Isurium Brigantum: An Archaeological Survey of Roman Aldborough. By R. Ferraby and M. Millett. Research Report of the Society of Antiquaries of London 81. Society of Antiquaries of London, London, 2020. Pp. xv + 187, illus. Price £35. isbn 9780854313013

• Published in: Britannia Vol. 52; pp. 491 - 492
• Main Author: White, Roger H.
• Format: Book Review
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.11.2021
• Subjects: Archaeology; Reviews; United Kingdom > UK
• ISSN: 0068-113X; 1753-5352
• DOI: 10.1017/S0068113X21000209

The antiquarian record forms a substantial component of the current volume, while the data from the surface survey and geophysical surveys are available electronically (https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/275723/recent-submissions offers the easiest route into the whole archive, while https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/294062 supplies the digital layered plan and gazetteer). The argument is put forward that Aldborough has no convincing evidence for a military foundation or Iron Age predecessor, but rather, like London, was founded by civilian traders attracted by the wealth to be gained from the army's conquest of northern Britain. The creation of the town wall is tentatively suggested to lie in the later second century, with its northern edge located somewhat beyond and at an angle to the street grid, a line perhaps chosen to mark the edge of the floodplain (shown on fig. 4.2), increasing its visibility for those travelling to the site by river.