Abstract
FURTHER excavations on the site of the Roman fortress of Caerleon-on-Usk have been necessitated by building development on two acres at the north-east angle. Evidence for the defences here, it is reported by Lady Fox, who directed the excavation on behalf of the Caerleon Excavation Committee (The Times, Aug. 5), comprised the primary clay bank and ditch of the occupation by the Second Augustan Legion in A.D. 75, and the foundations of the stone walls and one of the internal turrets set up about A.D. 100, when the internal early timber buildings were reconstructed in stone. The construction of the rampart roadway, which provided access throughout the circuit of the fortress behind the ramparts, was examined. A block of barracks, set in pairs, back to back, and providing accommodation for soldiers, with more spacious quarters for the centurions, was found to be in plan similar to those excavated in the south-west corner of the fortress in 1926–9. A coin of Nerva confirmed the date of their erection. Occupation by the Second Legion on this occasion appears to have been short; but in the third century the barracks were thoroughly renovated at a date indicated by the stamp “Leg. II Aug. Anto.” as A.D. 212–222. Relics of the latest occupation, not necessarily of a military character, were found in the centurions’ quarters, where a tile hearth had been built over a destroyed partition wall, and the moulded base of a column, upside down and partly sunk in the floor, appears to have served as a gaming-table, as several counters were found around it. The associated layers contained fourth century coins and pottery of a late type. In all, 70 coins were found and 90 legionary stamped tiles. Pottery was not abundant, but the most interesting find was a hoard of five gold coins, ranging from two of Nero, A.D. 55 and 61 to Titus and Domitian, A.D. 74 and 73, which was found concealed in a barrack floor, and possibly represents the savings of a soldier, which was left behind when the legion was ordered north.
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Excavations at Caerleon. Nature 144, 473–474 (1939). https://doi.org/10.1038/144473d0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/144473d0