{"id":33539,"date":"2023-11-10T10:32:25","date_gmt":"2023-11-10T10:32:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sal.org.uk\/?post_type=tribe_events&p=33539"},"modified":"2024-04-16T16:21:46","modified_gmt":"2024-04-16T15:21:46","slug":"caesar-boulogne","status":"publish","type":"tribe_events","link":"https:\/\/www.sal.org.uk\/event\/caesar-boulogne\/","title":{"rendered":"Caesar, Boulogne, Portus Itius and Thanet \u2013 all sorted now?"},"content":{"rendered":"

ORDINARY MEETING OF FELLOWS LECTURE<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Caesar, Boulogne, Portus Itius<\/em> and Thanet \u2013 all sorted now? <\/strong><\/p>\n

by Mark Samuel PhD FSA MCIfA<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018Arguments about Caesar\u2019s naval expeditions are almost as old as British antiquarianism. There is however renewed interest in the topic. \u00a0Recent excavations (Andrews, Fitzpatrick, Walsh 2015) have been interpreted as proof that Caesar landed on Thanet. The absence of any mention of Thanet in Caesar\u2019s account makes this a bold assertion which has nonetheless enjoyed wide media acceptance. Caesars\u2019 account of Gaulish harbours also present more general problems and my study proposes a re-interpretation of Portus Itius<\/em> that is no less bold.<\/p>\n

I have re-analysed the sources presented in Caesar\u2019s Commentaries. <\/em>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.<\/p>\n

The generally-accepted identification of Portus Itius <\/em>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.<\/p>\n

In contrast to Fitzpatrick and others, I support the \u201ctraditional\u201d 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<\/em> with the regular defences capable of protecting Caesar\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Portus Itius <\/em>was the point of departure used by Caesar for both his expeditions. The Plaine Maritime<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n

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 \u2018aimed\u2019 from Dover to the chalk scarp overlooking Calais. Three classical values independently place \u00a0Portus Itius <\/em>in the general area of <\/em>Guines (a dark-age port). This is of course arguably true of Boulogne. This relocation of Portus Itus<\/em> makes sense of described conflicts with the hostile Morini <\/em>and Menapii<\/em> (the latter far to the east of Boulogne). <\/em>The various tidal and disembarkation problems Caesar describes also work well in this model, compared with the Boulogne coast.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Modern remote-sensing techniques are therefore needed in the large area of the Lydden Valley around Worth and west of the Delfs, <\/em>as well as the foot of the Cap Blanc-Nez<\/em> chalk massif and the historic harbor of Guines\u2019.<\/p>\n

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This event will be both in person at Burlington House and online. Please select the appropriate ticket below.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Attendance at Burlington House:<\/h2>\n