Welcome to Ancient Warburton. From here you can access information regarding the research and important discoveries made by James as a result of his investigations into our ancient past. Please feel free to browse our pages and if you have any questions please let us know by using the contact section that can be found on this page. James carries out Live Presentations regarding his work and discoveries that he has made in the region to groups and societies and he welcomes your enquiries.
Latest
News.... once Roman army base EXCLUSIVE by Gary Skentelbery A LOCAL historian believes he has proved "beyond all doubt" that a quaint Warrington village was once home to the Roman army after his latest discoveries. Archaeologist and presenter James Balme has succeeded with his trusty metal detector where television's Time Team failed, after uncovering rare silver Roman coins used to pay soldiers. 
He has been researching and studying the area around Lymm and Warburton for 10 years and several excavations
have taken place during that time to try to locate evidence of military activity in the area. Eighteen months ago
James was joined by Tony Robinson and the Time Team crew, who spent three days excavating a field in the village to
finally try and answer the mystery.But the programme concluded there was no evidence of Roman military activity and that the Roman finds on the field made by James, were the result of muck spreading and tipping from a nearby Roman farmstead. James from Woolston, Warrington, said: "When Time Team carried out a three day dig they were of the opinion that no military activity had taken place and that a few finds and a bit of wishful thinking was the obvious answer although they agreed that farming on the land had been carried out since Roman times. 
At the time he feared Time Team may have been excavating the wrong area."Although I was disappointed I was sure that the coinage and other finds were clearly Roman Military in their nature. This led to some people doubting my theories, which at the time was understandable. "I decided that the mystery had not been solved and after taking a 12 month break I decided to launch phase two of my research to answer the question. I have now located a new area in the village that is producing finds and coinage that is clearly military in nature." 
His latest finds include two stunning silver coins known as denarii which he discovered with a metal detector.
These coins were brought over to Britain to pay the soldiers. The 1st coin is an issue of 109-108BC. The coin has
the head of Roma on the obverse (legend [ROMA]), with Victory in a biga on the reverse (legend L FLAMINI CILO - the
moneyer, Lucius Flaminius Chilo).The second denarius is in poor condition and it seems to show a female with a quadriga on the reverse. This would have been a common combination between the mid-second century BC and the early-first century. James said: "I'm delighted the area is still producing Roman material, as I was quite certain that there must have been something happening in the vicinity. These new discoveries are helping archaeologists understand more about Roman Military activity in this area of the North West."
NEW
- Warburton by AIR !
During excavations in 2001 and again in 2003 Roman military defensive ditches and features were exposed as well as earlier Bronze Age track-ways that
crossed the site.
This work was filmed for a documentary presented by Granada TV’s Fred Talbot and Co-presented by James. The exposed fort was in excess of 80
square metres and would have housed around 80 Roman soldiers, one Centurion and one Commander all of whom would have patrolled the area guarding
strategic points such as important crossroads over the highest land and the equally important crossing point of the river Mersey a natural border between
the local tribes. Following his success in discovering the ancient settlement of Warburton James continued his investigations in and around the village.
This has resulted in James uncovering three prehistoric encampments in the village and surrounding area. One site produced over 300 flint tools and
weapons during a field-walk carried out by James over a two-week period.
James continues to promote his work through radio and television and he is currently looking at several new projects for the future.
He welcomes all enquiries from Researchers, Producers and Directors of programming regarding future history or archaeological features
for radio & television.
|
|||
|
|
