Osmanthorpe is the site of a Roman vexillation fortress of approximately 11–12 hectares (around 30 acres), located in the Trent valley near Edingley/Halam in Nottinghamshire. It dates to the early Flavian period, probably the 70s AD, and was occupied only briefly — most likely a temporary base for a mixed legionary and auxiliary battlegroup during the northward push under Cerialis or Agricola.
Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →
As one of a relatively small number of vexillation fortresses identified in Britain (alongside sites such as Rossington Bridge, Newton-on-Trent and Malton), Osmanthorpe is significant evidence for the staged Roman military advance through the East Midlands toward Brigantian territory, occupying a position between the legionary base at Lincoln and operations further north. Its short occupation reflects the rapidly shifting military frontier of the 70s AD.
The site was identified through aerial photography, which revealed the playing-card outline of a substantial ditched enclosure with rounded corners and at least one gateway with titulus; limited trial excavation in the 1980s by the Trent & Peak Archaeological Trust confirmed the defences (ditch and rampart) and recovered Flavian pottery, but no substantial internal buildings have been investigated, consistent with brief or partly t
Osmanthorpe is the site of a Roman vexillation fortress of approximately 11–12 hectares (around 30 acres), located in the Trent valley near Edingley/Halam in Nottinghamshire. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a site site from the Roman period in Britain.
Roman vexillation fortress 310m and 530m south of Osmanthorpe Manor is classified as a Roman site — 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 Southwell (3.4 km), Roman camp 470m south of Carr Banks Farm (4 km), Thurgarton (7.3 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.
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Research the area around Roman vexillation fortress 310m and 530m south of Osmanthorpe Manor