Roman Tombstones from Templeborough
Now back on display in Clifton Park Museum are the three tombstones which have survived from the time of the first fort. During a much later rebuilding of the fort these three monuments to First Century inhabitants of Rotherham were knocked down and used as drain covers. These are the first known names of anybody who lived in Rotherham and were obviously persons of some wealth and note in their own time otherwise they would not have had memorial stones erected to them.
Roman Tombstones Details of the Inscriptions
DIS M CINTVSMVS M COH IIII GALLORVM POS MELISVS
Cintusmus 1st Century AD
He was an auxiliary soldier in the 4th Cohort of Gauls and was therefore probably born in Gaul
He died in the Roman fort at Templeborough.
"To the spirits of the departed and Cintusmus, a soldier of the Fourth Cohort of
Gauls, [this memorial was] placed by Melisus."
DIS MANIBVS CROTO VINDICIS EMERITO COH IIII GALLORVM ANNORVM XXXX MONIMENTVM FECIT FLAVIA PEREGRINA CONIVNX PIENTISSIMA MARITO PIENTISSIMO TITVLVM POSVIT
Crotus 1st Century AD
He was a veteran of the 4th Cohort of Gauls and therefore probably born in Gaul. He died at
Templeborough aged 40 years.
"To the spirits of the departed and Crotus Vindex, veteran of the Fourth Cohort of
Gauls, forty years old, this monument was made and its inscription set down by Flavia Peregrina
a most faithful wife for a most faithful husband."
DIS M VERECVD RVFILIA CIVES DOBVNNA ANNOR XXXV EXCINGVS CONIVX CONIVGI KARISSIMAE POSIT DE SVO
Verecud Rufilia 1st Century AD
Born in the Somerset/Gloucester area she was a citizen of the Celtic Dobunni. Her tombstone is
a record of one of the earliest known women in Britain. "To the spirits of the departed
and to Verecunda Rufilia, a citizen of the Dobunni, thirty-five years old, her husband Excingus
placed this for his dearest wife.