Dubris

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Portus Dubris ( Dubris ) is the collective term for a Roman port, a settlement and two forts on the urban area of ​​Dover, County of Kent, England.

Portus Dubris occupied a key position in the trade and was the headquarters of the Classis Britannica on the British side of the English Channel. It was one of the two main gates to the Roman Kingdom and thus also one of the busiest centers for the waterway that connected to the Gallic coast, the island with Portus Itius / Gesoriacum (now Boulogne -sur -Mer ). The Roman fleet controlled from here the waters of the English Channel and the North Sea.

From the 3rd century Dubris was also part of the chain of the so-called castle Litus saxonicum ( Saxon Shore ). The port had ever a lighthouse on the western and eastern side of the harbor entrance. Inside the castle is the Eastern Roman lighthouse still well preserved. It serves the Church of St. Mary in Castro as a bell tower. This church was built with building materials from the ruins of the late Roman camp.

While many channel ports of ancient Britain were unusable due to siltation over the years, Dover has retained its position as an important economic and tourist harbor today.

• 9.1 east tower
• 9.2 West Tower

Name

The ancient name means " the river port Dubras ". Dubras is derived from the Celtic term ( = water ).

• Claudius Ptolemy mentioned it as Portus Novus.
• In the Antonine Itinerary of the port ( Iter III) in Britain appears as the starting point of the third route ..
• In the Notitia Dignitatum of the 5th century, in the
• Tabula Peutingeriana and in the 7th century when
• Geographer of Ravenna is mentioned as a Dubris the place.

In Anglo-Saxon times, the place under the name Douvrae was known. In Anglo-Saxon texts, it is also called Dofras, Dobrum, Doferum and Doferan.

Location

Dubris stood on the coast of the English Channel, on the western shore of the estuary of the River Dour, and was 34 km from Cap Gris Nez, Calais, and 40 km from Bolougne -sur -Mer, both located in what is now France, away. The route Dubris - Gesoriacum was the shortest connection between the mainland and the island because of its geographical location. Dubris was also one of the few places in this region, which allowed a smooth landing between the steep cliffs of an average height of 100 m. Besides Rutupiae Dubris was one of the starting points of the Watling Street ( Anglo-Saxon: Wæcelinga Straet ), a Roman road to Durovernum Cantiacorum and Londinium. She was one of the first major military roads that were created by the Romans in Britain. From Londinium from took them to St. Albans ( Verulamium ), Dunstable ( Durocobrivis ), Towcester ( Lactodurum ) to Wroxeter ( Viroconium ) in the north, then branched to Wales and in the metropolis of the north, York ( Eburacum ) from.

History of Research

In the 19th and 20th centuries, a massive harbor wall and smaller investors were discovered. These findings demonstrated the existence of a larger Roman port. The late antique fortress was first investigated and described in 1929 by Mortimer Wheeler. A series of excavations to confirm this identification, but failed. A detailed analysis of the available evidence up to that point was not published until 1970. The extensive rescue excavations by the Archaeological Rescue Unit Kent ( KARU ), due to the construction of a bypass road and the redevelopment of the city center, started in 1970. Here, a terrain in size from about 8 ha was studied in the city center. The excavation area was partly high of over 7 m silt and erosion deposits from the adjacent western hills ( Western Heights ) covered. The year 1970 also marked the beginning of a - more than 30 years of - series of rescue excavations of KARU that led to the discovery of a further wealth of building structures from the Roman and Anglo -Saxon times. By 2010, the Saxon Shore fort 200 m of the South and the West Wall, seven of its towers, the moat, the inner wall of earth and some sections of the inner region were explored.

The oldest finds from the region around Dover date from the Bronze Age. In 1974 there were bronze axes, probably from Gaul, in 1992 found the remains of about 17 m long antique boat. Both findings can be seen in the Dover Museum. To find spectrum include, inter alia, two Roman altars, a statue, two stone heads and a large number of Roman gems. On one of them a gladiator scene was shown.

