The Ancients – Boudica's Tribe: How the Iceni Survived the Romans

Host: Tristan Hughes
Guests: Prof. William Bowden (University of Nottingham, Quaestor Roman Project), Andy Woodman (Chairman, Quaestor Roman Project)
Date: October 26, 2025

Overview:

This immersive, on-site episode uncovers the enduring story of the Iceni (pronounced "Ikeni") tribe in East Anglia, centering on their fate before, during, and after Boudica's ill-fated revolt against Roman rule in the 1st century AD. Overturning familiar tales of obliteration, host Tristan Hughes and leading archaeologists show that the Iceni persistently adapted, leaving their mark long after Boudica's uprising. The episode features field interviews at the Venta Icenorum site (near Norwich), vibrant discussions about identity, continuity, and major archaeological finds—reminding listeners that the Iceni are much more than the sum of Boudica’s rebellion.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Understanding the Iceni: Identity and Pronunciation

• The episode opens by clarifying pronunciation: experts and modern research now suggest "Ikeni" rather than the perhaps more familiar "Iceni."
• Boudica herself: also properly "Boudicca" instead of the Victorianized "Boadicea."
  • "Tomato, tomato. You say it however you'd like—we're going with Ikeni today." —Tristan Hughes (01:29)
  • "The correct pronunciation, according to the people who study ancient Celtic languages, is Boudicca and the Ikeni." —Prof. William Bowden (08:34)

2. The Lived World of the Iceni

• Vivid introductory narrative conjures daily life at Venta Icenorum—the Iceni’s Roman-era town—set amid “rolling mists of ancient Norfolk” with the bustle of markets, livestock, and children at play. (02:24)
• The Iceni had deep roots predating Rome, evidenced by jewelry like the Snettisham hoard, famed for gold torcs worn by men and women of status (04:00).
  • "These treasures glimmered on the necks and arms of Iceni women and chieftains alike. The mighty Queen Boudicca may herself have worn such finery before her fateful revolt." —Narrator (03:39)

3. Archaeological Work at Venta Icenorum

• Prof. Bowden describes the scale and duration of the Quaestor Roman Project:
  • Began surveys in 2006, focusing on community involvement and volunteer-driven archaeology (06:11).
  • The town as seen today is only a small part of what the Roman site covered (05:08).
• The site uniquely showcases both Iron Age and Roman material, challenging the “bipolar” view that Britain abruptly shifted from native to Roman (07:07).
  • "That kind of binary opposition... is, I think, a big problem actually in how people still conceptualize the Roman period in Britain." —Prof. Bowden (07:26)

4. Iceni Social Structure and Identity Before the Romans

• How did the Iceni identify? Names come mainly from Roman writers; earliest evidence is coins inscribed “Echen,” suggesting group labels may partly arise from Roman labeling (09:26).
• Settlement patterns: small kin-based groups farming the land, not large oppida towns as elsewhere in Iron Age Britain (11:07).
  • "The idea of a single king or queen of the Iceni is not reflected in the coin evidence." —Prof. Bowden (12:44)
• Coins show multiple centers of power—not a unified royal line, but several parallel chieftains (12:44).

5. Culture: Art, Wealth, and Burial Practices

• Iconic treasures: Snettisham torcs—massive gold jewelry, evidence of portable wealth and status.
  • "They're very, very heavy. There's a lot of metal in those." —Prof. Bowden (15:17)
• Power was also measured in livestock; burial remains are scarce, suggesting practices that left little trace (excarnation, etc.) (17:19).
  • "We have very little in the way of burial from the Iron Age... whatever they're doing, we're not really finding it." —Prof. Bowden (17:19)
• Warrior society? Only as much as any other Iron Age Britons. Society was highly equine-focused, as seen in chariot and horse gear (16:33).

6. Boudica’s Revolt and Its Archaeological Footprint

• The well-known rebellion (AD 60–61), marked by attacks on Colchester, London, St. Albans, and the infamous but ambiguous “Battle of Watling Street” (18:07–18:45).
• Roman accounts describe devastating losses and famine—yet, as Prof. Bowden emphasizes, archaeology finds little trace of catastrophe:
  • "If we didn't have those textual sources, we would not see the effect of the revolt... It is not archaeologically visible." —Prof. Bowden (19:34)
• The Iceni seem to have weathered the revolt, with continuity visible in material culture, local settlement, and little Roman military presence after the uprising (20:55).

