Roman Defensive Works

Following the British works, in number as in age, are those of the Romans, also very numerous and very generally diffused.These, as was to be expected, are of a far more scientific character and more worthy of the name of camps than the entrenchments of the Britons.The two visits of Julius Caesar B.C. 55 and 54 to a certain extent made known the Britons to the Roman world, and when Aulus Plautius arrived in Britain, A.D. 43, he found a coinage in general use, roads, it is believed, between the principal settlements, a considerable commerce with the neighbouring states of Gaul, and various indications of a considerable advance in civilization.The actual work of B,ome in Britain was completed between the arrival of Plautius ancl the dejmrture of the legions, A.D. 411, or in 368 years ; but what the effect was of that occupation upon the character of the Britons is not clearly ascertained.The earlier part of the Roman period was a time of immense military activity, both in Britain and Caledonia, and its traces are left in various works, chiefly of a defensive character, scattered broadcast over the country from Dover and Richborough to Inverness, and from Colchester to Caer-Segont ancl Octopitarum on the Irish Sea, many of them evidently intended to protect a few score soldiers for a few days or weeks, others of a larger area to contain an army.Roman earthworks generally seem to have been thrown up in the times of their earlier ancl aggressive warfare, ancl this was particularly the case in the strong country north of the Forth and Clyde, where the resistance was stubborn and incessant.Once fairly in possession of a district, the Romans laid out roads, ancl constructed works in masonry

Archaeology · Classical Antiquity Studies · History