More information : 'PETUARIA' is the only polis attributed by Ptolemy
to the civitas of the Parisi and its identification with the
Roman walled enclosure at Brough-on-Humber (SE 938268 - see
SE 92 NW 12) has depended almost entirely on the 2nd century
inscription (see SE 92 NW 27) found there in 1937. Excavations
of the site in 1958-61 (a) however revealed a chronology of military
rather than civil fortifications and building, and the location
of Petuaria was speculatively placed elsewhere. Wacher stated
that apart from the Romano-British settlement at North
Ferriby (SE 92 NE 7) there was no indication of major occupation
either east, west or north of the walled enclosure at Brough.
No traces of massive public buildings or defences usually associated
with a town have been discovered here, including the theatre which
is attested by the inscription (see SE 92 NE 12.1). Traces of the
town, however, are more likely to be found somewhere between the
walled enclosure and North Ferriby, probably nearer the latter
where the local topography is more suitable. Wacher suggested the
civitas capital may have been an example of a failed
town, like Chelmsford; the urban defences of which may not have
warranted construction, in which case any disused buildings may
have been robbed of their masonry when the stone fortifications and
new buildings at Brough were constructed in the 3rd and 4th
centuries. (1)
'PETUARIA' Rivet acknowledges Wacher's (Authy 1) suggestions
about the location of this name. (2)
|