View source for Nidum

{{Short description|Roman camp at Neath, Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
[[File:Remains of Roman Fort of Nidum (Neath) - geograph.org.uk - 202248.jpg|thumb|right|Remains of the south-east gate entrance to the Roman fort at Nidum]]
{{OSM Location map
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| caption =  Map of the ramparts of Nidum Roman Auxiliary Fort, overlaid on a map of the Neath Abbey area of Neath, South Wales.<ref>{{cite book|title=Glamorgan Inventory, Vol 1, Part 2: The Iron Age and Roman Occupation| year=1976| author=Royal Commission  on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales | url=https://shop.rcahmw.gov.uk/products/glamorgan-inventory-vol-1-part-2-the-iron-age-and-roman-occupation-ebook?variant=29576736997441| page=79}}</ref>
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'''Nidum''' (or NIDVM) is a [[Castra|Roman fort]] found in [[Cwrt Herbert]] near the town of [[Neath]], in [[Wales]]. An [[Roman auxiliaries in Britain|Auxiliary]] fort first built in around 74AD from earth banks and wooden structures, it underwent a reduction in size from 3.3 to 2.3 hectares (8 to 6 acres) soon afterwards. It may have been garrisoned by perhaps 500 Auxiliary troops.<ref name=rb>[http://www.roman-britain.co.uk/places/nidum. roman-britain.co.uk: Nidum]</ref> It was abandoned in around 125AD, but re-occupied around 140AD when it was rebuilt in stone. However it was only occupied until 170AD, with 100 years of disuse before a final period in use from AD 275 and 320.<ref>{{Watprn|coflein|301350}}</ref>

==Name and road evidence==
The name ''Nidum'' was well attested by the 19th century. It is included in the [[Antonine Itinerary]], a Roman period register of forts and distances along various routes around the Roman world. ''Iter 12'' of the Britannia Itineraries, adjusting for errors in the medieval transcriptions, places Nidum 14 miles east of Leucarum (modern day [[Loughor]]), and 27 miles west of Bomio (an unknown fort, possibly [[Cowbridge]]). Bomio is itself listed as being 28 miles from [[Isca Augusta]] (modern day [[Caerleon]]). In the west the road is believed to have continued a further 23 miles from Leucarum to [[Moridunum (Carmarthen)|Moridunum]], the fort and walled town at [[Carmarthen]].<ref name=Iter>{{cite web|title=The Antonine Itinerary, Iter XII | url=https://roadsofromanbritain.org/iter12.html | website=The Roads of Roman Britain| author = Roman Roads Research Association| access-date=11 February 2023}}</ref> 

The clear similarity of Nidum and the Welsh ''Nedd'', helped confirm that a Roman Fort must have been built in the Neath area. Often identifiable lines of Roman roads have led straight to fort locations. However no evidence remains of the Roman roads leaving Neath either to the east or west. The routes are presumed to have existed however and are given the [[RCAHMW]] numbers 'RR60c' (to the east) and RR60d (to the west). These routes are classed as 'predicted' in the viscinity of Neath, so were no help in locating the fort of Nidum.<ref name=RR>{{cite report|title=Roman roads in Southeast Wales|first1=Andy |last1=Sherman |first2=Edith|last2= Evans| year=2004| series=GGAT report no. 2004/073 |publisher=Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust/ Cadw| url=http://www.ggat.org.uk/cadw/cadw_reports/pdfs/GGAT%2075%20Yr3%20Roads%20final.pdf}}</ref>

To the north-east another unknown route leads to the well-defined Roman road designated RR622.<ref name=RR/> It runs to [[Y Gaer]], (Brecon), via the 'Coelbren Fort' at [[Banwen]], which is {{convert|18|km|mi}} north-east of Nidum. This is one of various Roman roads in Wales traditionally known as the [[Sarn Helen]].

==Archaeological evidence==
The site was first identified in 1949 during work on the A474 road, which found the south-west gateway. A year later the south-east gateway was also discovered. Various excavations related to school or other building works took place in 1958, 1962, 1984–5 and 2011.<ref>{{Watprn|GGAT|00620w|title=Nidum Roman Fort (Neath)}}</ref> Finds recovered from these digs included roof and floor tiles, pieces of a 1st-century [[amphora]], fragments of kitchen- and table-ware ranging in date from the earliest construction phase to the early-2nd century. One or two pieces are from the mid-2nd century. Six coins were also found, ranging from Augustus (Imp. 23B.C. - A.D.14) to Trajan (Imp. A.D.98-117).<ref name=rb/> Some of the [[artifact (archaeology)|artifact]]s from the site were on permanent exhibition in the [[Neath Museum]], which has since closed with artefacts now in storage.<ref>https://nation.cymru/news/ms-supports-calls-for-new-museum-in-neath/</ref> The site is a [[Scheduled Ancient Monument]].<ref>Cadw SAM number GM215: Neath Roman Site</ref>

Much of the site is in the grounds of [[Dwr-y-Felin Comprehensive School]], where a 2011 dig found gate-towers of the earlier gateway, to the north-west of the ramparts of the reduced-sized fort shown on the map. Post-holes indicate that the towers extended out beyond the wall line, unique in Britain for its time, suggesting extreme defensive measures needed to be taken against the hostile [[Silures]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-12518683 Nidum Roman dig in playing fields] BBC Wales, 21 February 2011</ref>

==Visible remains==
After the 1949 and 1950 excavation of the two southern gateways the stonework was laid out for display. Two small enclosures now remain, surrounded by iron railings. One stands within the A474 roadside verge, whilst the eastern one occupies a corner of a housing estate, alongside the modern 'Roman Way'. It reveals the bases of the two gate-towers and a 'dual carriageway' between, Also shown is a section of the ditch that surrounded the ramparts, which would have been crossed by a timber bridge.<ref>{{watprn|GGAT|01804w|title=South East Gate of Neath Roman Fort}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Scheduled Monuments in Neath Port Talbot]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{coord|51.665|-3.814|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}

[[Category:Neath]]
[[Category:Roman fortifications in Neath Port Talbot]]
[[Category:Roman auxiliary forts in Wales]]


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