Romans Unearthed: Suffolk’s Hidden Villas (360G-NLHF-HZ-24-00543)

This project will empower local people to contribute to groundbreaking research on Suffolk’s Roman villas, revealing untold stories from nearly 2,000 years ago of how the Romans shaped Suffolk’s landscape following the Boudican rebellion in AD60. Volunteers will take a leading role unearthing archaeology firsthand and reviving forgotten archives, including those from Basil Brown villa excavations, with training to undertake fieldwork and archive digitisation through activity centred on upskilling volunteers and measurable positive mental wellbeing. A legacy of a partnership working model that integrates community engagement with university fieldwork will be created in partnership with University College London and local community services supporting people in Suffolk, including young carers, young people in or leaving care, adults with mental health diagnoses and local schools. Together we will make new archaeological discoveries, initiating new land management strategies and designations incorporating archaeological protection and nature recovery conserving this fragile heritage for the future.