The June Coffee Morning of Sarum U3A, held at St Francis Church Hall on June 16, started, as usual, with members socialising over coffee provided by volunteers. Members were told about an Archaeology study group, the November Photographic competition, an interesting article by Ena Baldock in the current issue of Wiltshire Life and that anyone needing a lift to Coffee Mornings should get in touch with Peter Tee. In addition Architecture lecture tickets were available from Phyl Babb and anyone wishing to order U3A Diaries should contact Phyll Mullins before the next Coffee Morning on July 21.

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    The speaker for the morning, David James talking about Roman Salisbury, was introduced by Ena Baldock. He started by telling how an early enthusiasm for and part-time study/qualification in Archaeology had now become a pleasurable activity in his retirement from being a government scientist. It was clear from what he said that he was also making a valuable contribution to local knowledge of the early beginnings of the development of the immediate area by the Romans.
    He talked about the archaeological evidence gathered from excavations, field walking, chance finds, aerial photographs and land boundaries and graphically illustrated these with informative slides. He talked about his involvement in and emphasised the importance of the systematic collating of reports from digs (many written as a result of modern building renovations or extensions) and the value of the catalogue of finds having been put on computer. Much of the archaeological work in Salisbury had previously concentrated on the medieval development of Salisbury but David James went on to describe how the 5 Roman roads radiating out from Sorviodunum (Roman Salisbury) were now more accurately pinpointed. Traces of a middle-sized town with quality houses, well planned streets, a market and possibly a fort could now be seen in the area of and to the east of Stratford-sub Castle rather than, as had been previously supposed, at Old Sarum. Supporting evidence for this town was the extent of the area over which finds have so far been found (45 hectares), the finding of a preponderance of bowls (a preponderance of jugs indicates a village), the 100+ coins found, the painted plaster and the tiles and ceramic items from a factory in Gloucester. The existence of at least 400 sites within a 10 mile radius indicates considerable Roman presence and activity possibly because it was on a boundary between 2 tribes one in favour of the Roman presence and one against.

    Members then asked questions which ranged from what, if any, evidence of human remains/burial sites had been found to whether a knowledge of Latin is useful to an Archaeologist specialising in the Roman period. Finally Peter Tee thanked David James for his fascinating insight into the Roman presence in the area.