Javelin points to first real proof of Caesar’s invasion
THE first Roman invasion of Britain by Julius Caesar in 55BC is an undisputed historical fact, with accounts passed down by Tacitus, Cicero and Caesar himself.
Yet, despite a huge landing force of legionaries from 800 ships, no archaeological evidence for the attack or any physical remains of encampments have been found.
An excavation carried out in preparation for a roadbuilding project in Kent has uncovered what is thought to be the first solid proof of the invasion.
Archaeologists from the University of Leicester and Kent county council have found a defensive ditch and javelin spear at Ebbsfleet, a hamlet on the Isle of Thanet. The shape of the ditch is similar to Roman defences at Alésia in France, where a decisive battle in the Gallic War took place in 52BC.
Experts also discovered that nearby Pegwell Bay is one of the only bays in the vicinity which could have provided a harbour for such a huge fleet. And its topography echoes Caesar’s own observations of the landing site.
Dr Andrew Fitzpatrick, research associate from the University of Leicester’s school of archaeology and ancient history, said: “Caesar describes how the ships were left at anchor at an even and open shore and how they were damaged by a great storm. This description is consistent with Pegwell Bay, which today is the largest bay on the east Kent coast and is open and flat.
“The bay is big enough for the whole Roman army to have landed in the single day that Caesar describes.”
The invasion has long been seen as a failure because Caesar returned to France without completing the job. But Professor Colin Haselgrove, of the University of Leicester, said it was likely Caesar set up alliances with British royal families, and that it was 100 years later in AD43 the emperor Claudius invaded Britain.