The Roman Period-the first drainage of the Fens took place during this period. The Romans dug a number of drainage channels and waterways.A number of small Roman settlements are known to have existed, as well as roads which had banks on either side of them to protect them from flooding. Cambridge was the focus for roads in the area.Most of the inhabited areas of the fens were on islands of clay and other rocks which rise just a few feet above the fens.
