SoA Forums

History => Ancient and Medieval History => Topic started by: Duncan Head on August 02, 2024, 10:42:31 AM

Title: New large Roman fort in South Wales
Post by: Duncan Head on August 02, 2024, 10:42:31 AM
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/aug/02/humongous-fort-found-in-wales-may-disprove-theory-of-celtic-roman-peace
Title: Re: New large Roman fort in South Wales
Post by: DBS on August 02, 2024, 02:39:59 PM
I understand the chap's delight but an auxiliary fort for a cohort is only humungous in a relative rather than an absolute sense. Nor is it necessarily evidence of the Demetae being hit with an iron fist. Once the location is revealed, will be interesting how close to the coast; Irish predation might be another reason for a garrison...
Title: Re: New large Roman fort in South Wales
Post by: Duncan Head on August 02, 2024, 03:59:38 PM
Yes, I did think he was a bit over-enthusiastic for what there was. I shouldn't really have even included "large" in the heading!
Title: Re: New large Roman fort in South Wales
Post by: DBS on August 02, 2024, 06:04:38 PM
He is now being carried on the BBC news site, where the spin is that his fort shows Wales was fully integrated into Roman Britain.  Personally have never doubted that for relatively lowland areas such as Pembrokeshire.
Title: Re: New large Roman fort in South Wales
Post by: Imperial Dave on August 03, 2024, 06:06:09 AM
Yes, it's a bit of a leap but full marks for finding it and enthusiasm to boot!
Title: Re: New large Roman fort in South Wales
Post by: Justin Swanton on August 03, 2024, 08:29:03 AM
It does at least show what a wild and woolly bunch those Welsh were.
Title: Re: New large Roman fort in South Wales
Post by: Nick Harbud on August 03, 2024, 08:33:16 AM
...and that is just our illustrious Editor.

 ;D  ;D
Title: Re: New large Roman fort in South Wales
Post by: Jim Webster on August 03, 2024, 09:15:10 AM
Given it's supposed be holding down a savage and barbarian population, how does it compare in size to the fort in London  ;)
Title: Re: New large Roman fort in South Wales
Post by: Imperial Dave on August 03, 2024, 10:31:51 AM
It's the southeast Walians who are the trouble makers
Title: Re: New large Roman fort in South Wales
Post by: Erpingham on August 03, 2024, 11:15:26 AM
Quote from: Imperial Dave on August 03, 2024, 10:31:51 AMIt's the southeast Walians who are the trouble makers
That's because the Romans put a legionary base just down the road from you, to keep you in order  :)

While I do like the finders enthusiasm, as yet we have no serious studies to show us what we are dealing with in this overgrown field.  We may be dealing with something of an adminstrative function than a combat ready garrison in bandit country.