i 7 7 



Homan ISrougl) : = &nabto. 



Report of Preliminary Excavations, made for the Derbyshire 



Arclueological and Natural History Society, by permission of 

 C. S. Leslie, Esq., F.S.A., Scot. 



By John Garstang, B.Litt., F.S.A., 

 Reader in Egyptian Archeology, University of Liverpool. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



HE Roman conquest of Britain was completed in the 

 latter half of the first century, and the subsequent 

 military occupation, so far as Derbyshire is con- 

 cerned, began with the second and ended with the 

 fourth century. The geographical position of Derbyshire lent 

 to its history during this period a special interest, which the 

 natural features of its country also tended to subserve. 



Britain was a frontier province of the Roman empire, removed 

 considerably by distance and the difficulties of travel from the 

 centre of Roman civilization. It is not reasonable, therefore, to 

 look primarily for signs of luxury within the confines of the 

 island, or to expect many traces of Roman social influences : 

 rather, should be anticipated the familiar and somewhat 

 stereotyped monuments of an army controlled by a rigid system 

 which permeated the empire — votive altars, dedicatory tablets, 

 solemn fortresses, unmistakable signs reaching beyond the 

 limits of any real civilizing influence. Nevertheless, the mili- 

 tary garrison was not extended wholly over this country. 

 The fertile midlands and the uplands of the southern 

 coast were not only attractive to those who could afford 

 to cultivate them, but were also less easily defended than the 



\2 



