Editing Calleva Atrebatum (section)

===Iron Age===
The Late Iron Age [[oppidum|settlement]] at Silchester has been shown by archaeology and coins of the British Q series{{clarify|date=October 2023|reason=What is this "British Q series"?}} to link Silchester with the seat of power of the [[Atrebates]]. Coins found stamped with "COMMIOS" show that [[Commius]], king of the Atrebates, established his territory and mint here after moving from Gaul.<ref>{{cite book|first=Boon|last=G|title=Roman Silchester|publisher=Max Parrish and Co.|location=London|year=1957}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Creighton|first=John|title=Britannia: the Creation of a Roman Province|publisher=Cambridge|location=Cambridge|year=2006|pages=21–22}}</ref> The inner earthwork, constructed {{circa|1}} AD, enclosed {{convert|32|hectare}} and at a similar time others were built in the surrounds.

Small areas of Late Iron Age occupation were first uncovered on the south side of the inner earthwork<ref>Boon, G. 1969. Belgic and Roman Silchester: excavations of 1954-8 with an excursus on the early history of Calleva. ''Archaeologia'' 102: 1-81.</ref> and around the south gate.<ref>Fulford, M. 1984. Silchester: Excavations on the Defences 1974–80. London: Society for Antiquaries. Britannia Monograph Series No. 5</ref> More detailed evidence for this was excavated below the forum/basilica. Several roundhouses, wells and pits were in a northeast–southwest alignment, dated to {{circa|25}} BC &ndash; 15 BC. Occupation of {{circa|15}} BC to AD 40 or 50 resulted in metalled streets, rubbish pits and palisaded enclosures. Imported Gallo-Belgic fine wares, [[amphorae]] and iron and copper-alloy brooches show that the settlement was high status. Distinctive food was identified, including oyster shell, a large [[briquetage]] assemblage and sherds from various [[Amphora|amphorae]] for olive oil, fish sauce and wine.<ref>Fulford, M. and Timby, J. 2000. Late Iron Age and Roman Silchester: Excavations on the Site of the Forum Basilica, 1977, 1980-86. London: Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies. Britannia monograph Series No. 15</ref>

Further such material was uncovered by the Insula {{tooltip|IX|See Roman numerals}} 'Town Life' project, including a great boundary ditch probably made about 40 to 20 BC, a large rectangular hall which could have been built any time between 25 BC to AD 10, and the laying out of lanes and new property divisions from about AD 10 to AD 40 or 50.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Fulford|first1=M|last2=Clarke|first2=A|last3=Pankhurst|first3=N|last4=Lucas|first4=S|title=Silchester Insula IX: the 'Town Life' Project 2012|publisher=Department of Archaeology, University of Reading|location=Reading|year=2013}}</ref> Archaeobotanical studies have demonstrated the import and consumption of celery, coriander and olives in Insula IX before the Claudian Conquest.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lodwick|first=Lisa|author-link=Lisa Lodwick|date=2014-09-01|title=Condiments before Claudius: new plant foods at the Late Iron Age oppidum at Silchester, UK|journal=Vegetation History and Archaeobotany |language=en|volume=23|issue=5|pages=543–549|doi=10.1007/s00334-013-0407-1|s2cid=128753215|issn=0939-6314}}</ref>