Happy New YearÂ
Essentially most theories align with the campaign model set out in the image above. Phase 3 could be amended to move the Roman position up or down Watling Street from Mancetter to Dunstable/Tring with no significant change in the diagram and all within reasonable commuting range of the Iceni homelands. This model does make it unlikely the battle was south of, or even as far south as, Verulamium in my view (just Occam's razor at play). My own view is that deviation from this model requires a very strong case to be made, but may be possible.
The Jurassic ridge was, and is, a significant feature in the country both physically (height and watershed) but also culturally (historic tribal divisions and, in my view, the basis of our current north/south divide). The combination of the ridge and Fens seem to me to mark an obvious northern limit to the Iceni campaign. The area south of the ridge would be dangerous territory for any large force moving south with it's eastern flank exposed and no topographic cover to seek until the Chilterns, a ridge that can be flanked to the north and south and its spine actively advanced along. Hence I favour a site on the southern face of the Jurassic ridge adjacent to a Roman and pre-Roman pass with highway, great river access, proximity to Iceni territory, a closed steep sided valley with features and material objects that can be interpreted as of 1st Century Roman military origin.
Nothing new here for the OG thread members but a summary for new readers which can be read in detail here;
https://www.academia.edu/102948828/Boudi...king_Draft
702,579
Essentially most theories align with the campaign model set out in the image above. Phase 3 could be amended to move the Roman position up or down Watling Street from Mancetter to Dunstable/Tring with no significant change in the diagram and all within reasonable commuting range of the Iceni homelands. This model does make it unlikely the battle was south of, or even as far south as, Verulamium in my view (just Occam's razor at play). My own view is that deviation from this model requires a very strong case to be made, but may be possible.
The Jurassic ridge was, and is, a significant feature in the country both physically (height and watershed) but also culturally (historic tribal divisions and, in my view, the basis of our current north/south divide). The combination of the ridge and Fens seem to me to mark an obvious northern limit to the Iceni campaign. The area south of the ridge would be dangerous territory for any large force moving south with it's eastern flank exposed and no topographic cover to seek until the Chilterns, a ridge that can be flanked to the north and south and its spine actively advanced along. Hence I favour a site on the southern face of the Jurassic ridge adjacent to a Roman and pre-Roman pass with highway, great river access, proximity to Iceni territory, a closed steep sided valley with features and material objects that can be interpreted as of 1st Century Roman military origin.
Nothing new here for the OG thread members but a summary for new readers which can be read in detail here;
https://www.academia.edu/102948828/Boudi...king_Draft
702,579
