One of our community grant projects has now come to end, here is Tony Galbraith, Project Treasurer from the Petiraria Revisted project providing an insight on the success and legacy of the Hull Maritime grant.
Two thousand years ago there was Petuaria
Who knew that Brough, then known as Petuaria, was a major town in Roman Britain and for around three hundred years? Certainly not myself, although I am from Hull, until I moved there in 2004.
Why is Petuaria one our “best kept secrets”?
For one thing, there is nothing left to see above ground. When the Romans left in about 360 AD, our ancestors efficiently recycled all the stones and other building materials. The foundations of many of the buildings remain to this day, however – but buried under the ground. People living in the area often find items from those days when digging in their gardens or during building work. The remains of villas have been found in the area, near South Cave, for example, and near Brantingham. The mosaic floors are now in the Hull and East Riding Museum.
How important was the Humber in all this?
Vital. All this was centuries before Hull was even founded, and there is no doubt that Petuaria was the most important port on the North bank. We have found objects that could only have been made on the continent – mainly modern-day France and Germany (just like today, really). There must have been import/export trade along the Humber. Also, Petuaria would have been a ferry port for travellers between Lindum and Eboracum (Lincoln and York to you and me).
How has the Hull Maritime grant helped us?
We know that the banks of the Humber are different now compared to 2,000 years ago. We have evidence that the port, with its wharfs and warehouses, was situated where the back gardens of the houses in Cave Road, Brough are now and in adjacent fields. The grant enabled us to investigate the area further, using modern geophysical techniques. Although more work must and will be done, the results do support our idea of Petuaria.
What else have we been up to?
The most intriguing remains, though, are buried below the ground at the Burrs Field, Brough. Substantial foundations were excavated in 1932 such that the site was designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England. Further excavations were carried out at irregular intervals, but a turning point came in 2018 with the launch of the Petuaria Revisited project. This is a partnership between the local Playing Field Association, owners of the land, and the East Riding Archaeological Society (ERAS).
For five summers there has been a Community Archaeological Excavation on the Field and we have found further evidence that there was a Roman military garrison on the site, with centurions, fort ramparts and the whole works. Over the period we have had literally hundreds of volunteers, mainly local, who have worked in the trenches and made many important finds, including more than a hundred coins which enable us to date the finds.
What happens next?
We will continue holding Community Digs each Summer. Archaeology is expensive, even when nearly all the labour comes from volunteers. We can only afford 3/4 weeks of excavations each year. We aim to open eventually a local museum of the Roman history of Brough, together with a trail of historic interest around the town. It will take several more years but we will get there. In the meantime, we have provided a mini-museum of Petuaria in Brough Library.
Want to help us with Petuaria Revisited?
Contact Tony Galbraith on 01482 667809, or tony@galbraith1.karoo.co.uk
See also our Facebook page.
