Archaeologists have discovered an ancient fort in Kent, England, believed to be part of Julius Caesar’s invasions of Britain in 55 and 54 BC. The fort was found in Ebbsfleet and was built in a style similar to other fortifications in France and Germany. The site also contained the remains of individuals killed in conflict, with non-British iron weapons, including a Roman pilum, found nearby.
Julius Caesar wrote of his raids on Britain, but there has never been any solid archaeological evidence. The first clue came in 2010, when a road construction project in the village of Ebbsfleet unearthed an ancient defensive ditch, but researchers weren’t sure of its origin. Further excavations in 2016 and 2017 confirmed that a fort once stood there and that it was built in a style similar to other fortifications found in France and Germany dating back to the time of Julius Caesar. Archaeologists are now convinced that the ancient fort, discovered in the southeastern English county of Kent, was once part of the Roman general’s invasions of 55 and 54 BC
All hail Caesar:
Ebbsfleet sits beside Pegwell Bay, overlooking the English Channel. The fort was probably occupied by Roman soldiers guarding more than 800 ships of the invasion fleet.
Archaeologists have also uncovered the ancient remains of individuals who had apparently been killed in a conflict. Their bones showed sharp cut marks and were found near several non-British iron weapons.
Weapons included an iron spear head identified as a Roman pilum, which is similar to weapons found in southern Gaul, where Caesar regularly recruited soldiers.
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