Water Newton
Encyclopedia
Water Newton is a village on the northern border of the English
county of Cambridgeshire
.
It is in the district (and former county) of Huntingdonshire
between the River Nene
and the A1 trunk road. The opposite bank of the river is administered as part of the City of Peterborough which is some five miles to the east.
During ploughing in February 1975, a hoard of 4th century Roman silver was discovered, which is known as the 'Water Newton Treasure
'. They were probably buried by an inhabitant of the nearby Roman
fortified garrison town of Durobrivae. The silver plates and bowls, votive tokens engraved and embossed with the labarum
(the chi-rho cross), and an unengraved standing two-handled cup of the form (cantharus) later used as chalice
s comprise the earliest group of Christian liturgical silver yet found in the Roman Empire. Due to the importance of this find, it is now in the British Museum
, with replicas at Peterborough
Museum.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
.
It is in the district (and former county) of Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire is a local government district of Cambridgeshire, covering the area around Huntingdon. Traditionally it is a county in its own right...
between the River Nene
River Nene
The River Nene is a river in the east of England that rises from three sources in the county of Northamptonshire. The tidal river forms the border between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for about . It is the tenth longest river in the United Kingdom, and is navigable for from Northampton to The...
and the A1 trunk road. The opposite bank of the river is administered as part of the City of Peterborough which is some five miles to the east.
Roman archaeology
- Main articles: Durobrivae and Water Newton TreasureWater Newton TreasureThe Water Newton Treasure is a hoard of fourth-century Roman silver, discovered near the Roman town of Durobrivae at Water Newton in the English county of Cambridgeshire. The hoard consisted of 27 silver items and one small gold plaque...
During ploughing in February 1975, a hoard of 4th century Roman silver was discovered, which is known as the 'Water Newton Treasure
Water Newton Treasure
The Water Newton Treasure is a hoard of fourth-century Roman silver, discovered near the Roman town of Durobrivae at Water Newton in the English county of Cambridgeshire. The hoard consisted of 27 silver items and one small gold plaque...
'. They were probably buried by an inhabitant of the nearby Roman
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
fortified garrison town of Durobrivae. The silver plates and bowls, votive tokens engraved and embossed with the labarum
Labarum
The labarum was a vexillum that displayed the "Chi-Rho" symbol ☧, formed from the first two Greek letters of the word "Christ" — Chi and Rho . It was used by the Roman emperor Constantine I...
(the chi-rho cross), and an unengraved standing two-handled cup of the form (cantharus) later used as chalice
Chalice (cup)
A chalice is a goblet or footed cup intended to hold a drink. In general religious terms, it is intended for drinking during a ceremony.-Christian:...
s comprise the earliest group of Christian liturgical silver yet found in the Roman Empire. Due to the importance of this find, it is now in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
, with replicas at Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
Museum.