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CEREDIGION CYLCHGRAWN CYMDEITHAS HYNAFIAETHWYR SIR ABERTEIFI JOURNAL OF THE CARDIGANSHIRE ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY CYFROL (VOLUME) IV 1961 RHIFYN (NUMBER) 2 THE ROMANS IN CARDIGANSHIRE* IT is now some ten years or more since I was introduced to the Romans in Cardiganshire. On a summer's evening I had gone down to Pont Llanio, and was being shown over Llanio-isaf farm by the occupier when we came to a few mounds near a hedge. I had hardly suggested that this might be a promising spot for future excavation when two youngsters nearby were briskly ordered in Welsh to hurry up and get the pick and within a few minutes I was the rather embarrassed possessor of some very nice pieces of Roman tiles Exactly one hundred years ago a certain vicar had much the same experience on the site. 'Here', he writes, the tenant of the farm, a person of intelligence and courtesy, pointed out to us the site of several buildings. Here they dug up for us stones and the mortar of walls still in their courses under the ground The professional archaeologist may wince, but at least it shows the warmth of the welcome that has always been extended to visitors at Llanio-a welcome that is still happily offered in the person of Mr. Lloyd, the present occupier. The site, however, has now been scheduled. The days of indiscriminate casual digging-the mixed thrill of the welcome by the direct method -are numbered. Now how did the Romans come to be at Llanio ? For it must be confessed that, as far as Roman activity in Cardiganshire is concerned, this is about the only question that can be asked as yet with any certainty of a convincing answer. The story begins with the Claudian invasion of Britain in 43 A.D. The defeat of Togodumnus and Caratacus was followed by the rapid conquest of the lowland area of southern England, until by 50 A.D. we *An address delivered to the Society at Aberystwyth, 25 March 1961.