The Italian influence

Object | Hidden Lives: a story of discovery

The Romans, whose empire extended across Europe into the Middle East and Northern Africa, arrived in Britain in 46 AD. Their presence and influence spread across these lands, up to the northern limit of their empire at Hadrian’s Wall. There were Roman settlements throughout the area we now know as East Anglia, including Durolipons (Cambridge) and Great Chesterford a couple of miles from Hinxton. Excavations at Hinxton have not found evidence of much Roman settlement, though artefacts show the land was used and occupied in some way in this period.  The land was crossed by the Icknield Way, an ancient path that took travellers across the country east to west. Some of the objects found appear to be left behind by people passing through, for example coins and small personal items.

The conquering of Britain by the Romans brought people from across the empire but it also brought cultural change and influence spanning hundreds of years. The Roman Empire fell in 410 AD, with the governing forces retreating from outposts like Britain. With the control of an empire now gone, there were opportunities for new settlers and new powers to emerge – but the influence of Rome would remain.