Development

The traces of settlement in Dover rich almost 4000 years back. Gaius Julius Caesar tried BC to land with his fleet on the beach of Dubris in the year 55, but failed because the British had massed on the surrounding cliffs their forces. 43 AD was occupied the region around the mouth of the Dubras by the troops of Aulus Plautius. In the early 2nd century a first fort was established here by the Roman Channel Fleet. Dubris counted now Rutupiae next to the main Roman ports on the British coast. West of Castle Lemanis were the iron mines of the South Downs, they were probably administered by Dubris from.

In the late 3rd century Roman military built during the Ausbaues of Wash - Solent limit to protect against attacks by the Angles and Saxons over the former fleet bearing a new fort. In the construction of the Saxon Shore fort in Dubris they took no account of more on the older structures, suggesting that there was no continuity of settlement in the area between the port and the late antique fortress. The ships of the Classis Britannica were stationed mainly in the southern and eastern ports of the island. Their patrols monitored the Oceanus Britannicus, to respond quickly to potential pirates can intercept and destroy their prey ships as soon as they appeared in the English Channel. During this time there were a variety of reasons reinforced efforts of the barbarians to come to the island to loot there or to settle permanently. Could not prevent their landing, the fleet attempted to cut off the retreat of the sea marauders.

After withdrawal of the Romans in 410 and the defeat of the Romano - Britons at Aylesford 455 and 457 at Dover Crecganford coincided with Canterbury and Richborough in the hands of the Saxons under Hengist. He founded the first Saxon kingdom on British soil. In the 6th century, a Saxon settlement ( Douvrae ) established within the fort, which existed until the 10th century.

Fleet castle

The multi-phase medium- Roman Iron Age fort stood near the coast, on the slopes of the Western Heights and is now largely under the Dover town center ( approximately in the range York Street (A 268) and Queen Street ). It covered an area of ​​approximately 2 ha and was probably one of the most important base of the Classis Britannica in Britain. It was the only Roman naval base in the UK, which has been systematically investigated. Two limited excavations gave an idea of the appearance and spread of the fortress. It certainly was - like most Roman forts this time - quadratic, since the Southern and Western Wall each an angle of 90 degrees was observed.

The first phase ( probably around 117) remained unfinished. From her KARU could uncover the remains of the fort wall and three barracks blocks in 1970. A second fort ( at the same location ) it replaced and was occupied from 130 to 155. During this time the enclosing wall, a moat, two gates, up to 14 indoor buildings, warehouses roads and sewers were built. The fort appears to have been subsequently abandoned. From 190-208 it was again occupied by Roman troops, but after finally met its demise. To many of its 270 buildings had already collapsed and covered with a layer of soil. From the position of the enclosure of the north gate (at the Discovery Centre ) is known. The interior building included the Principia with administrative offices ( Officia ), barracks, two granaries ( horreum ) and a latrine. Some of the walls were still trains up to 3 m high at its exposure. It was the best-preserved Roman military building in southern Britain. During the excavations also about 800 brick temples were rescued.

Saxon Shore fort

Built by 270 multi-phase and 5 -acre camp was located on the west bank of the Dourmündung. It was partly on the grounds of the fleet fort (NO - corner). The slightly warped to the northwest, trapezoidal system consisted of a massive stone wall with semicircular, projecting far in front of the wall bastions. The floor plan is strongly reminiscent of those of Castle Burgh Castle. So far, only the southwest corner and parts of the southern and western walls were excavated. It was four towers are examined more closely. When it was abandoned by the Roman army, is unclear. It is very likely that it was occupied from the 6th century by Anglo-Saxons, who founded a settlement here.

Safety fence and digging

In the excavation, individual sections of the wall still presented in a relatively good state of preservation. There were several phases of expansion can be distinguished. They were built mainly of limestone, tuff, probably largely derived from the rubble of the fleet fort. A 7 m long section of the Western Wall, the average rooms 3 and 4 of the mansio from the 2nd century ( Painted House ). During construction of the fort wall mainly locally available stone material was used. Its width from 2.3 to 2.6 meters. It was additionally supported and strengthened, which also served as a rampart walk at the same time by an inner earth ramp ( Intervallum ). The outer casing was made up of hewn tufa blocks, the inner filling usually made only roughly trimmed Kreidekalkblöcken together. Your foundation consisted of a mortared rubble stone tile conglomerate. The latter came from demolished earlier buildings in the vicinity. Also the wall core contained much recycled material. Apart from a slight gradation in the foundation on the outside you could otherwise find no other special features.

