SITE OF ROMAN FORT

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 November 1936, Page 9

SITE OF ROMAN FORT

GIVEN TO NATION. A new addition'to the lis.t of places in the United Kingdom of historical interest preserved for the nation is the ancient Roman fort of Segontium in Carnarvonshire. The remains and tho site were presented to the nation by Mr. John Roberts, a native of Carnarvon. The site was first fortified by the Romans about the year A.D. 75. This date- is computed by Dr. Mortimer Wheeler of tho London museum from archaeological evidence obtained during his excavation work on the site in the years immediately, following the .World War. - The plze of the •/ fort suggested that it was probably meant to be manned by about 1000 mon. An original wooden fort was soon replaced by one of stone, which in its turn was remodelled in the early second century; and again in the succeeding two centuries. . The date of the last Roman occupation to judge from coins recovered (one of the Emperor Theodosius (379-395), one of Valentin-

ian II (375-392), and several of Gratan ,(367-383) would, according to Dr. , Wheeler, be from 380 to 385. The end of the Segontium buildings are found in the record of the builders of Carnarvon Castle for Edward 11. They paid, fdr the or squared stone; of the old'Rpman: foi't with a silver penny .di* "Henry 11. and five others-.of Edward 'l. Now one