The Roman Invasion of Britain: Archaeology Versus History by Birgitta Hoffmann

Author:Birgitta Hoffmann [Hoffmann, Birgitta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fortifications, Mlitary, Battles & Campaigns, Ancient
Amazon: B00MNX1EDO
Goodreads: 16066516
Publisher: Pen & Sword
Published: 2013-12-23T05:00:00+00:00

On the other hand over the last few years excavations at Silchester continue to encounter evidence for destruction that appears to date to the mid first century and which is extensive enough to relate to Boudicca, rather than any accidental fire (Fulford & Timby 2002, 568–569). This, combined with the confirmed presence of Boudiccan destruction deposits in Putney, Brentford and Staines, all on the route to Silchester, suggests that in addition to the destruction mentioned in the literary sources, there may well have been a further path of destruction aiming west from London rather than north (Fuentes 1983, 216–7).

Furthermore, unless confronted with the excessive remains of burning seen in some parts of London and Colchester, it is difficult to differentiate between an accidental fire (caused for example by oil catching fire in a pan or a lightning strike, or a fire deliberately set to level a site prior to new building) and deliberate enemy destruction. Human remains are a rare find in most destruction deposits, as most people would return and reoccupy the plot and bury the dead, if only to avoid the spread of diseases. Finding a burnt layer is thus not necessarily an indicator of enemy action.

But the question reaches further: which other tribes but the Trinovantes and the Iceni took part in the revolt? Apart from the Claudian statue pieces, there is little evidence of the revolt in the Icenian heartland; in fact, it is much easier to trace its aftermath than the actual revolt. Pottery industries operating in eastern Cambridgeshire before and after the uprising show little sign of interruption (Gibson & Lucas 2002). There appears to be little evidence of destruction further west amongst the Corieltauvi or the Brigantian territories and for the most part the areas south of the Thames appear to be untouched as well.

This leaves the question of the final battle site. Most commentators agree that it should lie somewhere along Watling Street, but in the absence of a clear line of march it is worthwhile calling to mind that this reconstruction is based on the fact that we know Paullinus left in search of more troops, most of which were still coming back from Wales and that the British army was last seen at Verulamium just on Watling Street – thus suggesting that they may have progressed further along it. We again have no indication of how much time extended between these two events or even if the British army really all operated in a single unit – this is at best a good guess – and thus any of the predictions of a battle site, be it at Mancetter as Webster (1978) suggested or the more recently suggested High Cross (Waite 2007, 173–181) depend on this first suggestion being correct. It should perhaps also be mentioned that Nick Fuentes, S. Kaye and David Bird argue that if Suetonius Paullinus hoped to join up with legio II Augusta from Exeter, then it would be more reasonable to expect the battle to

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