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This accessible summary of the archaeological evidence from Roman Exeter reveals its origins as a legionary fortress garrisoned by the Second Augustan Legion. After the legion departed to Wales, Exeter became a Roman regional capital and continued to flourish on the very western edge of the Empire before its ultimate demise in the la
About the author
John Pamment Salvatore began his archaeological career in 1972 with the Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit, undertaking multi-period excavation in the historic city under the tutelage primarily of the late Christopher Henderson. After a decade 'in the field' he left for Birmingham University where he gained a degree in Ancient History and Archaeology before completing a Doctorate on the Roman Republican siege-camps of Numantia in Spain. Returning to Exeter in the early 1990s, he had two subsequent spells with the Exeter Unit, interspersed with eight years at English Heritage and some time as the City Archaeologist at Plymouth. He was back at the Exeter Unit (by then known as Exeter Archaeology) when it was wound up in 2011. Following the disappearance of the city's 'own' unit he spent the next decade working on various archaeological projects of all periods. However, he never lost his first heartfelt attachment to Exeter and its Roman past and he began to write this account of the Roman fortress and city only two weeks after his retirement in the Christmas of 2022.
Summary
This accessible summary of the archaeological evidence from Roman Exeter reveals its origins as a legionary fortress garrisoned by the Second Augustan Legion. After the legion departed to Wales, Exeter became a Roman regional capital and continued to flourish on the very western edge of the Empire before its ultimate demise in the late 4th century.
