Inscription

A marble inscription that reads: 'NVM[INIBVS] AVG[VSTORUM]/ DEO MARTI CA/MULO TIBERINI/VS CELERANVS/ C[VIS] BELL[OVACVS]/MORITIX/LONDINIENSI/VM/PRIMVS...VA...', meaning 'To the Divinities of the Emperors (and) to the god Mars Camulos. Tiberinius Celerianus, a citizen of the Bellovaci, moritix, of Londoners the first...'.

As the plaque is dedicated to the Romano-Celtic deity, Mars Camulos, it seems likely that it originated from the putative temple that appears to have been found on the site. 'Moritix' is probably a term referring to Gaulish sea traders and might mean that Tiberinius Celerianus was a member of a trade association of Gaulish seafarers who traded between the Continent and Britain. Unfortunately the inscription is incomplete and therefore we do not know what Celerianus was 'the first' to do.

This is the earliest known stone tablet to name 'London'. It was buried in a pit in the early 4th century, with its surface carefully protected by a tile. It was probably a religious offering, and may have originally been made in the AD 160s.