Approx. 5 m in front of the wall ( south and west side) there was an approximation obstacle a 7.5 m-wide, V -shaped moat, which was spanned by a bridge at the main gate.

A total of seven half-round towers or bastions have been able to be located at distances from 23 to 30 meters. Two building types were identified. Some were built into the wall, others obviously been retrofitted, possibly the distances were otherwise have been much too large. One of them stood on the remains of the rooms 5 and 6 of mansio, stonework was still get 4-6 m high at the excavation. Also in the composition of the building materials are significant differences were found. The first scale tower structures made ​​of limestone and tuff. The added later copies were built of flint rubble stone and were provided on its outside with brick bands.

Internal buildings

In the castle, the remains of 11, built in the late Roman era, wooden buildings were discovered with circular, square and oval floor plans and pit houses, ovens and pits. The spa of the Vicus from the 2nd century has been integrated into the Saxon Shore fort, rebuilt and used. It was probably built by marines. They found well-preserved remains of a great furnace, and a series of rooms with Hypokaustenheizung and water basins. The rooms were all grouped around a large courtyard. The southwest corner of the fort had been thrown up, was then leveled and planted with smaller, oval, cabins and timber-frame buildings.

The internal buildings of the Anglo-Saxon period consisted mainly of pit wooden houses with clay soils in different sizes. Overall, traces of about 18 wooden buildings and their charred wall planks were found in situ. They provided new insights into the construction in the 7th century. In addition, there was evidence of a larger hall with stone floor and a paved road that was used by the 7th to the 10th century.

Weaving

During the excavation in room 1 of the remains of a mansio about 7 mx 4 m large wooden pit house from the Anglo- Saxon period have been discovered (about 800 AD), which had been destroyed by fire. It was a simple, makeshift hut made ​​of planks and posts. Typical of Anglo-Saxon houses in the 5th to 8th century. The building probably the workshop of a weaver was housed. In the excavation nearly 200 round sound and loom weights were recovered.

Garrison

The crew of the fleet fort in Dubris consisted of members of the Classis Britannica, with their ships, the waters around Britain and monitor especially the English Channel should. In the late Roman fort was the end of the 4th century, according to the Notitia Dignitatum a Praepositus Soldiers Tungrecanorum Dubris, " commander of the soldiers of the Tungrecani in Dubris ", under the command of the Comes Litoris Saxonici by Britanniam stationed.

Port

The result of the natural conditions of well-protected harbor was founded around the year 50. He was initially relatively small in size, had a wooden wharf and consisted mainly stayed out of the camp of the Classis Britannica, and a mansio. The mouth of the Dour at the time was still 3.4 kilometers wide, the tidal range was up to 3 m. Later it was blocked by a massive east- west trending wall. The warships and several auxiliary and cargo ships moored at investors who lined up on the west bank of the estuary.

Lighthouses

Soon after their landing in Britain (43 AD), the Romans built in Dubris a lighthouse ( Pharos ). This and the subsequent second tower stood on the two - the harbor basin flanking - hills ( Eastern Heights and Western Heights ) on the - at that time still much broader - estuary. By Lighthouses navigation was much easier, because you firelight from both sides of the canal - were clearly visible - under a cloudless weather. At night he was further increased by a reflector made ​​of polished copper. On the day the smoke column headed the ships. The towers were probably operated by soldiers from the fort fleet. The bricks used in the construction of the Classis Britannica ( stamp Cl BR) were of the same nature as that of the mansio and fleet fort. The building will, therefore, be all emerged at the same time. Later, the eastern tower was converted into a watchtower. The church of Saint Mary in Castro was built in the late 10th or early 11th century. Its walls contained many re-used Roman bricks. Since about 1252 the east tower served as a belfry of the castle church. As part of a comprehensive rehabilitation program, he has been renovated from 1580 to 1582, it provided, inter alia, with a new floor and roof in order to use it also as a powder magazine can. In 1724, William Stukeley reported that the Ordnance Office ( Ordnance Office ) had to remove the roof again. However, it is unclear whether Stukeley was referring to the eastern Pharos, but very likely.

