05 November 2005 3-4.30pm Dr Paul Sealey ‘Rulers, Warriors and Druids: Essex 150BC – AD 50’ Saturday 5th November Dr Paul Sealey ‘Rulers, Warriors and Druids: Essex 150BC – AD 50’ Tracing the developments in Essex from the late Iron Age until the Roman Invasion. Society then was transformed by contact with the mainland of Europe through warfare and trade. A warrior burial of national importance from Kelvedon is described and the role of Coinage is examined. The possibility that a rich grave from Stanway at Colchester is that of a Druid priest buried just after the Roman invasion is also discussed. Priority is given to important recent archaeological discoveries that are not yet fully in the public domain. Booking on 01206 282940 All talks at 3pm – 4.30pm Should be Cost £3 per lecture or £12 for all five Finish with tea and biscuits Venue: Colchester Castle Museum 12 November 2005 3-4.30pm Saturday 12th November Patrick Denney ‘Life on the Home Front in World War 2’ Saturday 12th November Patrick Denney ‘Life on the Home Front in World War 2’ Find out what life was like on the Home Front during World War 2. Discover how the people of Colchester coped with blackouts, air raids, evacuation, fire watching and much more. Listen to the poignant memories of local people as they recall their own experiences of those troublesome times and how they did their bit to help the war effort. Booking on 01206 282940 All talks at 3pm – 4.30pm Should be Cost £3 per lecture or £12 for all five Finish with tea and biscuits Venue: Colchester Castle Museum 06 December 2005 to 30 November 2006 Normal Castle opening hours Mon sat 10am-5pm Sun 11am- 5pm New Exhibiton at Colchester Castle RULERS, WARRIORS AND DRUIDS – THE ESSEX CONQUERED BY ROME The exhibition looks at developments in society in Iron Age Essex from 150 BC until the Roman invasion of AD 43. Trade with the Roman world across the English Channel made aristocracies in the county richer then ever before; this new wealth was flaunted in a series of magnificent graves. The richest were discovered on the outskirts of Colchester at Stanway and belong to native leaders cremated at the time of the Roman invasion. One of them was a Druid priest, buried with one of the oldest sets of surgical instruments in Europe. But this contact with Rome came with a price tag. Imports of wine and other commodities were paid for with slaves taken by force. Society became increasingly warlike and increasing aggression led to the development of territorial states presidesd over by war lords. Some of these leaders became the first kings of Essex. They rewarded their warrior retinues with gold coins, such as those from a hoard at Heybridge. Finds from a burial of national importance at Kelvedon show how warriors waged war in the 1st century BC. Other features of the exhibition include a reconstruction of an Iron Age funerary pyre, burnt pottery from a pyre at Heybridge, replicas of iron currency bars from Stanway, some of the earliest writing from Britain scratched on pottery and a series of painted reconstructions of life in the period. Venue: Colchester Castle Museum_________________Corinne Mills
