Darwen Local History Society members visit 'Roman Altar'

9:06pm Saturday 12th April 2008

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Members from Darwen Local History Society visited Manchester today to view the 2,000yr old 'Roman Altar' discovered in March by Manchester archaeologist Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd on the site of former Tom Garner Motors' The excavations have been on going since February by (PCA) and are now in their final week.

The 1-metre high grit stone column was found just before Easter weekend on the 20th March, by 23 yr old Sarah Duffy from Bolton who was on the Castlefield site on behalf of PCA. Sarah stated, "It was really exciting. It was lying face down when I found it but it wasn't until I saw the inscriptions that I realised it was something special and to find something so important on my second dig is just unbelievable, it's my claim to fame."

The site also revealed a number of ditches and pits of varying sizes possibly used to extract gravel or as refuse disposal sites, many of the pits have produced roman pottery and other assorted debris.

It was in one of these large pits that the alter stone' was found, its good condition was due to it being face down and has suffered little weathering enabling archaeologist to decipher the inscription on it, which reads: DEABVS MATRIBVS HANNANEFTIS ET OLLOTOTIS - AELIUS VICTOR VSLLM' When translated reads: "Dedicated To the mother goddesses Hananeftis and Ollototis, Aelius Victor gladly, willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow"

Norman Redhead Assistant County archaeologist confirmed it was a major find "It's the first Roman stone inscription to be found in Manchester for 150 years and records only the second known Roman from Manchester. So we're all very excited by it." He also added "The preservation of the stone is remarkable. On top of the stone is a shallow bowl which was used for offerings of wine or blood or perhaps to burn incense."

Mr Redhead explained "These goddesses are quite rare," "They seem to originate from the Rhineland area of Germany and it's possible that Aelius Victor was a centurion posted to Manchester from that area.

"In terms of our understanding of Roman Manchester, it's hugely important. We've never had an excavation on this side of the river and we're finding out a new dimension on the origins of Roman Manchester."

Archaeologists have long believed that the Roman Rd's that passed through Manchester (Mamucium) close to the roman fort would have been scattered with roadside shrines and mausoleums, these excavations near the former Roman road and fort have confirmed their predictions with the discovery of the altar stone.

General Julius Agricola (40-93AD), the commander of the invading legions, first founded a Roman settlement at the meeting point of the Rivers Irwell and Medlock. He called the place Mamuciam - meaning 'breast-shaped hill' because of the shape of the outcrop.

Other significant finds on the site include a Samian bowl c. 150 AD inscribed with a hunting scene showing men hunting boars with spears and dogs, these along with the Roman altar stone' will be transferred to Manchester Museum to be included in a larger exhibition on Manchester's Roman Treasures.

Darwen Local History Society will be working with a similar team when they proceed with their own 'Dig Darwen' in 2009.