East tower

The eastern lighthouse stands today within Dover Castle and is the tallest of the still preserved Roman building in Britain. He was very similar to that specimen, the Emperor Caligula in the occasion of his - was built by invasion of Britain - failed. He should have been in Lugdunum Batavorum. The earlier mentioned in this context frequently Boulogne -sur -Mer probably separates from the considerations, as there is no evidence of a Roman presence in the time of Caligula there. For The outer layout is octagonal. His original eight floors tapering to stepped up and gave the structure so that a telescope -like appearance. Today, only the first four get more, but badly weathered, a consequence of its exposed position on the hill. The interiors are quadratic in contrast. It is 12 m wide and reaches today a height of 13 m. Its original height, should have amounted to around 25 m. The walls are up to 4 m thick. They are made of flint, brick and tuff. Windows and entrance are curved, in the arches was alternating tuff and brick bricked up, so as to create a painted effect. The 5.8 m high tower crown dates from the 15th century.

West Tower

A rediscovered in the 1860s ruined wall of the western lighthouse is called " Brede Stone ," " Caesar's altar ", and even " devil drops " and is now within the walls of the so-called Drop Redoubt ( Western Heights ), a coastal defense fort from the 18th century. Judging by the recycled roof tiles of the Classis Britannica, the tower is likely to be incurred until the 4th century.

Vicus

The slightly sloping site of the Roman vicus of Dover probably covered at least an area of ​​10 hectares and was located on the western shore of the estuary of the Dour, or on the north side of the naval fortress. The civil settlement was probably in the late 1st century. Most of the houses were built of wood and stone and decorated with mosaic floors and painted stucco. Although some larger stone building, basilica, forum, temple and also a bathroom could be detected, it seems never to have reached urban proportions.

Mansio / Painted House

North of the fleet fort stood a two-story building, which was built 150-160 AD and was later rebuilt several times. The parts of the final expansion phase - 200 - were particularly well received, as they were covered in Late Antiquity of the Western Wall and the inner rampart of the Saxon Shore fort. The " Painted House " originally included probably 80 or more rooms and is one of the most famous Roman buildings in Britain. The motives of his murals and the proximity of the building to the fort, the harbor and the naval base led first to believe that it was only an ordinary brothel. This hypothesis was rejected again because frescoes were very thematically in Roman brothels, like those of Pompeii was seen. Bacchus motives were, however, very common in homes. Most scientists also believe that the premises for a brothel were much too small.

It was discovered during the construction of the ring road A256 in the 1970s. The Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, headed by Brian Philp to five rooms expose ( each 18 x 16 m ) and a landing area in front and to preserve succeeded. It was a - some with wall and floor heating ( hypocaust ) equipped Roman mansio. Three of the rooms were heated by means of an externally applied arc furnace. During the excavations we came across - in some places still - 6 m high walls with exquisitely preserved wall paintings, most extensive that has ever been north of the Alps found. They showed on multicolored framed panels in 3D effect architectural motifs such as fluted columns. On 28 plates are found mainly representations of Bacchus, the Roman god of joy and enjoyment of wine, and Ariadne ( about five pieces per wall).

Inscriptions

From Dover three Roman inscriptions are known. One was dedicated by a Roman official in the provincial capital of the matrons. Another text ( EVSEB III IV IV [ ius ?] ... VSI ...... ST ... ) was heavily damaged.

Notes

A small part of the late antique fortress was preserved and can be visited on request at the Dover Library and Discovery Centre (formerly the White Cliffs Experience). The largest - public - Roman remains are the Painted House, where the walls of the mansio, the Saxon Shore fort and the fort can be visited the fleet.