Life in Roman Sussex
03 July 2025
15:00 to 16:00
In this lecture Dr David Rudling will explore aspects of life in Sussex during the Roman period (AD 43-410).
He will examine: the ‘Roman Conquest’ of Claudius, the client kingdom of Togidubnus, the tribal civitas capital at Chichester, other nucleated settlements, the Flavian Palace at Fishbourne, villas, peasant farmsteads, field systems and farming, roads, industry, the army, religion, burial practices and the ‘End of Roman Sussex’.
These topics will be considered from the perspectives of both the Romans and the native population. David is the Academic Director at the Sussex School of Archaeology.
Previously, David was Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the Centre for Continuing Education at the University of Sussex, and prior to this Director of Archaeology South-East which is part of University College London.
David started work in Sussex in 1980 having completed an MA in Roman Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology, London.
David has directed a wide range of fieldwork on sites of various periods throughout Sussex, notable sites including the Roman villas at Bignor, Beddingham, Barcombe and most recently that at Plumpton, a Roman tile kiln at Hartfield, two Romano-Celtic temples at Chanctonbury Ring, a Middle Bronze Age settlement site at Downsview on the Brighton Bypass, and various medieval urban sites in Hastings, Lewes and Winchelsea.
David’s main research interests include: Roman rural settlements and land-use, religion and ritual in Roman Britain, and ancient and medieval coins.
He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, a Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, a trustee of the Council for British Archaeology South-East, and Chairman of the Brighton and Hove Archaeological Society.
