Archaeologists in Gloucestershire, England have uncovered a 2,000-year-old Roman settlement along the ancient Ermin Street, offering rare insights into life in Roman Britain. Located a few miles from the M5 highway, the site likely functioned as a roadside rest stop and horse-changing station for Roman travelers and soldiers, similar to a modern-day service station.
The dig is part of a $306 million to $612 million (£250 million to £500 million) infrastructure project to connect two sections of the A417 road between Brockworth and Cowley. Spanning 40 hectares, the excavation revealed an eight-hectare Roman settlement that historians believe was a hub for trade and travel.
A key finding is a mutatio, a Roman station for changing horses and resting for travelers.
Alex Thomson, project manager for Oxford Cotswold Archaeology, described the building as simple, with two main rooms.
“I think it was quite a simple building, consisting of a couple of rooms. One was likely a workshop room and the other more an accommodation, maybe for the people that were running the building,” Thomson said. He added that nearby buildings might have offered accommodation for travelers.
Artifacts reveal daily life on Roman Britain’s Ermin Street
Artifacts unearthed in Gloucestershire, England, include 460 Roman coins, 15 brooches, and over 420 kilograms of pottery and animal bones, providing a glimpse into daily life at the settlement.
𝗧𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗕𝗖 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗮𝘁 𝟴 𝗣𝗠 to discover an incredible slice of Roman life uncovered in Gloucestershire!
During the #A417 #MissingLink project, the #OCAArchTeam uncovered a bustling Roman roadside… pic.twitter.com/v4y0icCcld
— Cotswold Archaeology (@CotswoldArch) January 15, 2025
Quarry pits used in the construction of Ermin Street have been identified, linking the site to one of southwest Britain’s key Roman routes. This bustling road connected Cirencester, the second-largest Roman settlement in Britain after London, and Gloucester, an important military center.
Among the finds, a small copper-alloy figure of Cupid has drawn particular attention. The 60mm-tall figurine features a chubby face, ringlet curls, and a topknot, with a club in its raised hand instead of the usual bow and arrow.
Thomson believes a traveler may have lost the piece, likely a prized possession. Other personal items, such as a hobnail shoe, bone hairpins, and a ring found in a stone well, may have been left as offerings to Roman gods, seeking safe journeys.
The site also revealed remnants of ovens, horse bones, bridles, and hipposandals (an early version of horseshoes). These indicate the settlement’s role in serving both travelers and their animals.
The settlement dates back to around AD 160–180. It remained in use until the fourth century. Thomson notes that the location, halfway between Gloucester and Cirencester, makes it a convenient stop for those navigating the steep climb up the Cotswold escarpment.
While most of the excavation work is complete, a small team remains on-site to monitor for additional discoveries. Local museums will display the artifacts, offering the public a tangible connection to Roman Britain’s rich history.