The mutatio served as a vital resting point for travelers, merchants, and soldiers on the busy route, offering essential services such as food, water, and stables for horses. Horse bones, bridles, and hipposandals—the Roman predecessor to the horseshoe—were discovered at the site, indicating that the facilities catered to both travelers and their horses. This suggests that the site may have been used to service passing legions as they marched along the road.
I never gave it any thought, but, sure, it makes sense that just like every other empire, with transportation routes, they must have had rest stops, for food, supplies for horses, etc. I just never heard of one called a service station - that puts it in a category I post about!
Road Sign: "Ten miles to Essex Rest Area. Food, Water, Wine, Saddle Repair, Horseshoes, Maps, Wheelwright on premises 24/7, Best axle grease in Anglia, Wenches welcome."
ReplyDelete