Overview.
Julius Caesar was the first to cross the channel, in 55 B.C., although his stay was short, possibly a reconnaissance to assess the difficulties of an invasion. He returned in 54 B.C. with a large Roman army and the necessary supplies and equipment for a longer stay. However, his stay was cut short as he was called back to the mainland to deal with riot and rebellion in Central Europe. He never returned. During that time he noted in his diaries, that, although most of the area of land now known as Lincolnshire was occupied by the Coritani (also known as the Corieltauvi) tribe, the coastal areas were occupied by immigrants from the Belgic trobes of North-east Gaul, possibly the area of Europe now known as Belgium. This would seem to indicate that at least some of the trade referred to In the Pre-History section moved through Lincolnshire before Caesar arrived and continued following his departure.
As is well recorded, Caesar then returned to Rome and his fate. Planned invasions in 34, 27 and 25 B.C., by the Emperor Augustus, did not take place and an army, assembled by Caligula, on the Channel coast is reported to have spent their time collection seashells. During this time there can be little doubt that trade between Britain and Europe carried on and may even have expanded.
The next to turn his eyes towards Britain, and its wealth, was the Emperor Claudius. At his direction, an army of four legions, with supporting auxilaries and supplies, was assembled and invaded Britain in A.D.43, nominally to restore the exiled king Verica to his throne. This quickly became a conquest which took place in stages over the next forty years culminating in the battle of Mons Graupius in North-east Scotland (A.D.84). During this period it is estimated that some 250,000 Britons, almost one eighth of the total population were killed.
Although Rome had advanced far into Scotland it had never suceeded in pacifying the Scottish tribes and, following further rebellions, guerilla wars and a general lack of sucess in bringing the tribes to heel a decision was reached, in 87 AD, to abandon most of the land north of the Cheviot hills and consolodate the frontier at Stanegate on the line of the Solway Firth to the Tyne isthmus.
In A.D.120, the emperor Hadrian, during his tour of the Roman provinces, issued instructions that a fortified wall (Hadrian's Wall) should be built close to this line.
The trials and tribulations of the Roman Empire are well documented and in Britain this resulted, over the period, in the movement of troops back to the mainland and, occasionally, their replacement by inferior troops and auxiliaries.
By A.D.410 it is safe to say that the rule of Rome was coming to an end, indeed the reply from the Emperor Honorius to a request for help was that Brittania should look to its own defences. A local ruler, named as Vortigern, who ruled from A.D. 425, is recorded as having arranged for Saxon settlers to act as a mercenary force in return for land.
In A.D.446 an appeal for help against a Saxon invasion was ignored and it is generally accepted that Roman rule had come to an end by 450 AD.
Roman Lincolnshire (this section in progress.)
The area known as Lincolnshire
A List of Locations in Wrangle where Romano-British (R-B) Artifacts were found.
Each item has a location and brief description. For more detailed information please go to the Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer Website and search for Wrangle. Each MLI reference will give a map and a more detailed description. A map of the locations listed below is in process and will be available when completed.
1 - MLI12679 - Possible Saltern - TF 4219 5218 (281mx201m).
2 - MLI12744 - Possible Settlement & Scatter - TF 4239 5170.
3 - MLI12805 - Saltern Sites - TF 4311 5288 (279mx322m).
4 - MLI12806 - Saltern & possible Settlement - TF4194 5328.
5 - MLI12807 - Saltern & possible Settlement - TF 41245309.
6 - MLI12808 - Pottery Scatter - TF 4135 5284 (76mx76m Est.)
7 - MLI12809 - Pottery Scatter & possible kiln - TF 415? 532?.
8 - MLI12812 - Coin & Pottery - TF 4350 5280 - Estimated.
9 - MLI12817 - Pottery Scatter - TF 434? 513?.
10 - MLI12824 - Pottery - No Location Information.
11 - MLI12829 - Salter. - TF 4220 5390.
12 - MLI12830 - Pottery - No Location Information.
13 -MLI12972 - Saltern & Artifact Scatter - TF 4279 5231 (47mx47m).
14 - MLI13002 - Pottery - TF 4290 5190 - Estimated.
15 - MLI13032 - Saltern & Pottery Scatter - TF 4400 5200 (26mx26m).
16 - MLI13101 - Possible Saltern - TF 4390 5310.
17 - MLI13103 - Saltern - TF 4318 5340.
18 - MLI13104 - Saltern - TF 4363 5365 (378mx287m).
19 - MLI13106 - Saltern - 4350 5268 ( 28mx27m).
20 - MLI13107 - Saltworks & Artifact Scatter - TF 4352 5278 (15mx15m).
21 - MLI13110 - Saltern - TF 4377 5373.
22 - MLI13111 - Saltern - TF 4331 5375.
23 - MLI13112 - Saltern - TF 5331 5449.
24 - MLI13113 - Saltern - TF 4207 5415.
25 - MLI13115 - Saltern - TF 4257 5458.
26 - MLI13124 - Saltern - TF 4272 5338.
27 - MLI13125 - Saltern - TF 4286 5430 & TF 4550 5153.
28 - MLI13127 - Saltern - TF 4357 5442.
29 - MLI13128 - Possible Settlement - TF4435 5233.
30 - MLI13130 - Saltern - TF4339 5180 (45mx44m).
31 - MLI13131 - Saltern - TF 4220 5460.
32 - MLI13132 - Saltern - TF 4230 5458.
33 - MLI13133 - Saltern - TF 4252 5460.
34 - MLI13134 - Saltern - TF 4247 5459.
35 - MLI13135 - Saltern - TF 4241 5460.
36 - MLI13140 - Farmstead - TF 4374 5188.
37 - MLI13148 - Settlement - TF 4158 5319.
38 - MLI13153 - Saltern - TF 4090 5447.
39 - MLI13154 - Saltern - TF 4090 5428.
40 - MLI13156 - Saltern - TF 4125 5313.
41 - MLI13157 - Saltern - TF 4080 5269 (43mx43m).
42 - MLI13160 - Saltern - TF 4204 5160 (39mx38m).
43 - MLI13161 - Saltern - TF 4213 5413.
44 - MLI13162 - Saltern - TF 4220 5397.
45 - MLI13168 - Artifact Scatter - TF4216 5135 (26mx36m).
46 - MLI13182 - Saltern & possible Settlement - TF 4245 5347.
47 - MLI13184 - Saltern - TF 4187 5186.
48 - MLI13181 - Saltern - TF 4213 5413.
49 - MLI13200 - Pottery Scatter - TF 4229 5059 (35mx35m Est.).
50 - MLI13201 - Pottery Scatter - TF 4295 5200 (18mx17m).
51 - MLI13206 - Saltern - TF4400 5200 ( 26mx26m). - See MLI13032.
52 - MLI13210 - Salterns x 2 - TF 4310 5451 (98mx72m).
53 - MLI13214 - Saltern - TF 4202 5355.
54 - MLI13220 - Settlement - TF 4430 5214.
55 - MLI13222 - Saltern - TF4187 5186.
56 - MLI13223 - Saltern & possible Settlement - TF 4245 5347.
57 - MLI13227 - Saltern - TF4226 5235 (26mx26m).
58 - MLI13232 - Artifact Scatter - TF4208 5130 (26mx24m).
59 - MLI13233 - Saltern & possible Settlement - TF 4192 5127 (103mx85m).
60 - MLI13239 - Possible Settlement - TF4264 5044 ( 15mx48m).
61 - MLI13245 - Saltern - TF 4150 5212.
62 - MLI13248 - Saltern & possible Settlement - TF 4122 5320.
63 - MLI13257 - Settlement - TF 4354 5287.