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Eight hundred years ago, a band of revolting barons famously forced Bad King John to seal Magna Carta at Runnymede. But while historians have pored over the documents, what about the archaeology? Why Runnymede, and what remains on the ground? Architectural historian and archaeologist Tim TattonBrown enlightens us. Tim then takes us to two must-see Magna Carta exhibitions: one at the British Library, the other in the glorious rooms of the Society of Antiquaries of London.

Brown enlightens us. Tim then takes us to two must-see Magna Carta

From headlining kings, we then turn to the everyday people of Roman Britain. Drawing on his latest book, Guy de la Bédoyère examines the evidence to consider how far we can identify individuals from the material record – and what it might tell us about the realities of life in Britannia.

Thereafter, we delve deep into our pre-Roman past, as Dan Garner and Tony Wilmott take us under the amphitheatre in Chester. It has generally been assumed that the history of the city began with the arrival of the Roman army in the AD 70s, so the team was much surprised to discover that Chester’s legionary amphitheatre – the largest known in Britain – had, in fact, preserved one of the most important prehistoric sites of north-west England.

Finally, we visit south-east Ireland where we explore the rich Viking settlement at Woodstown. What has been found there, and how does it illuminate a change in lifestyle for those vicious Vikings? Good reading!

Our contributors this month

COMMEMORATING MAGNA CARTA TIM TATTON-BROWN Tim is an architectural historian and archaeologist. He was the Consultant Archaeologist to St George’s Chapel, Windsor, for over 20 years. He is also the former Director of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust.

THE REAL LIVES OF ROMAN BRITAIN GUY DE LA BÉDOYÈRE Guy is best known for his many books on Roman Britain, including Roman Britain: A New History, and for his Time Team appearances. He now teaches History and Classical Civilisation in Lincolnshire.

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UNDER THE AMPHITHEATRE DAN GARNER AND TONY WILMOTT Dan and Tony codirected the Chester Amphitheatre Project. Dan has directed a range of other projects in the Chester area, while Tony is a Senior Archaeologist with Historic England.

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