Venta Belgarum

Venta Belgarum was the Roman civitas capital of the Belgae tribe, now the city of Winchester in Hampshire, England. Established around 70 AD on the site of earlier Iron Age settlements including Oram's Arbour, the town grew into a major administrative center with a regular grid layout, forum-basilica, public baths, and temples including one dedicated to the Celtic horse goddess Epona. By the 3rd century, defensive walls enclosed 144 acres. Pioneering excavations directed by Martin Biddle in 1961-71 with 3,000 volunteers made major contributions to modern archaeological practice.