Silchester

Selection of Objects

Only a small proportion of what was discovered at Silchester is on display in the Museum.
For every piece of pottery, there may be several boxes in store, for every pin, twenty more. Each object is slightly different and some are not particularly suitable for display, but study of them helps push forward our knowledge of Calleva and of Roman Britain.

The Calleva Stone

This is one of the most important objects in the collection. It is inscribed 'Callevae' - at Calleva, giving us the name of the town. The stone was found on the site in 1907 and is one of three dedications from a temple in insula XXXV recording gifts by the guild of peregrini, or foreigners, living at Calleva.

Calleva is also mentioned in Ptolomy's Geographia, a late second century list of places, the Antonine Itinerary, an early third century route list, and the Ravenna Cosmography, a seventh century list compiled from a much earlier road map. 

Figures
Figures of people and animals that were part of life and belief at Calleva

Marks from the past
Scrawled graffiti, stamps and footprints - links to people of the past

Personal Possessions
Jewellery, dice, tweezers, spoons; some of the familiar items of daily life