[dave-r]

Hey Eddie (or anyone else that might be interested) here are some Google Earth images of Roman stuff around where I live.

The Roman wall was built not too long after the time of Christ and marked the furthest reach of the Roman Empire. They gave up at this point and just built a wall 85 miles across this narrow part of the country to keep us Geordies out.

It starts in the East at Wallsend (of course) which was a shipbuilding area near the mouth of the River Tyne near where I live and finishes past Carlisle on the West coast.

It was originally built of wood and a turf bank to get something in place quickly. Then later re-built much stronger from stone. There was also a deep ditch called the "Vallum" which ran along the south side of the wall. This was crossed at intervals with a causeway and fortified gate.

The modern main east/west highway follows the route of the wall. So you often see bits of the wall alongside the road.

Also over the last 2000 years people have built over the wall and other buildings so you have some houses that have bits of the wall or even a temple in their back yard!

Hope you like these Eddie.

[Eddie]

Love em, Thanks Dave, I have been studying this stuff and find it fascinating! They built it from wood initially. Wow, then replaced it or fortified it, what a human effort over 2k years ago! The people that have these bits of temple,stone, other man made structures, are they allowed to non-destructively investigate these "historical attributes"? Its equally amazing that the people allowed housing and construction while what appears to be a preservation effort of the artifacts at the same time. Thats really cool. The segendunum fort area is also large. Is there a reason for this? It almost looks like a burial area minus the grave markers.

[RedRaven]

What have the Romans ever done for us eh?!

[dave-r]

The people that have these bits of temple,stone, other man made structures, are they allowed to non-destructively investigate these "historical attributes"?

Not sure what you mean by that. You can't go digging around without permission. But you can look and touch. There are plenty of museums with all the details of what the ruins are and even who lived or worked in them.

Its equally amazing that the people allowed housing and construction while what appears to be a preservation effort of the artifacts at the same time.

Before the 20th century there was no interest in preserving old buildings. And I don't just mean in this country. No one in the world preserved old stuff. That is why they become ruins and rare in the first place.
The Victorians were the worst. They cleared anything in the way of modern development and industrialisation. No one cared.

You also have to remember that most of this stuff was under ground. Usually just a few inches or feet under the grass. The sites you see in those photos have been dug out. You can see that in many cases there are still bits under the grass that will require funding to dig up if they suspect any of it could yield interesting information.

But you have to understand. The best way to preserve these things is to leave them buried. Not exposed to the sun, ice, wind and rain.

The segendunum fort area is also large. Is there a reason for this? It almost looks like a burial area minus the grave markers.

They only found that a few years ago when they cleared away the engineering works and shipyards. Remember that this was the front line. They had a LOT of troops stationed here.
It is also very near where they started building the wall from. It is a big area. They have built a tall tower to one side so you can view it.

[dave-r]

What have the Romans ever done for us eh?!

Well apart from law and order, toilets, baths, roads, bridges, the importing of goods from around the roman world, ships, public holidays, etc etc...

Well nothing really.

[RedRaven]

What have the Romans ever done for us eh?!

Well apart from law and order, toilets, baths, roads, bridges, the importing of goods from around the roman world, ships, public holidays, etc etc...

Well nothing really.

All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us? Brought peace? Oh. Peace? Shut up!

Dave I have the spoken word soundtrack on Vinyl!!!

[Eddie]

That answered my question Dave Thanks! That first group of men looks like a family re-union of mine minus the drunks and cheap bellydancers If I lived there Dave, I would have geology/antiquities as a secondary hobby for sure. Near my home is an old Native Indian Burial ground. You can find arrow heads made from stone and beads there, but it's private property or owned by the railroad. The burial grounds themselves are distinguished by a gradual increase in elevation around the burial sites. I was also reading where the civilisations that used the wheel first where usually the ones that went on the offensive. Of course this comes much much later in mankinds history! It would make sense to fortify and build the structures tall and sturdy enough to prevent the enemy/invaders from breaching it. Amazing any of it lasted this long.

[Neil]

interestingly, I am currently reading a book about Romans in Britain, written by Terry Jones (he of Monty Python fame). It`s quite an eye opener.

