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 ...
Basically Rome never conquered most of Scotland because there was nothing there that was worth the cost of conquering and holding it.
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.
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