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Roman Britain. Uley Temple, Or Temple of Uley Built - Early 2 nd Century AD Demolished/Collapsed – Late 4 th Century/Early 5 th Century AD. Location. Location – West Hill, near Uley in Gloucestershire, SW England On the site of a prehistoric shrine (3 rd millennium BC)
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Roman Britain Uley Temple, Or Temple of Uley Built - Early 2nd Century AD Demolished/Collapsed – Late 4th Century/Early 5th Century AD
Location • Location – West Hill, near Uley in Gloucestershire, SW England • On the site of a prehistoric shrine (3rd millennium BC) • Part of a sanctuary • Nearby significant Roman villas at Frocester, Kingscote, and Woodchester
Architecture Based on archaelogical evidence and Roman depictions of similar buildings • Outside walls almost a square • 14x12m • Rectangular shrine inside • Shrine rises as tower out of main building (gallery or ambulatory); flanked by three walls • Tower entered through north celladoorway • Portico added 4th Century AD • Windows on tower and perhaps gallery
Materials • The walls of the cella were limestone and bits o’ rubble • Outside walls possibly plastered • Sandstone and ceramic tiled roof • Cobbled floor • Plastered walls with painted patterns – possibly flora related
Archaeological findings • Rectangular pit at centre excavation – for placing votive objects? Or a pool? • Southern part of ambulatory contains a plinth, possibly the home of a Mercury statue (the god named on the tablets) • Curse tablets found in temple area, each with a particular crime referred to – theft seems to be a common crime • Sculpture of Mercury’s head found near site – made mid 2nd Century AD • Depictions of biblical scenes found - evidence of Christian occupation during 4th Century AD • Many offerings, including coins and weapons, found • Damaged weapons also found – Celtic tradition
Significance • The Celtic form of offering to the Roman god shows the assimilation and acceptance of the religion in this part • This can also be said of the using of curse tablets – a Greco-Roman ritual • The fact that there is a temple at all shows that the Romans were interested in spreading religion • Continuity from Neolithic Period