Colonia Lindum (modern Lincoln) began as a legionary fortress established c. AD 60 for Legio IX Hispana, later occupied by Legio II Adiutrix, before being refounded as a colonia for veterans around AD 86–96 under Domitian — hence the full title Colonia Domitiana Lindensium. The settlement occupied the hilltop above the River Witham at the northern end of the Fosse Way, and expanded downhill (the "lower city") during the 2nd century, eventually enclosed by walls encompassing roughly 100 acres.
Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →
As one of only four coloniae in Britain (with Colchester, Gloucester and York), Lindum held the highest civic status available to a provincial town and likely served as a capital of the later province of Flavia Caesariensis under Diocletian's reforms. It was a major administrative and economic centre for the East Midlands, linked via the Fossdyke canal to the Trent and thence to the Humber.
Substantial remains survive, including the Newport Arch (the only Roman arch in Britain still spanning a road), stretches of the city wall, the east gate, and the colonnaded forum-basilica complex beneath Bailgate. Excavations have revealed a sophisticated water supply (including a possible pressurised aqueduct), the lower-city street grid, cemeteries outside the gates, and substantial townhouse remains with mosaics and painted plaster.
Colonia Lindum (modern Lincoln) began as a legionary fortress established c. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a settlement site from the Roman period in Britain.
Col. Lindum is classified as a Roman settlement — a civilian site in the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer. Roman Britain's archaeology encompasses thousands of sites ranging from legionary fortresses and marching camps to villas, temples and towns.
Several Roman sites lie within a short distance, including North gate tower of Roman Eastgate, part of Lincoln Roman colonia (Lindum) and part of Roman town wall and ditch (0.2 km), Lincoln Roman colonia (Lindum) (0.2 km), Section of Roman town wall S of the Bishop's Palace (0.3 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.
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