Editing Caerleon (section)

===Roman era===
{{Main|Isca Augusta}}
[[File:Roman Legions camps - AD 80.png|thumb|A map of Roman legionary camps in Europe with Caerleon (3) noted|alt=|left]]

Caerleon is the location of a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] legionary fortress or ''[[castra]]''. It was the headquarters for [[Legio II Augusta]] from about 75 to 300 AD, and on the hill above was the site of an Iron Age hillfort.<ref name=Coflein93396/> The Romans called the site ''Isca'' after the River Usk (Welsh ''Wysg''). The name ''Caerleon'' may derive from the [[Welsh language|Welsh]] for "fortress of the [[Roman legion|legion]]"; around 800 AD it was referred to as ''Cair Legeion guar Uisc''.<ref>Hywel Wyn Jones, ''The Place-Names of Wales'', University of Wales Press, 2005, p.19, {{ISBN|0-7083-1458-9}}</ref>

[[File:Aerial view of Caerleon Roman amphitheatre.jpg|thumb|left|An aerial view of Caerleon's Roman amphitheatre site in 2005]]

Substantial excavated Roman remains can be seen, including the military [[amphitheatre]], ''[[thermae]]'' (baths) and barracks occupied by the [[Roman legion]]. In August 2011 the remains of a Roman harbour were discovered in Caerleon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/9210919.Caerleon_Roman_harbour_find_hailed/ |title=Caerleon Roman harbour find hailed |date=24 August 2011 |publisher=southwalesargus.co.uk |access-date=15 December 2016}}</ref> According to [[Gildas]], followed by [[Bede]], Roman Caerleon was the site of two [[early Christian]] [[martyrdom]]s, those of [[Julius and Aaron]]. Recent finds suggest Roman occupation of some kind as late as AD 380.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caerleon.net/history/dig/2008/index.html |title=Priory Field Caerleon dig |year=2008 |publisher=Cardiff University and UCL |first1=Peter, Dr. |last1=Guest |first2=Andrew, Dr. |last2=Gardner |website=caerleon.net |access-date=15 December 2016}}</ref> Roman remains have also been discovered at [[The Mynde (Caerleon)|The Mynde]], itself a distinctive historical site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caerleon.net/mynde |title=The Mynde, Caerleon, Wales |website=caerleon.net |access-date=15 December 2016}}</ref>