Caesar, Boulogne, Portus Itius and Thanet – all sorted now?

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Caesar, Boulogne, Portus Itius and Thanet – all sorted now?

October 24 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

ORDINARY MEETING OF FELLOWS LECTURE

Caesar, Boulogne, Portus Itius and Thanet – all sorted now?

by Mark Samuel PhD FSA MCIfA

‘Arguments about Caesar’s naval expeditions are almost as old as British antiquarianism. There is however renewed interest in the topic.  Recent excavations (Andrews, Fitzpatrick, Walsh 2015) have been interpreted as proof that Caesar landed on Thanet. The absence of any mention of Thanet in Caesar’s account makes this a bold assertion which has nonetheless enjoyed wide media acceptance. Caesars’ account of Gaulish harbours also present more general problems and my study proposes a re-interpretation of Portus Itius that is no less bold.

I have re-analysed the sources presented in Caesar’s Commentaries. This analysis is combined with LIDAR and CAD resources not available to earlier researchers. Coastal change, often overlooked by archaeologists, is now much better understood. Re-appraisal of the historic sources can also benefit from classical distance measurements; likewise better understood.

The generally-accepted identification of Portus Itius with Boulogne was set in stone by Thomas Lewin MA in 1859. He and his wife drew on the various classical geographical and historical sources in a manner that is still useful today; despite ultimately flawed results.

In contrast to Fitzpatrick and others, I support the “traditional” landing points south of Sandwich on the Lydden Valley. Evidence for this may still exist if hidden in plain sight. Topographical study allows an identification of the Delfs with the regular defences capable of protecting Caesar’s entire beached fleet (second expedition) from anti-cyclonic winds. The possibility that this medieval aqueduct is a re-purposed Caesarean earthwork is therefore examined by me.

Portus Itius was the point of departure used by Caesar for both his expeditions. The Plaine Maritime was in Roman and Dark Age times a navigable body of water that extended from south of Calais to St.Omer. Marshes and salt-flats (those mentioned by Caesar?) also extended far to the east, but it is the west littoral that concerns us here.

I judge the cliffline at Dover to be the classical yardstick and this has only changed by a kilometer or so. Classical measurements (corrected) are therefore ‘aimed’ from Dover to the chalk scarp overlooking Calais. Three classical values independently place  Portus Itius in the general area of Guines (a dark-age port). This is of course arguably true of Boulogne. This relocation of Portus Itus makes sense of described conflicts with the hostile Morini and Menapii (the latter far to the east of Boulogne). The various tidal and disembarkation problems Caesar describes also work well in this model, compared with the Boulogne coast. 

Modern remote-sensing techniques are therefore needed in the large area of the Lydden Valley around Worth and west of the Delfs, as well as the foot of the Cap Blanc-Nez chalk massif and the historic harbor of Guines’.


This event will be both in person at Burlington House and online. Please select the appropriate ticket below.

Attendance at Burlington House:

  • Open to anyone to join, Fellows, Affiliates and General Public.
  • Places in person will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • The event will begin at 17.00 BST. Please arrive in plenty of time.
  • Tea/Coffee is served from 16.30 BST.
  • Registration is essential for non-Fellows but we encourage Fellows to register as well.
  • Fellows must ensure they sign the guest book and sign their guests in.

The schedule for the evening if attending in person:

  • Refreshments are served from 16.30 BST in the council room.
  • The meeting begins at 17.00 BST with the lecture starting at approximately 17.10 BST.
  • Lectures run for approximately 45min and are followed by a short Q&A.
  • Sherry is served in the Foyer following the lecture.

Attendance by Live Stream:

  • Open to anyone to join, Fellows, Affiliates and General Public.
  • The event will be live-streamed to YouTube here
  • The event will begin at 17.00 BST.
  • You will receive an email reminder with the link to join the day before the lecture.

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If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]

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Details

Date:
October 24
Time:
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Series:
Event Categories:
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