Isca Silurum (Caerleon) was one of three permanent legionary fortresses in Roman Britain, established ca. AD 74-75 under Julius Frontinus as the base of Legio II Augusta during the subjugation of the Silures. Covering approximately 20.5 hectares (50 acres) in the standard playing-card plan, it remained in active legionary use until the late 3rd century, with diminishing occupation continuing into the 4th century before final abandonment.
Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →
As the western anchor of Roman military power in Britain — paired with Deva (Chester) and Eboracum (York) — Isca controlled the South Wales tribal territory of the Silures and served as the springboard for campaigns into Wales and the southwest. Its extramural settlement (canabae), bath complex, and amphitheatre made it the principal Roman urban centre in the region, while detachments of Legio II Augusta served on Hadrian's Wall and elsewhere across the empire.
Caerleon is exceptionally well-investigated: Mortimer Wheeler's 1926-1928 excavation of the amphitheatre, the Prysg Field barracks (the most complete legionary barracks visible in Europe), the fortress baths, and recent geophysics and excavation (2007-2011) by Cardiff University and UCL revealing a monumental complex of large courtyard buildings and a possible harbour/store outside the southwest defences along the Usk. Fin
Isca Silurum (Caerleon) was one of three permanent legionary fortresses in Roman Britain, established ca. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a fort site from the Roman period in Britain.
Isca Silurum is classified as a Roman fort — a military 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 Caerleon Roman amphitheatre (0.3 km), Great Bulmore (2.1 km), Carrow Hill Roman fort (9 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.
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