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A First-Century Shield from Doncaster, Yorkshire

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2011

Paul Buckland
Paul Buckland
Affiliation:
Dept. of Geography, University of Birmingham
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Extract

The Roman auxiliary fort at Doncaster, the Danum of the Antonine Itinery, lies roughly half way between Lincoln and York (FIG. I). Over the past ten years, the centre of the modern town has been largely redeveloped and the Doncaster Museum, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, has carried out extensive rescue excavations. The rectangular fort, which could be denned from modern property boundaries, was defended by a stone wall, 2 m thick, which enclosed an area of c. 237 ha (5.85 acres); it was found to be of Antonine and later date. Beneath this and extending further to south and east, was a Flavian to Hadrianic fort, covering an area in excess of 2-6 ha (642 acres). Two phases were recognised in the earlier fort, separated by widespread evidence of burning. The charcoal and burnt daub of the fires, however, were concentrated into clearly defined bonfires, implying an orderly demolition. The constructiontrenches of the buildings of the second phase were dug through the remains of the bonfires in such a way as to show that reoccupation was immediate. From these construction-trenches three asses of Vespasian were recovered and an as of Domitian, minted in 86-87, was found in an associated clay floor; asses of 86-87 are the commonest first- or second-century coins from the site. The available evidence would seem to suggest that the fort was remodelled after a period of neglect perhaps while the main body of troops was fighting in Scotland under Agricola and the fort itself may have had a caretaker garrison. Historical and archaeological evidence combine to suggest a partial withdrawal from Scotland in or shortly after 87 (Hartley, 1972) and it is at this time that some lowland forts would again be required to house full garrisons. The fort at Doncaster, in common with others on the edge of the Highland Zone, was abandoned under Hadrian; the smaller stone-walled fort,situated in the north-west corner of its predecessor, is one of a Pennine and circum-Pennine group initially constructed in the late 150s or early 160s.

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Articles
Information
Britannia , Volume 9 , November 1978 , pp. 247 - 269
Copyright
Copyright © Paul Buckland 1978. Exclusive Licence to Publish: The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies

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