Milestone

Roman road markers - cylindrical blocks of stone usually about 6 ft (1.8 m) high - recording the distance from a central point within the province or a local center. These were placed along all principal roads, and instances are found from about 250 BC onwards. The stone was typically inscribed to give the distance in (Roman) miles to the nearest major town, and commonly a date of installation, expressed in terms of Republican magistracies, or the years of an Emperor's reign. They often bore the title of the emperor or consults under whose direction the road was laid out or repaired.

Roman examples show stones, normally cylindrical, up to two metres high. These were placed along all principal roads, and instances are found from about 250 BC onwards. The stone was typically inscribed to give the distance in (Roman) miles to the nearest major town, and commonly a date of installation, expressed in terms of Republican magistracies, or the years of an Emperor’s reign.