The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-08-14
SEEKING CAESAR
IN ROMAN RUINS

went. Gelligae-, CaStell COLLEEN ana
Caersws. So far, however. nothing /
has been done in the northwest cor
ner of the principality, that region or
Gwynnedd which occupies so large
space in the history of medleVal
Wales The proposed excavation OF
Segontium may enable this gap TO be
filed with accurate if not extensive
information.
The Roman fort of Segontium took
its name from the river (now the
Saint on which it stood, and occu-
pied the higher ground behind the
present town of Carnarvon, where IN
later age was built the church or
Llanbeblig. 1t was known TO the
Welsh as "Caer Saint" or "Y Gaer
vn Arfon" While inferior in import
| ance to the legionary stations at lsca
and Deva, it was fortress or some
| consequence. covering about hVe ana
half acres and serving, as l have
4 said as the terminus of the military
road which ran through North Wales.
And | may add that from Aberglas
lyn and Gortmadoe, in the nelghbor-
hood Of Carnarvon, Prince Mador ap
Owain Gwynedd is said In welsh
legend to have mustered his forces
and sailed in ten ships for the coloni-
cation of North America, toward the
end Of the twelfth century.
A Belgian Garrison.
An inscription of about 200 A. D.
chronicles the fact that at that time
the water supply Of the place was put
in order by the first colbert of Sunici.
and this auxiliary force, drawn or
partlv drawn from Belgium, may have
furnished the regular garrison OF Sc
gontium. No attempt has hitherto
been made to examine the site sys'
tematically, and, as was said by the
late Doctor Haverfield-than whom
no greater authority on Roman Brit
ain lived--"The spade alone can de
termine the successive stages whlcl
Roman Carnarvon may have expert
enced. This much is certain. There
is no site in North Wales. and only
one or two others In the whole PENN
sula. which are so likely, if properl!
{ and Systematically explored, to throw
light on the condition of the countr!
, In the later Roman and earliest post
: Roman ages"
} Chance finds that have already Deel
5 made are of considerable historical
value, particularly talisman
$ charm in the form of a thin plate o
f gold bearing magical characters and
t Greek inscription calling on sundr
e spirits to protect one Alphianos iron
!. owl II is probable that it was mao
e in Alexandria in the second century
: What had been its wanderings befor
Y II was crushed among the ruins o
: Segontinm!
The fragment of a similar charI
NAV be seen at York, and these max
the only two of their kind to be foun
In Britain.
Another find was the famous go.
crossbow brooch Of the fourth century
which is now preserved In the Carnal
Won town library.
In order to secure the land for tn
aurpose Of excavation, q number 9
people interested in Wefsh's archeo
oey. and with one exception residen
in the counties of CarnarvOn an
Anglesey, purchased the areas nea
the "Waterworks" in order that the
might be saved from the hands OF tn
builders and be systematically e.
plored. Three acres are within 10
wall of the fortress. and half an acr
lies without it. In addition to thes
two areas, 1t is probable that permi'
sion will be obtained to excavat
about three and a half acres imm'
diately adjoining the main site, on "a
northwest and northeast, and IN
vicar Of Carnarvon has stated that b
will put no difficulty. in the way
carving out excavation in the Vica
age garden. which lies within the wa
of Segontium and covers about
acre and half. The land availab
for excavation is therefore from thre
j and a half to eight acres In extent,
which the greater part lies With
the walls of the fortress. In view
the Importance and extent OF II
\. work. the services Of an expert e.
/ cayator will he obtained, and he wi
!. work under Instructions from Prof.
10 G. Rosanquet The work VIII
~ snread over two or more years. al
~ rasults will be keenly followed
al psychologists in both hemispheres.
Is anticipated that students and maj