Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Discovery of Roman fort built after Boudican revolt
Past Horizons ^ | May 13, 2016 | editors

Posted on 05/18/2016 1:36:15 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

New research published by archaeologists from MOLA reveals a previously unknown Roman fort, built in AD63 as a direct response to the sacking of London by the native tribal Queen of the Iceni, Boudica. The revolt razed the early Roman town to the ground in AD60/61 but until now little was understood about the Roman's response to this devastating uprising.

Excavations at Plantation Place for British Land on Fenchurch Street in the City of London exposed a section of a rectangular fort that covered 3.7acres. The timber and earthwork fort had 3metre high banks reinforced with interlacing timbers and faced with turves and a timber wall. Running atop the bank was a 'fighting platform' fronted by a colossal palisade, with towers positioned at the corners of the gateways. This formidable structure was enclosed by double ditches, 1.9 and 3m deep, forming an impressive obstacle for would be attackers.

The Roman army were experts in construction; proficiently sourcing local materials from nearby woods and even using debris from buildings burnt in the revolt. It is estimated that a fort of this size would have housed a cohort of approximately 500 men but could have been built by hand in a matter of weeks, perhaps with the help of captive Britons. Archaeologists uncovered a pick axe and a hammer, tools that would have been available to the army for building projects.

Only in active use for fewer than 10 years and with evidence pointing towards the use of tents rather than permanent structures for barracks, the fort was evidently erected as an emergency measure to secure the important trading post of London and to aid with the reconstruction and reestablishment of London at this turbulent time.

(Excerpt) Read more at pasthorizonspr.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: battleofwatlingst; boadicea; bodacious; boudicca; colchester; godsgravesglyphs; iceni; london; mancetter; midlands; nuneaton; romanempire; tacitus
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-44 last
To: Hugin
Basically Rome never conquered most of Scotland because there was nothing there that was worth the cost of conquering and holding it.
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

41 posted on 05/20/2016 8:20:43 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (I'll tell you what's wrong with society -- no one drinks from the skulls of their enemies anymore.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Hugin

Well, modern troops do something like that or did, lol, it’s been 35 yrs and it was in Germany. When we stopped we’d constantly improve the position. Dig fox holes, put up concertina wire, camouflage nets, clear fields of fire, pre-plot indirect fire, construct obstacles and fortifications and booby trap them, make range cards or diagrams of the area to one’s front with dead spaces ie., areas not covered by direct fire weapons, sector left and right limits marked, emplace mines, construct secondary positions, put out OPs and LPs, put up remote antennas for radios, string commo wire, construct overhead cover for the positions...it never ended. Admittedly I’m running together experiences with different types of units, armor, scouts, artillery, HQ/TOC/FDC positions, but there was always something to do.


42 posted on 05/22/2016 5:53:32 AM PDT by skepsel (Apres moi, le deluge.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

In Search of Boadicea (Boudica) - In Search of the Dark Ages 11th March 1980

In Search of Boadicea (Boudica) - In Search of the Dark Ages 11th March 1980

43 posted on 04/03/2020 4:34:42 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

Time Team Special 45 (2011) - Boudica's Lost Tribe

Time Team Special 45 (2011) - Boudica's Lost Tribe

44 posted on 04/03/2020 6:05:20 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-44 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson