Caesaromagus Mansio

Mansio

The core of the settlement of Caesaromagus was a large mansio (rest house or temporary accommodation for travelling dignitaries), which had a large inner courtyard and its own bathing facility.

The Roman mansio was constructed in timber  cAD 120-125 incorporating a pre-exisiting bath block, with laconicum to the east. The timber phase was replaced cAD 130 with a masonry structure on virtually the same plan. Major building alterations and repairs took place cAD 150 and, after a fire in the Antonine period, in the Mid-to late third century. The mansio continued in use throughout the fourth centuryafter which the site was extensively robbed and then probably returned to agricultural use.

Excavations in 1985 added to the known plan of the building (see illlustration card). A burial ground surface predating the mansio produced mesolithic – early Neolithic worked flints, prehistoric pottery, and early Roman Samian and grog tempered wares.

Sites near Caesaromagus Mansio