Lindum
Lindum, known today as Lincoln, is a historic city in northeastern England, originally part of the tribal territory of the Coritani. The name Lindum derives from a Celtic term meaning "marshy place," though much of the city is situated on an escarpment north of the Witham River. Following the Roman conquest, Lindum gained strategic importance as a crossroads for two major Roman routes, the Fosse Way and Ermine Street. It evolved from an auxiliary fort in the late 40s AD to a prominent legionary fortress by the 60s, later becoming a Roman colony around 90 AD.
The city's fortifications, including the still-standing Newport Arch, demonstrate its military significance and architectural evolution over the centuries. The Newport Arch served as a main entrance to the upper colony and was part of an extensive system of defenses that underwent various reconstructions, particularly during the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Archaeological excavations have revealed remnants of ancient structures such as a forum and aqueduct, highlighting Lindum's role as a communications hub throughout the Roman period. Additionally, significant discoveries, including over 1,600 Roman coins found in the 1970s, continue to shed light on its rich historical heritage.
Subject Terms
Lindum
(Lincoln)
A city in the northeastern part of Britannia (England), deriving its name from a Celtic word signifying a marshy place, although the major part of the town stood on an escarpment north of the river Witham, which flows through a gap in the limestone ridge known as the Lincoln Edge or Cliff.
In pre-Roman times Lindum belonging to the tribal territory of the Coritani. After the Roman conquest it achieved importance as the meeting point of two major routes, the Fosse Way and Ermine Street, leading south and north respectively. Already, perhaps, an auxiliary fort in the late 40s AD, it seems to have become a legionary fortress in the sixties, housing first one legion and then another until c 74/76. About 90, a colony was established on the same hilltop site, and continued until the end of the Roman period to fulfil a significant role as a communications center. From the time of Septimius Severus (193–211) Lindum belonged to the province of Lower Britain (Britannia Inferior), and in the later empire to Flavia Caesariensis.
At the northern extremity of the Upper Colony—which occupied the site of the fortress—stands the Newport Arch, which consisted of a carriageway flanked by two footways, and still spans the street. It forms part of a system of fortifications which is largely visible and has been extensively studied. After 48/60, it has been concluded, the legionary fortress possessed earth and timber defences flanked by a ditch; next, c 71, the gate towers were enlarged, and timber towers were added to the ramparts. Stone walls were built c 100, and stone fronts added to the timber gate towers; then c 210–30 the gates were solidly reconstructed with flanking towers. Further adjustments took place after 300. The Upper Colony was enlarged by the creation of a Lower Colony to the south. The earliest defences of this Lower Colony, which consisted of a rampart fronted by a stone wall and a system of ditches, were built in the late second or early third century.
Within the Upper Colony a massive colonnade has been preserved (in a house at Bailgate). Recent excavations have also conclusively located the site of the forum, on the site of the former church of St. Paul-in-Bail. Sections of an aqueduct approaching the northeastern corner of the hilltop site have also been brought to light. Suburbs extended along Ermine Street and perhaps along the Fosse Way as well. During the 1970s, 1,624 Roman coins were found at sixteen sites in the city, and since then similar discoveries have continued to be made.