Luguvalium

Luguvalium (or, possibly, Luguvalium Carvetiorum) was a town in the Roman province of Britannia. Today it is known as Carlisle, located in the English county of Cumbria (formerly in Cumberland).

Pre-Roman

Limited Iron Age occupation of the site presumably represents the Brythonic settlement of Luguvalion. The name means 'the strong place of Luguwalos' (Luguwalos is believed to be the personal name derived from the Celtic deity, Lugus). Or a proper name of a Celtic noble of the local Carvetii tribe. Luguvalium is the Latin form.

Roman

Around AD 72, the Romans built a timber fort on the site. Following its demolition around AD 103, a second timber fort was built. About AD 165 the fort was replaced by a stone fort^[1]. Timber structures further to the south-east were probably associated military buildings. These were later replaced in stone. When the civilian settlement in this area was enclosed by a stone wall is unknown, but it is generally assumed to have followed the line of the later medieval wall. The town probably became the civitas capital of the Carvetii tribe some time in the 2nd century. A single large stone building has been located which may have been for administrative use. Industry included copper working and tanning, while merchant traders were also in evidence. Inscriptions show there was a Mithraeum in the town and possibly a temple to Mars^[2].

Post-Roman

Romano-British occupation of Luguvalium seems to have been unbroken. It became known as Caer Ligualid in Old Welsh and possible 5th century buildings have been identified during excavation. Saint Cuthbert visited the town in the 7th century and described the high stone walls and an impressive fountain, presumably fed by a still functioning aqueduct^[3]. The place was under the control of a 'praepositus civitatis'.

References

1. ^ Pearce, John. Locations around Vindolanda. Vindolanda Tablets Online. Retrieved on 2007-01-29.
2. ^ Burnham, Barry C; Wacher, John (1990). The Small Towns of Roman Britain. London: B T Batsford. 
3. ^ Ford, David Nash (1996). The 28 Cities of Britain as listed by Nennius. Early British Kingdoms. Retrieved on 2007-01-29.

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