Archaeologists have uncovered wooden remnants from two Roman wells, one of which collapsed before it could be used. The discovery offers insight into what an expert called “a large-scale failure of Roman engineering.”
The excavation, part of the National Highways project on the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet road along the Cambridgeshire-Bedfordshire border, revealed artifacts such as carpentry off-cuts and an ancient wooden ladder nearly 2,000 years old.
Techniques Adjusted for the Second Well
Simon Markus, Project Manager from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) team, explained that after the first well, dated between AD 43 and 410, collapsed, the settlers adjusted their construction techniques. The archaeologists found evidence of additional reinforcements used in the second well to prevent another collapse.
According to the team, the remarkably well-preserved wooden remains provided valuable insights into the construction methods used for these wells.
“These wells played a key role in the development of a settlement that started as a quiet Middle Iron Age farmstead around 350 BC, but evolved into a bustling hub of industrial activity during the early Roman period, between AD 43 and 150,” the team said.
MOLA’s Team
Image Credit: MOLA
“We’ve all experienced a DIY project gone wrong”
The excavation site displayed signs of metalworking, carpentry, and woodworking, all within a large, fortified enclosure that once stood there.
To support these activities, the settlers dug the first well, which reached about 8.5 meters (28 feet) deep—the height of a modern two-story house. Despite this significant effort, Markus noted that things didn’t go according to plan.
“Even though the well contained the remains of a wooden ladder, it collapsed before it could be put to use,” he said. “As we began our excavations, we saw that the clay would peel away from the more compacted earth and stone.”
Markus added, “We’ve all experienced a DIY project gone wrong, but this was a monumental failure of Roman engineering. A great deal of work went into digging this well, only for it to be abandoned.”
The second well, which was dug to avoid the same fate, was reinforced with wooden boards to prevent a collapse. This well was also slightly shallower, measuring 6.5 meters (19.5 feet) deep.
Markus said, “We can certainly sympathize with the original well diggers, as excavating these wells required careful planning and effort.”
Inside and out – site plan shows one well inside and one well outside
Image Credit: MOLA
Stone Cobbles Used as a Filter
At the base of the second well, the archaeologists found stone cobbles used to filter the water, along with discarded woodchips, branches, and off-cuts from the Romano-British carpenters after the well fell out of use. Specialists will now study these items, including decorative wooden pieces, to learn more about their significance.
The site plan highlights the locations of the two wells, with one inside and one outside the enclosure. Archaeologists have also uncovered evidence suggesting that the carpentry workshop was part of a broader trade network.
In the southern part of the site, the team identified a probable Roman road that may have connected the settlement to major Roman routes, possibly enabling trade with larger settlements such as Godmanchester.
Gareth Moores, the programme manager for the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet road improvement project, commented, “The archaeological work has been a fascinating and essential part of the A428 upgrade. Without this project, these invaluable insights into Roman engineering and daily life might have remained hidden forever.”
