This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-22873707
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Oxfordshire's earliest recorded resident: Roman tombstone goes on display | Oxfordshire's earliest recorded resident: Roman tombstone goes on display |
(2 days later) | |
It is known that in a long lost town in the Oxfordshire of AD 79 an Italian immigrant died. | It is known that in a long lost town in the Oxfordshire of AD 79 an Italian immigrant died. |
The discovery of the tombstone of Lucius Valerius Geminus - a veteran of the Second Augustan Legion - has revealed to archaeologists the first known biography of any person to have lived in the county. | The discovery of the tombstone of Lucius Valerius Geminus - a veteran of the Second Augustan Legion - has revealed to archaeologists the first known biography of any person to have lived in the county. |
It was discovered in fragments in a field, once the bustling Iron Age town of Alchester, near modern day Bicester. It has been reassembled so it can go on public display. | It was discovered in fragments in a field, once the bustling Iron Age town of Alchester, near modern day Bicester. It has been reassembled so it can go on public display. |
Dr Chris Ferguson, curator of archaeology at Oxfordshire Museum Service, said: "His biography is probably the earliest for a veteran in the entire province of Britannia, and he is certainly the earliest for this region of Roman Britain." | Dr Chris Ferguson, curator of archaeology at Oxfordshire Museum Service, said: "His biography is probably the earliest for a veteran in the entire province of Britannia, and he is certainly the earliest for this region of Roman Britain." |
'Peaceful place' | 'Peaceful place' |
Lucius came from the Alpine foothills of northern Italy. | Lucius came from the Alpine foothills of northern Italy. |
It is likely he enlisted in the legion while it was stationed in Argentoratum, now Strasbourg, in France. | It is likely he enlisted in the legion while it was stationed in Argentoratum, now Strasbourg, in France. |
From there he would have joined the front line in the failed German expedition of AD 39, led by the then Roman Emperor Caligula. | From there he would have joined the front line in the failed German expedition of AD 39, led by the then Roman Emperor Caligula. |
The emperor came to an early end, murdered at 29 with his wife and daughter, but Emperor Claudius' invasion of Britain in AD 43 may have brought Lucius greater glory. | The emperor came to an early end, murdered at 29 with his wife and daughter, but Emperor Claudius' invasion of Britain in AD 43 may have brought Lucius greater glory. |
Like most Roman soldiers his service lasted about 30 years. He retired at the legion's then main base in Alchester. | Like most Roman soldiers his service lasted about 30 years. He retired at the legion's then main base in Alchester. |
Nicholas Purcell, Camden professor of ancient history at Brasenose College, said: "This is right at the beginning of the Roman conquest, so Alchester looks like the earliest settlement by some way. | Nicholas Purcell, Camden professor of ancient history at Brasenose College, said: "This is right at the beginning of the Roman conquest, so Alchester looks like the earliest settlement by some way. |
"There was, it seems, no Roman Oxford." | |
Dr Ferguson added: "They were constructing the roads from Gloucester, over to Alchester and Cirencester, and there are a number of Roman towns... Dorchester in the south, and Silchester down in Berkshire. | |
"It becomes quite a peaceful place over the period of the Empire. A lot of villas are built, there are lots of big expanses of farmland, with people growing crops, trading in the towns and exporting their wealth out of the region." | "It becomes quite a peaceful place over the period of the Empire. A lot of villas are built, there are lots of big expanses of farmland, with people growing crops, trading in the towns and exporting their wealth out of the region." |
'Quite sad' | 'Quite sad' |
Archaeologists say a surviving tombstone from this early period of the occupation is very rare. | Archaeologists say a surviving tombstone from this early period of the occupation is very rare. |
Its discovery was an accident. Smashed to pieces and used as part of a wall, it was found during the excavation of Alchester's town gates in 2003. | Its discovery was an accident. Smashed to pieces and used as part of a wall, it was found during the excavation of Alchester's town gates in 2003. |
Dr Ferguson said: "It's quite sad. It's a town you wouldn't normally know about if you're going to modern day Bicester." | Dr Ferguson said: "It's quite sad. It's a town you wouldn't normally know about if you're going to modern day Bicester." |
The fragment specifying Lucius' age is only partially complete, but he was between 49 and 52 years old. | The fragment specifying Lucius' age is only partially complete, but he was between 49 and 52 years old. |
The inscription, translated from Latin, reads: "'To the souls of the departed: Lucius Valerius Geminus, the son of Lucius, of the Pollia voting district, from Forum Germanorum, veteran of the Second Augustan Legion... lies here. | The inscription, translated from Latin, reads: "'To the souls of the departed: Lucius Valerius Geminus, the son of Lucius, of the Pollia voting district, from Forum Germanorum, veteran of the Second Augustan Legion... lies here. |
"His heir had this set up in accordance with his will." | "His heir had this set up in accordance with his will." |
So Lucius left behind a family whose descendants are possibly still in the UK today. | So Lucius left behind a family whose descendants are possibly still in the UK today. |
Professor Purcell said: "Forum Germanorum, where he was born, was a pretty obscure little place... he may not have had much reason to make the journey home. | Professor Purcell said: "Forum Germanorum, where he was born, was a pretty obscure little place... he may not have had much reason to make the journey home. |
"They rebuilt Colchester as a city for Roman veterans, and if I had been Lucius I'd have been hoping for a nice town-house there for my last years." | "They rebuilt Colchester as a city for Roman veterans, and if I had been Lucius I'd have been hoping for a nice town-house there for my last years." |
With reconstruction complete, the monument to this once unknown soldier will be displayed at the Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock from 20 July. | With reconstruction complete, the monument to this once unknown soldier will be displayed at the Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock from 20 July. |
Previous version
1
Next version