Luentinum or Loventium[1] refers to the Roman fort at Pumsaint, Carmarthenshire.[2] The 1.9 hectares (4.7 acres) site lies either side of the A482 in Pumsaint and was in use from the mid 70s AD to around 120 AD. It may have had particular functions associated with the adjacent Dolaucothi Gold Mines.[3] It formed part of a network of at least 30 forts across Wales, such as Llandovery, Bremia/Llanio near Llanddewi Brefi, and the fort at Llandeilo.[4] The Roman road Sarn Helen, which runs past the Llanio and Llandovery forts was nearby.
Map of the gold mine
The name Luentinum is mentioned in Ptolemy's,[5] 2nd century AD 'Geography', and is thought to relate to washing in reference to the Pumsaint gold mines.[6] The fort appears to have been founded as a square 5½ acre (2.25 hectare) Roman auxiliary fort controlling the adjoining gold mines, around AD 75 when Frontinus was governor of Roman Britain and active in subduing the Silures of Roman Wales.[7] The fort had an earthen rampart and double ditch. The date of first construction was determined from a Samian ware inkwell with stamp found in the early 1970s where the river bank had cut into the fort. On the east bank of the River Cothi, a few hundred yards south of Pumsaint village, was discovered a small double-roomed building with hypocaust and plain tessellated floors. It was probably the military bath-house. The internal buildings of the fort underwent a number of rebuildings until the fort was abandoned around 140. The surrounding civilian vicus then took over the area and, no doubt, also the mines. The fort is situated about halfway between similar forts at Llandovery to the east and Bremia or Llanio to the west, with Llandeilo to the south.
The fort was at the meeting point of several Roman roads in mid Wales.[8] These were the Ffordd Fleming which ran from Loventium to Menapia (St David's), the more southerly Via Julia which also came from St David's and met the Sarn Helen near Loventium, and the Hen Fford (old road) which came from Maridunum (Carmarthen).[8]
The name Luentinum appears only in Ptolemy's Geographia.[7] It appears to be related to the Brythonic word for 'washing', as suggested by George Boon of the National Museum of Wales. It refers to the hushing (hydraulic mining) methods used on the site for extraction of the gold, and the washing tables used to concentrate the gold dust and nuggets. It is one of the best examples of the application of advanced Roman technology in Britain, and compares with other Roman mines in Europe such as those at Verespatak in Transylvania and Las Médulas in northern Spain. It is a site of international significance and importance.
^"The History of Wales". Retrieved 2 January 2023.
^"Λουεντινον (Louentinon)". romaneranames.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
^Cauuet, Béatrice & Ancel, Bruno & Cowburn, Ian. (2000). The Dolaucothy Gold Mines, Carmarthenshire (Wales, U.K.) (Report). Retrieved 2 January 2023.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ ab"Luentinum: Roman Fort & Gold Mine at Pumsaint, Cynwyl Gaeo, Dolaucothi, Dyfed". www.roman-britain.co.uk.
^ abWilkinson, I. Gardner (1871), "Cromlechs and other remains in Pembrokeshire", Collectanea Archaeologica: Communications Made to the British Archaeological Association, 2, Longman, Green, Longman, & Roberts: 232
Bibliographyedit
"County of Cardigan" , 'Encyclopædia Britannica, 9th ed., Vol. V, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1878, pp. 94–5.
luentinum, loventium, refers, roman, fort, pumsaint, carmarthenshire, hectares, acres, site, lies, either, side, a482, pumsaint, from, around, have, particular, functions, associated, with, adjacent, dolaucothi, gold, mines, formed, part, network, least, forts. Luentinum or Loventium 1 refers to the Roman fort at Pumsaint Carmarthenshire 2 The 1 9 hectares 4 7 acres site lies either side of the A482 in Pumsaint and was in use from the mid 70s AD to around 120 AD It may have had particular functions associated with the adjacent Dolaucothi Gold Mines 3 It formed part of a network of at least 30 forts across Wales such as Llandovery Bremia Llanio near Llanddewi Brefi and the fort at Llandeilo 4 The Roman road Sarn Helen which runs past the Llanio and Llandovery forts was nearby Map of the gold mineThe name Luentinum is mentioned in Ptolemy s 5 2nd century AD Geography and is thought to relate to washing in reference to the Pumsaint gold mines 6 The fort appears to have been founded as a square 5 acre 2 25 hectare Roman auxiliary fort controlling the adjoining gold mines around AD 75 when Frontinus was governor of Roman Britain and active in subduing the Silures of Roman Wales 7 The fort had an earthen rampart and double ditch The date of first construction was determined from a Samian ware inkwell with stamp found in the early 1970s where the river bank had cut into the fort On the east bank of the River Cothi a few hundred yards south of Pumsaint village was discovered a small double roomed building with hypocaust and plain tessellated floors It was probably the military bath house The internal buildings of the fort underwent a number of rebuildings until the fort was abandoned around 140 The surrounding civilian vicus then took over the area and no doubt also the mines The fort is situated about halfway between similar forts at Llandovery to the east and Bremia or Llanio to the west with Llandeilo to the south The fort was at the meeting point of several Roman roads in mid Wales 8 These were the Ffordd Fleming which ran from Loventium to Menapia St David s the more southerly Via Julia which also came from St David s and met the Sarn Helen near Loventium and the Hen Fford old road which came from Maridunum Carmarthen 8 The name Luentinum appears only in Ptolemy s Geographia 7 It appears to be related to the Brythonic word for washing as suggested by George Boon of the National Museum of Wales It refers to the hushing hydraulic mining methods used on the site for extraction of the gold and the washing tables used to concentrate the gold dust and nuggets It is one of the best examples of the application of advanced Roman technology in Britain and compares with other Roman mines in Europe such as those at Verespatak in Transylvania and Las Medulas in northern Spain It is a site of international significance and importance See also editDolaucothi Bremia and Llandovery nearby fortsReferences editCitations edit EB 1878 p 95 Dolaucothi ID PRN1956 in the SMR for Dyfed Archaeological Trust DAT Coflein Unknown Trust The History of Wales Retrieved 2 January 2023 Loyentinon Louentinon romaneranames uk Retrieved 2 January 2023 Cauuet Beatrice amp Ancel Bruno amp Cowburn Ian 2000 The Dolaucothy Gold Mines Carmarthenshire Wales U K Report Retrieved 2 January 2023 a href Template Cite report html title Template Cite report cite report a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link a b Luentinum Roman Fort amp Gold Mine at Pumsaint Cynwyl Gaeo Dolaucothi Dyfed www roman britain co uk a b Wilkinson I Gardner 1871 Cromlechs and other remains in Pembrokeshire Collectanea Archaeologica Communications Made to the British Archaeological Association 2 Longman Green Longman amp Roberts 232 Bibliography edit County of Cardigan Encyclopaedia Britannica 9th ed Vol V New York Charles Scribner s Sons 1878 pp 94 5 52 02 43 N 3 57 42 W 52 0452 N 3 9616 W 52 0452 3 9616 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Luentinum amp oldid 1146320457, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
