The Romans arrived in Britain in AD43 and the conquest of Wales was completed by AD77. Roman rule over Britain lasted for nearly 400 years, the army being withdrawn to defend territories on the continent in AD410. A series of forts linked by a network of roads was constructed to exert control over the province. The majority of the population may have continued to live much as they always had done, but outside the Romans forts new civilian settlements called vici grew up. The Roman period sees a huge rise in the number of artefacts being made… and broken or lost!