Coleshill

Coleshill was the first site excavated by Wessex Archaeology in the HS2 project, with initial trial trenches dug from Burton Green to Coleshill. These first trenches were used to estimate the potential of the site and figure out whether there was any archaeology in the area. Within one of the trenches, a dark-grey curving gully was discovered with a piece of Roman pottery inside. Further excavations showed that the gully was part of a larger enclosure where two roman brooch fragments were uncovered. In the years following these first trenches, our excavations in the area have uncovered features from ancient burial sites to manor houses. Discover some of the highlights of the Coleshill site using the videos below, and virtually handle a selection of the amazing artefacts that have been uncovered through interactive 3D models.

Click on the timeline below to explore more.

Timeline

  • Bronze Age burnt stone mounds at HS2 Coleshill

    3700 years ago

    Bronze Age

    Prehistoric mounds of burnt stones piled high near the River Cole

  • Iron Age settlement like the one found at HS2 Coleshill

    2600 years ago

    Iron Age

    The earliest features on the site are a line of pits and roundhouses

  • Romano-British enclosure discovered at HS2 Coleshill

    1800 years ago

    Romano-British

    During the Romano-British period a mysterious enclosure was built

  • Medieval Manor House from HS2 Coleshill

    1000 years ago

    Medieval onwards

    A medieval manor house and some interesting metal objects

Video

To find out more watch the full webinar video about this site.

Things to think about

  • How was the landscape changed by farming?

  • What made this landscape so appealing to those early settlers?

  • Why is the Roman enclosure on a different alignment to the fields?

  • What was the purpose of the Roman enclosure?

  • Did the Iron Age and Roman settlers share this area of land?

  • Is there evidence for Iron Age people adapting and incorporating Roman culture?

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