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Longovicium (or Lanchester Roman Fort) was an auxiliary fort on Dere Street, in the Roman province of Britannia Inferior. It is located just southwest of Lanchester () in the English county of Durham, roughly to the west of the city of Durham and from Consett. ==History== Longovicium was situated between the forts of Vindomora (Ebchester), and Vinovia (Binchester) on Dere Street, the main Roman road linking Eboracum (York) with Hadrian's Wall and beyond. It is about south of the wall, and was built on high ground with clear views around the site. Some archaeologists have postulated that a road may have existed connecting the fort at Longovicium to the one at Concangis, but this has yet to be proven. The fort is listed both in the Notitia Dignitatum and in the Ravenna Cosmography.〔(Longovicivm )〕 The name ''Longovicium'' is derived from Brittonic, '' *longo-'', "ship" and '' *uic-'', "warrior/fighter".〔Delamarre, Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise, Errance, Paris, 2003 (2nd ed.), p. 207.〕 A construction slab identifies the Legio XX Valeria Victrix (Twentieth Legion) as having built the fort, but as is usual, this gives no real clue as to when the fort was actually built. It is estimated to have been built later than the other forts on Dere Street, around 150 AD, and there are evidences that it was re-built around 230/240 AD and again in the early 4th century.〔 The fort had a typical rectangular 'Playing Card' shape and had four gates, being surrounded by a ditch. Despite never having systematically excavated the site, archaeologists have found the remains of the headquarters buildings, a bathhouse and some barracks buildings through the use of geophysical survey.〔(Keys To The Past, Ref No D1850 )〕 Remains of a nearby ''vicus'' have been found, and its traces can be seen through aerial photography. A cemetery was also discovered in the 20th century to the south west of the fort, with examples of stone-lined burials and cremations sites.〔(Keys To The Past, Ref No D2179 )〕 The fact that the fort is located on fields that have not been ploughed means its condition is remarkable, although stone robbing has taken its toll. A column, probably from the colonnade of the Commandant's House, can be found in the nearby All Saints Parish Church, as can an altar dedicated to goddess Garmangabis.〔 Andrew Breeze has argued that the Battle of Brunanburh took place at Longovicium. He interprets ''Brunanburh'' as meaning 'stronghold of the Browney', the river which passes the fort.〔 *〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Longovicium」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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