Year 4 leant about some of the first black people to arrive in Britain. We studied how remains of Roman soldiers and Roman citizens originating in Africa have been found in archaeological sites which shows that black people have coming to Britain since Roman times. We learnt about the Numerus Maurorum Aurelianorum (the Unit of Aurelian Moors) which was formed in the region of Algeria and Morocco and who were guarding Hadrian’s Wall in the 3rd century AD under the command of Septimus Severus. We also learnt about a wealthy lady of African origin called Julia Tertia whose grave was found in southern England. DNA tests confirmed her African origins. Alongside History we did artwork based on African designs and geometric shapes using bold and bright colours.
