Exeter

• Exeter is a cathedral city located on the river Exe in the County of Devon in the South West Region of England.
• It was a Roman Legionary Fortress, Isca Dumnoniorum, which after c. 70 CE, became the capital city of the Domnonii Tribe, with a smaller fort and Roman harbour at Topsham.

History

• The Fortress was occupied by the Legio II Augusta between 56-66 CE, after which it moved to Gloucester and then eventually on to Caerleon, known as Isca Augusta.
• A number of Roman coins have been found, although none date after 380 CE.
• The Roman Forum, Basilica and Baths are too close to Exeter Cathedral to be excavated and displayed.

Roman Sites

• Roman Walls
  • The medieval city walls were built on top of the Roman Ramparts of the Fortress, with the Roman construction visible in the lower part of the walls.
  • The entire circuit can be walked with over 70% of the walls still intact.

Museums

Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery

• Located at Queen Street, Exeter. Open 10-5pm, closed Mondays.
• The Museum holds four main Collections of Antiquities, Art, Natural History and World Cultures.
  • Roman Empire Collection
    • The artefacts include Roman Amphorae, Brooches, Beads, Coins and Pottery.
  • Seaton Roman Hoard
    • 22,888 Roman Coins (Nummi dated between 260-348 CE)
  • The Erme Ingots:
    • These Artefacts are a group of 44 Tin Ingots were found in 1992 on the bed of the River Erme Estuary, 3 miles (5km) to the west of Burgh Island, which are thought to be either from the Bronze Age or the Iron Age.
    • The Ingots are round, oval and two are H-shaped, which would match the description by Diodorus Siculus (c.90-30 BCE) of Tin Ingots from southwest Britain in the 1st century BCE.

Roman Roads

• Fosse Way
  • Exeter-Cirencester–Lincoln
• Iter XV and Iter XII (sameroute)
  • Silchester–Old Sarum–Exeter

Roman Walls, Northernhay Gardens, Exeter