Author: Ryan Morrison for Mailonline

Published: July 16, 2021, 09:04 EDT | Updated: July 16, 2021, 09:33 EDT

A group of archaeologists discovered a 2000-year-old Roman fortress in Yorkshire and a treasure trove of cultural relics belonging to its residents.

Among the cargo found by the team that excavated parts of Dere Street in Catrick, North Yorkshire, some experts said it was the earliest known pistachio in the UK.

As part of the £400 million English highway upgrade to the A1 Leeming to Barton highway, more than 62,000 items have been recovered from the town. 

This provided a rare insight into the town, which was known as a cataract during the Roman-British period and included civilians and soldiers at the time. 

The radiocarbon date of the nut was between 24 and 128 AD. They found it at the bottom of the well. The nut shell was not opened but was broken.

A group of archaeologists discovered a 2000-year-old Roman fortress in Yorkshire and a treasure trove of cultural relics belonging to its residents

From the first century AD to the 5th century AD, the area was likely to be occupied by the Romans, and to learn more about known settlements, they found evidence of previously unknown Roman locations in the area around Katrick. 

These discoveries include many rare and exotic objects imported from the Mediterranean and North Africa, including incense burners, ivory bracelets, and agate intaglios with Hercules and lions, which could have been inlaid on rings.

When excavating the site, archaeologists discovered penis carved on reused bridge stones, brooches depicting hares, and even Anglo-Saxon tombs. 

Among the cargo found by the team excavating parts of Dere Street in Catrick, North Yorkshire, some experts said it was the earliest known pistachio in the UK

Researchers found a carved penis on a reused bridge stone (pictured)

Cataractonium is a fortress and settlement from Roman Britain, developed in the town of Catterick in North Yorkshire. 

Its name may come from the Latin Cataracta, which means waterfall.

There is evidence of pre-Roman activity in the surrounding area, including those dating back to the Bronze Age. 

A theater mask was found at the scene, indicating that it may have a theater or a small amphitheater.

A unique "fist and penis" pendant was also found in the baby's grave, which dates back to the first century AD. 

Most of the area occupied by the settlements is covered by the Catrick Racecourse and the A1 highway. 

Dray Street is one of the oldest roads in the UK, stretching 226 miles from York to Scotland. It was originally built by the Romans.

Its original Roman name has been forgotten by history, because the modern name is related to Deira, the Anglo-Saxon kingdom where the first part of the road is located. 

The excavation of this road was completed in 2018, which is the result of years of research on site survey results (including several tons of materials). 

Liam Quirk, the English Road Project Manager of the A1 Leeming to Barton project, said the purpose is to ensure that our historical knowledge is protected.

It also ensures that “our understanding of the past is strengthened and archaeological discoveries can be used by everyone now and in the future.”  

The team excavating the road site and surrounding area before laying the new road found 2.8 tons of animal bones and 2.5 tons of pottery.  

For the past three years, the Northern Archaeological Association (NAA) has been investigating the remains exposed during construction.

They said that their work revealed not only previously known Roman sites, but also unknown sites, such as the roadside settlement of Scuragh House.

It was discovered about two miles north of the settlement of Katara Tonim, along with the remains of its agricultural hinterland, and the country’s important Roman contact period site in the Cape of Scotland.

Dray Street is one of the oldest roads in the UK, stretching 226 miles from York to Scotland. It was originally built by the Romans

A brooch depicting a hare (pictured) is also among the items found at the scene

Despite the development of Rome, archaeologists discovered the later Anglo-Saxon dog tomb while excavating the site

According to a team that includes an English motorway expert, at Cataractonium, these findings represent the civilian and military parts of the town. 

The analysis of these objects, together with their unearthed deposits, has been used to tell the story of this important area, which was probably occupied by the Romans from the 1970s to the end of the 4th century or the beginning of the 5th century.  

