The ‘exceptional’ Roman fossil find of Essex

A 100-million-year-old fossil discovered by the Romans has been unearthed in Colchester.

Archaeologists believe it to be the earliest known example of people deliberately collecting and keeping an ichthyosaur bone, despite the fact they wouldn't have known exactly what it was.

It was re-discovered during excavations below a former hospital in the city.

As Emma Craig explains, it is hoped it could shed new light on what knowledge the Roman Empire had of what had come before them.

(Photo credit: Henry Godfrey-Evans/BBC)