Urbanism

Caerwent (Venta Silurum)

Located in Wales #50
In 74 CE Sextus Iulius Frontinus made commander of Legio II
o Skilled engineer
o Moved the legion to the fort at Caerleon (Isca Silurum)
o Constructed several other forts to control the region
o Silures tribe extremely troublesome to Rome
Fiercely resisted Roman advances into Wales
He defeats them in battle
Destroys their stronghold at Llanmelin Wood
Built a new town for them at Caerwent
Became the market town for the Silures tribe
o In the early 2nd century CE became a civitas
o Roman town continued to be inhabited into the 4th century
o Town was not exceptionally large: 44 acres
Has the basic features of a Roman town
o Grid pattern
o Two main streets
o Forum and basilica in the center of town
o Near the forum were the baths
o Romano-Celtic temple
o Houses with shops
Common feature in towns
Built along roadways
Roads graveled with drainage ditches
Shops opened onto roads
Residences behind
One of the houses
Fortifications
o Earthen rampart and ditch
Constructed by ca. 130
4 main gates
Not bonded with later walls
Double portal
Flanking towers
o Stone wall
3rd century CE
Only core remains
Facing stones removed
o Polygonal bastions
Added in 350 CE
Added protection to north and south walls
o Amphitheater (?)
Built in late 3rd or early 4th century
Built over earlier houses
Within the walls
Bath (Aqua Sulis)
No evidence of pre-Roman occupation found
o Latin name indicates was area sacred to Sulis, whom Romans
identified with Minerva
o Probably a sacred area in Celtic religious practices
Probably Roman fort built here at time of conquest
1st century CE
o 1st major building phase
o Town laid out
o Several monumental buildings constructed
o Focal point was the hot springs
o Number of offerings found in the springs from this time
1st baths constructed at this time
o Number of modifications over the centuries
o Abandoned in the 5th century
Located west of Londinium (#73)
Great Baths
o 1st phase
1st century CE
Central hall: frigidarium
To the left small swimming complex
To the right the Great Baths
>
o 2nd phase
2nd century CE
Circular plunge-pool replaces frigidarium
New caldarium replaces swimming pools
Circular laconium added
o 3rd phase
End of 2nd century
Replace roofing
Grandiose barrel-vault
Minor modification to rooms to the left
o 4th phase
Early 3rd century
Extensive reorganization of the baths
Eastern baths rebuilt
Alcove north of tepidarium converted into an immersion-
bath
Heating system rearranged
New caldarium added
o 5th phase
Early 4th century
Minor modifications
Added several small immersion baths
o End of the Great Baths
Problem with drainage
Serious flooding
Baths abandoned
Late 4th - early 5th century