Durovernum Cantiacorum was a town andhillfort (Latin:oppidum) inRoman Britain at the site of present-dayCanterbury inKent. It occupied a strategic location onWatling Street at the best local crossing of theStour, which prompted a convergence of roads connected to the ports ofDubris (Dover),Rutupiae (Richborough),Regulbium (Reculver) andPortus Lemanis (Lympne). Considerable archaeological evidence of Roman activity has been found in Canterbury, much of which can now be found in theRoman Museum built on the remains of a Romantownhouse.
The nameDurovernum Cantiacorum isLatin for "Durovernum of theCantiaci", preserving the name of an earlierBritish town whoseancient British name has beenreconstructed as *Durou̯ernon ("Stronghold by the Alder Grove"),[1] although the name is sometimes supposed to have derived from various British names for theStour.[2] TheIron-Ageoppidum at the site was triple-ditched. The site seems to have been occupied andfortified by theRomans shortly after theirinvasion in AD 43. Military occupation continued until at least the time ofBoudica'srebellion.
There is no evidence of much development in Durovernum until theFlavian period (69-96), after demilitarisation.[3] It became thecivitas capital of theCantiaci (Cantii) tribes.
A large religious and administrative complex was soon established at its centre, consisting offorum andbasilica,temple enclosure andtheatre. The theatre, originally built around AD 80, was totally rebuilt in the early 3rd century. It was probably associated with religious festivals as much as the dramatic arts. Thepublic baths were just to the north-east. A number of other possible temple and/or church sites have also been identified. The town was enclosed by defensive walls in the late 3rd century and was given single-arched gateways. Private buildings within the walls were originally of timber, but were later replaced with stone and some furnished withmosaic floors. An extensive complex of wooden pipes serviced the town. Industries included brick, tile and pottery production, as well as bronze working. There were many commercial shops, notably a baker's shop with donkey-driven millstone. Cemeteries outside the town appear to have continued inChristian use andSt Martin's Church appears to be built around an old Romanmausoleum which stood in one of these.
Because of its links withGaul, Durovernum seems to have survived in good order until theRoman administration left around AD 410. However, after that, its decline was rapid. Mercenaries were hired to defend the town but they revolted. By the time of theBattle of Aylesford in the mid-5th century, theJutes had taken over the area. The British and Latin name survived as themedieval Latin placenameDorobernia orDorovernia,[2] but the town also became known inOld Welsh asCair Ceint ("Fortress ofKent")[4][5] and inOld English asCantwareburh ("Kentish Stronghold"),[6] which developed into the modern "Canterbury".
The CanterburyRoman Museum houses Roman artifacts from across the town, as well as an in situ Roman town house and its mosaics.
Sheppard Frere undertook excavations in Canterbury from 1949 to 1955 and 1980–1984.[7]
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