ANCIENT BRITAIN

Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1929, Page 7

ANCIENT BRITAIN

A ROMAN AMPHITHEATRE. EXCAVATION REPORT. / (“Daily Mail.”) In a report, published for the Society of Antiquaries of London, on the excavation work carried out at the Roman amphitheatre at Caerleoo Monmouthshire, the story of the won ders unearthed there is told in fascinating detail. The amphitheatre was saved for the nation by the “Daily. Mail.” It is the only one to have been excavated in this country, and it attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world.

The historical reseach carried on there has, as the report-—cemmuoi eated to the Society Of Antiquaries by Dr. R. E. Martimer Wheeler, keeper of the London 'Museum, and Mrs Wheeler—makes clear, added greatly to knowledge of Ronian Britain. The Caerleon Excavation Committee was formed at the end of 102 a, and the presidents of the Society of Antiquaries, the British Academy, the Classical Association, the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, and other Ibodies, realising that Caerleon provided the only example of a legionary fortress which was not almost completely covered by mediaeval or modem buildings, issued a joint appeal. Dr. Wheeler says:— In reply to this appeal, the proprietors of “Daily Mail” newspaper came forward with an offer to supplr the unsubscribed portion of the fund immediately required. To • this very generous suggestion, however, we offered an amendment.

The amphitheatre, -known njobahl v since the Middle Ages as King Arthur’s Round Tahlle, had long been more than a local landmark, 'and .the. trial excavations carried out. in i 909 by the Liverpool Committee for Excavation and Research in-Wales .apd. the Marches had amply demonstrated', the excellent state of preservation ; of. the buried structure. It seemed Vo ,uf therefore, that the excavation of tlye amphitheatre and its • presentation to the nation would more amply reward the generosity .of the “Daily Njfail’ for its timely intervention, and would, incidentally encourage the public to assist in the less spectacular H-pt equally important work elsewhere- in and around the fortress. • . T

COST OF 2s. A TON

In the outcome the “Daily Mail ’ trebled its original offer, and, wrtli welcome supplementary grants winch its action drew from the Loyal Knights of the Round Table of America, enabled the Excavation Committee’ to clear the amphitheatre completely and to hand it over to the Office of Works for preservation a.’ a national monument. - The task involved the excavation, examination and cartage of nearly 30,000 tons of soil, and it may be of interest to record that in. 1926-7 the total cost amounted to just under tv,.o shillings a ton. . .' The foundation of the Roman fortress Dr. Whdeler puts as not likely to have been later than the consolidation of South Wales by Frenti ur.p about 75 A. D. It was oblong in plan, with sides roughly 540 and 450 yards in length and an area of about 50 acres. ■ Through this tract a Roman road, identified in 1927, ran straight for at least 300 yards from the south-west gate and was flanked on both sides by buildings. Of these the most, striking was the amphitheatre, which Dr Wheeler describes as “an oval structure with the following maiiv dimensions; over-all longer axis, 267 ft, shorter axis, 222 ft.; arena, longer axis, 184 ft. shorter axis, 1361ft',”

ASHES OF BURNT SEATS. There were eight .entrances and. including a reasonable allowance'for parapets, the arena wall must have risen to a height of about 12ft. above the 'arena, while the external wall must have risen to a height of about 32ft above the datum, although -its relative height above the varying but higher ground-level outside the amphitheatre was always some feet less. The maximum surviving height (ab'oye the arenal of the arena-wall is 7ft. of the exterior wall 16ft, and of the bank 19ft. . The seats mast certainly were,ol wood. No vestige of a stone sent was found. ... ■ The covered with a layer of ashes, which simacstod the burning of wooden The Caerleon amphitheatre as originally constructed was capable of seating about 6009 persons. The many finds providing evidence on which to reconstruct the • Roman history of Caerleon— inscriptions on stone,' pottery, coins, metal work, statuettes, intaglios, and so forth are described, discussed, and illustrated in this absorbing Tepoit.