Re: Reverse engineering
Posted: 8:38 pm
Granted there were some uniquely "nouveau-Roman" sites. But on many sites that used to be just labelled Roman, whenever some serious fieldwork digging is done, surprise surprise, underneath the Roman stuff is pre-Roman Iron Age or even Bronze Age British stuff. Despite the veneer of Roman "sophistication", the Romans were highly adept at the "hostile takeover" of any business or trade of value. Only in a very few places in Britain did the Romans build something completely new and separate from what Britons had already started.
I am now of the view that nearly all "Roman" sites should be assumed to be re-branded older British sites unless there is clear evidence to the contrary. The Roman stuff is just the top layer or a veneer on a deeper and more ancient past.
I am now of the view that nearly all "Roman" sites should be assumed to be re-branded older British sites unless there is clear evidence to the contrary. The Roman stuff is just the top layer or a veneer on a deeper and more ancient past.