorchester on Thames.

This year the Roman Studies Group celebrates its 20th anniversary and we are pleased to celebrate this event with a talk by Joanna Bird on the Colchester Vase. This will take place prior to a short AGM. 

Crofton Roman Villa, Crofton Rd, Orpington BR6 8AF