7. Life After the Revolt: Negotiating Rome and Enduring Identity

• The Iceni selectively adopted Roman cultural features: coins, some imported goods, but little wine or olive oil compared to sites like Colchester or St. Albans (23:46).
• Venta Icenorum became the tribe’s key town—a small “regional capital” serving as both Roman administrative center and continuing hub of Iceni tradition (23:46–24:55).
• The site’s location reflects continuity with pre-Roman sacred centers rather than strategic Roman planning (29:02–30:29).
  • "I think it really reflects what was here before... probably an Iron Age cult centre... that's why the town is founded here." —Prof. Bowden (29:02)

8. Religion: Continuity Through Syncretism

• The Iceni’s religious landscape persisted with Roman overlays—local gods absorbed or paired with Roman deities (Venus, Mercury, Neptune) (31:28).
  • "Generally, the Romans weren't that bothered about what belief systems were adopted... Most of these gods, goddesses are highly localized and could be easily absorbed into the Roman pantheon." —Prof. Bowden (31:28)
• A rare, very humanizing artifact: a curse tablet (defixio) from the river—a local, Nazenius (or Nays), asking Neptune to punish a thief in exchange for a pair of leggings.
  • "The idea that what's going to swing it for an all powerful oceanic deity is a pair of second hand leggings from Norfolk!" —Prof. Bowden (35:23)

9. Iceni Legacy and Enduring Identity

• Iceni (Ikeni) identity likely persisted long into the Roman period and beyond, as evidenced by the retention of tribal names for the town and hints of revived localism after Rome’s authority waned (37:06–39:36).
  • "Clearly by the 4th century, everyone is Roman in one sense or another. But people can have multiple identities... And I think those sorts of local identities quite often reemerge." —Prof. Bowden (37:06)
• The Aceni did not simply vanish after AD 61; their continuity is evident in the archaeological record and even in later Saxon presence (39:36).

Artifact Show & Tell: Recent Finds at Venta Icenorum (with Andy Woodman)

(43:54–63:22)

Early Objects

• Bronze Age barbed and tanged flint arrowhead (44:17): Evidence of ancient activity long before the Iceni had a name; remarkable craftsmanship.
  • "It's the nicest I've ever seen come out of the ground." —Andy Woodman (45:24)

Coinage

• Silver-plated coin: Possibly ceremonial or a fake; copper alloy core with silver sheets, features classic Iron Age stylized horses (46:23–48:03).

Roman-Era Objects

• Small terracotta or clay face (~Hadrianic, early 2nd c.):
  • "Of a bearded and hairsuit man... looks a tad like the Emperor Hadrian." —Andy Woodman (49:02)
• Fly Brooch: Miniature decorative item shaped like a house fly—“bling,” not functional.
  • "This is bling. This is decoration... maybe it's to ward off horse flies." —Andy Woodman (51:15–51:44)
• Roman stylus (writing implement): Shiny black, finely decorated—evidence of literacy at the site, a non-literate region turned administrative center (54:11–55:41).
  • "This is the Mont Blanc of the early Roman period." —Andy Woodman (54:34)
• Polished bone gaming counter: About 1.5cm, with concentric circles—insight into leisure and “people stuff” (56:54–57:32).
  • "It's people stuff, exactly." —Tristan Hughes (57:33)

Notable Temple Find

• The team uncovered the second-largest Romano-British temple in the country (after Silchester), built over an earlier sacred site.
  • “Under the foundations... a line of nine coins, each of different emperors from Nero to Hadrian... That doesn't sound like an accident.” —Andy Woodman (59:53)

Ongoing Hopes

• Andy Woodman dreams of finding more about military presence and bridging the cultural transitions at each end of Roman rule (60:59).

Outstanding Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On surviving the narrative of Boudica:
  • "The survival of that narrative is a peculiar combination of circumstances... we have our Boudicca-tinted spectacles that we tend to look at the Iceni through." —Prof. Bowden (40:49 & 41:17)
• On humanizing the past:
  • "What’s going to swing it for an all powerful oceanic deity is a pair of second hand leggings from Norfolk." —Prof. Bowden (35:23)
• On the site’s meaning:
  • "If there's one thing we can achieve here, it is to try and move the Iceni away from the Boudican revolt narrative." —Prof. Bowden (40:49)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro and setting the scene (01:29–04:55)
• Professor William Bowden interview: Archaeology and Iceni society (04:55–42:04)
• Religion and syncretism in the Roman/late Iron Age (31:28–33:01)
• Curse tablet anecdote (35:23)
• Endurance of Iceni identity (37:06–41:17)
• Artifacts show and tell (with Andy Woodman) (43:54–63:22)
  • Early arrowhead (44:17)
  • Coinage and currency (45:34–48:14)
  • Faces, brooches, stylus, and gaming counter (48:46–57:32)
  • Temple(esque) discoveries (59:02–59:53)
• Reflections on future research and site continuity (62:06–63:22)
• Closing remarks (Host) (63:27)

Tone and Language

The episode is rich, conversational, and approachable, blending expert academic insight with vivid, accessible storytelling. The archaeologists delight in sharing tangential “people stuff,” and Tristan’s innate curiosity steers the conversation toward making ancient history tangible and relatable.

Summary

This episode powerfully dismantles the “disappearance” myth of the Iceni after Boudica’s defeat, showing, through archaeology and careful interpretation, a story of subtle endurance and transformation. The Iceni navigated Roman rule not by vanishing but by adapting, continuing their traditions, and quietly shaping the life of Roman Britain’s East. Skepticism about the literal truth of classical sources, vivid glimpses of lives through small artifacts, and the enduring mystery of identity make this a must-listen for anyone curious about Britain’s ancient past—and about how history is literally unearthed from the ground.

For more on the Iceni, their art, and the ongoing work at the site, visit the Quaestor Roman Project’s website (casetaromanproject.org) or check social media for images of objects discussed in the episode.