Helen Maclean, AECOM's Archaeological Technology Director, who is in charge of road reconstruction, said that this is the end of 17 years of work.

From the first century AD to the 5th century AD, the area was likely to be occupied by the Romans, and to learn more about known settlements, they found evidence of a previously unknown Roman location in the area around Katrick

Many artworks and other objects were discovered during the excavation of A1

This nut was discovered during the construction of a bridge on the A1 road near Carrick in 2017. 

The nut has been determined by radiocarbon dating between 24 and 128 AD, which is the time frame when it should be picked instead of eaten.

It was found at the bottom of the well and was related to a type of Roman pottery, indicating that the nut had been deposited (put in) shortly after 100 AD. 

This nut is about 2000 years old and has not been opened when it was discovered. 

The shell is broken, so it can be definitely identified as a pistachio.

At that time, these nuts were extremely rare in the UK, with only a few other known examples.

Since the collection date is earlier and the date of discovery is related to the context, this is the oldest known pistachio instance in the UK.

"In collaboration with the engineering and construction teams, we designed the plan to minimize the impact on archaeology and to excavate where there is no excavation," McLean explained.

"In the archaeological work, there are some wonderful discoveries, which have greatly improved our archaeological knowledge."

Dr. Jonathan Shipley, AECOM's chief heritage consultant, said that the archeological work of Cataractonium represents some of the most important excavations in Roman towns.

He said this "greatly increases our understanding of website development."

The ruins also tell the stories of the people who lived in the towns and surrounding areas that developed with the Roman fortresses, and represent the wonderful connection with the modern settlements developed by the military camps.

"These projects also increase our understanding of the Roman road known as Dere Street, and A1 follows this road in the area," said Dr. Shipley.

They found that “the evidence of Rome’s improved road network reflects the current commitment of the English Highway to improve this critical infrastructure.”

The discoveries during the excavation are preserved by the Yorkshire Museum in Yorkshire, where the cultural relics will be preserved, displayed, and used for future research and study. 

The e-book "Cataractonium" and other volumes related to the A1 Leeming to Barton excavation are available for free from the archaeological data service.

Various artifacts found indicate that the site was used by military and civilians in the first century AD

In addition to larger objects, the team digging the road also found small rings

55 BC-Emperor Caesar crossed the strait with approximately 10,000 soldiers. They landed at Pegwell Bay on Tanne Island and encountered a British army. Caesar was forced to retreat.

54 BC-Caesar crossed the strait again in his second attempt to conquer Britain. He came to Dier with 27,000 infantry and cavalry, but met no opposition. They marched inland, and after a hard battle, they defeated the Britons and the main tribal leaders surrendered.

However, later that year, Caesar was forced to return to Gaul to deal with the problems there, and the Romans left.

54BC-43BC-Although there were no Romans in Britain these years, their influence increased due to trade links.

43 AD-A 40,000 Roman army led by Aulus Plautius landed in Kent and occupied the southeast. Emperor Claudius appointed Prosius as governor of Britain and returned to Rome.

47 AD-London (Londinium) was established and Britain was declared part of the Roman Empire. The road network has been built across the country.

50 AD-The Romans arrived in the southwest and left their mark in the form of a wooden fort on a hill near the Eke River. A few decades later, a town was established on the site of the fort and named Isca. 

When the Romans let the Saxons rule, all former Roman towns were called "ceaster". This was called "Exe ceaster", and the merger of the two eventually gave birth to Exeter.   

AD 75-77-The Romans defeated the last resistance tribe and made the whole of Britain become Romans. Many British people began to adopt Roman customs and laws.

122 AD-Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of a wall between England and Scotland to keep out the Scottish tribes.

312AD-Constantine the Great legalized Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.

228AD-The Romans are attacked by barbarian tribes, and soldiers stationed in the country are being called back to Rome.

410 AD-All Romans are recalled to Rome, and the Honorary Emperor tells the British that they no longer have contact with Rome.

Source: Web History

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