| They came to the British Isles in 55BC and liked it so | | | | interesting artifacts now; they are on loan from |
| much that they returned again to conquer the British | | | | Maidstone Museum. |
| Isles in 43 AD. On there return the invasion force | | | | The area of Sittingbourne has been occupied for at |
| included a unit form the well renowned Praetorian | | | | least 3000 years, and there is evidence if this. 1000 |
| Guard, and they didn't leave again for the next 400 | | | | years before the Romans Celtic tribes occupied the |
| years. Do you know who they are? The Romans of | | | | area after mowing westwards from the continent of |
| course! | | | | Europe. Stone and Iron Age settlements have both |
| Archaeological digs in this area have uncovered no | | | | been documented in a recent dig at Iwade, and |
| less than 20 Roman Villas and dwellings. Excavators | | | | artifacts can be found in the museum. |
| who were looking for brick earth in the 19th century | | | | When the Romans arrived in 55 and 54BC, they found |
| first found these, together with Roman cemeteries and | | | | that Kent was ruled by tribal Kings who had trading |
| valuable artifacts. Many of this were offered to the | | | | ties with Holland, Belgium and France, and the Romans |
| Sittingbourne Museum and rejected. For what reason, | | | | left them to rule on their behalf. This has ensure that |
| who knows. | | | | Kent has a very different history to the rest of the |
| So if you are a Roma History buff and you haven't | | | | counties in the UK. Kentish Yeomen were independent |
| visited this part of the country yet, now is your time. | | | | of lords and very apt to argue with interference from |
| The museum actually does house some of these very | | | | the parliament or King. |