Durocornovium
DUROCORNOVIUM in Britain, mentioned in the 13th Itinerary. The locality of Duro-cornovium is that of Ciren-chester, or the ancient Corin-eum. [CORINEIUM.] It is 14 miles distant from Glevum (Glo -cester), and the military road between the two places is traced at the present time. Where this crosses the Fosse -road, Cirencester stands, abundant in Roman remains of all kinds.
Name for name, as well as place for place, Duro-cornovium == Corineum, i. e. Duro-corn -ovium is Corin-eum in a compound form. The root lies in the name of the present river Churn; so that Corin -eum is simply the Churn, and Duro-corn -ovium is the Churn -water. The fact of the Roman towns being synonymous with the rivers on which they stood has already been noticed. [DEVA; DERVENTIO.]
[R.G.L]A site at the junction of a road from Cunetio and the road from Calleva to Corinium. It is mentioned in the Antonine Itinerary (485.5). Little is known of its history. A military occupation immediately after the Roman conquest might be expected, but evidence is lacking. A settlement centered on the road junction began to grow in the later decades of the 1st c.; it extended during following centuries over a considerable area, and reached its maximum in the 4th c. Most of the buildings flanked the roads. The name would suggest fortifications, but none have yet been found. Excavations since 1966 have shown that the main roadside development consisted of shops and workshops, although comfortable dwellings, some with mosaics, were built farther away and were served by well-metaled side streets. The discovery of a large number of late coins suggests an occupation continuing well into the 5th c. Nothing of the site is visible. The finds from the excavations will go to Swindon Museum, Wiltshire.
BIBLIOGRAPHYM. E. Cunnington, Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 45 (1930-32) 207; E. Greenfield, JRS 57 (1967) 196; 58 (1968) 201; 59 (1969) 230; J. S. Wacher, Britannia 1 (1970) 300.
J. S. WACHER