Synopsis
"Terry Jones' Barbarians" takes a completely fresh approach to Roman history. Not only does it offer us the chance to see the Romans from a non-Roman perspective, it also reveals that most of those written off by the Romans as uncivilized, savage and barbaric were in fact organized, motivated and intelligent groups of people, with no intentions of overthrowing Rome and plundering its Empire. This original and fascinating study does away with the propaganda and opens our eyes to who really established the civilized world. Delving deep into history, Terry Jones and Alan Ereira uncover the impressive cultural and technological achievements of the Celts, Goths, Persians and Vandals. In this new paperback edition, Terry and Alan travel through 700 years of history on three continents, bringing wit, irreverence, passion and the very latest scholarship to transform our view of the legacy of the Roman Empire and the creation of the modern world.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Terry-Jones-Bar ... 064&sr=8-1

[Eddie]

Terry Jones book appears to be a good read and one that shows this interesting era from a completely different perspective. Comedian and researcher. He sounds like one of my favorite English authors Greg Palast! I will definitely have to get Terry Jones book after I order my LM-1 Meter of course! So different groups of invaders used these structures after the fall of the Roman Empire or did the Victorians establish themselves entirely?( BTW, Keep Donald Trump out of England/Scotland). It would just lower any property value!

[fal308]

Terry Jones had a history series on a while back. It was along the same lines as what the book must be about. It too was a look back at historicaal societies (Roman included) in a humorous and Monty Pytnonesque way. It was very enjoyable and not at all Alistair Cooke-eshe (Iknow it's not a real word, but we are talking around Monty Python ).
Like you all appear to be, I too am a student of history.

[Neil]

indeed, the book was written to accompany the BBC tv series

[patrick]

Be very carefull, Eddie. You know what happened the last time you checked out the sight. Stay focust. Many demon's out there! A688 Tomorrow, Pat

[Eddie]

Be very carefull, Eddie. You know what happened the last time you checked out the sight. Stay focust. Many demon's out there! A688 Tomorrow, Pat

Yeah you're right Pat! I must reaming on regular sites. No P**N sites for me. Not anymore. Not for that long. Just a bit ol chap!

[Tim]

What a great thread.

Those Google Earth images really give a comprehensive view of how buildings knitted together.

We live about 5 miles from a Roman city called Viriconeum (Wroxeter). Must take you next time you're down Dave.

For years and years people thought it was a small unimportant outpost, until they recently conducted a geophysical survey, and found it extends for some 10 miles in all directions (including under my house).

I feel a bit guilty about throwing all the old pottery away from when we first dug the garden over.

[Eddie]

Man, Tim that would be really cool. As Dave stated you are allowed to dig but must report everything correct. I wonder if any large scale construction projects are accompanied by people that know what to look for. With over 2000 years or more of civilisation under your feet it would be difficult to build on "virgin" ground eh? What happens when something of significance is discovered? I wonder if the Civil Engineers have an aggravating time making deadlines on their work if a crew kept finding items relating to the past? 10 miles in all directions is enormous! Tim, do you mean the actual living areas or the boundary of the site itself? Sorry for all the questions, Eddie

[Tim]

I got a book on the latest findings following a recent visit, so this is from memory (bear with me ).

The full extent of the site has still not been established due to lack of funds/ manpower/ access issues from local farmers, but it provably covers an area of 10 miles radius (and more). I don't think it was a city in the modern sense. More like a nucleus of traditional Roman buildings (bath house, villa, courts, excercise yard, etc) surrounded by a mixture of lesser Roman buildings and huts and stalls for the local celtic tribe (Cornovii). I think 'sprawling' would be a fair description.

There is evidence of wooden stockades and enclosures spread around the local villages, but these aren't strictly part of the city complex. More like outlying garrisons for the troops.

HTH.

[Eddie]

Thanks Tim, I saw you included a radius in your description of the area. This makes more sense now. It would still encompass a rather large area! Very interesting stuff. I would love to visit an area like that. I traveled overseas including the U.K. and France, middle east ect.. but I was only a small kid and only remember bits and pieces.

[Eddie]

During the Roman Empire there was a man that designed a complete Theatrical Play with miniature actors and characters all driven by hydraulics and block and tackle. The play lasted for hours and was completely automated once set in motion. He also designed huge doors which weighed thousands of pounds/kilos which were also opened automatically using the principle of hydraulics and weight/gravity. I forget his name but he was an ancient genius! His inventions were "showcased" by the Empire and included many inventions used on the battlefield as well and utilized by the Roman Soldiers. Damn, I forget his name, my friend is an engineer and I want to get a book on the subject, can anyone help, appreciate it Eddie!!