London's Hadrianic War?. (2nd March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Perring, Dominic
• Is Part Of: Britannia. Volume 48(2017)
• Page Start: 37
• Page End: 76
• Publication Date: 2017-03-02
• Subjects: London, -- Hadrian, -- Walbrook skulls, -- head-hunting, -- Hadrianic fire, -- Cripplegate fort, -- revolt; Great Britain -- History -- Roman period, 55 B.C.-449 A.D -- Periodicals; Great Britain -- Antiquities, Roman -- Periodicals; Romans -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 936.10305
• DOI: 10.1017/S0068113X17000113
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0068-113X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Recent work has advanced our understanding of human crania found in London's upper Walbrook valley, where skull deposition appears to have peaked during the occupation of the Cripplegate fort, itself probably built soon after London's Hadrianic fire. Although this fire is usually considered to have been accidental, parallels can be drawn with London's Boudican destruction. This article explores the possibility that these three strands of Hadrianic evidence — fire, fort and skulls — find common explanation in events associated with a British war of this period. This might support the identification of some Walbrook skulls as trophy heads, disposed as noxii in wet places in the urban pomerium .