Maryport: A Roman Fort and Its Community

David J. Breeze

• Publisher: Archaeopress Archaeology
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9781784918019
• eBook ISBN: 9781784918026
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Roman Ancient History
• Index: History

The collection of Roman inscribed stones and sculpture, together with other Roman objects found at Maryport in Cumbria, is the oldest archaeological collection in Britain still in private hands. Today, it is housed in the Senhouse Roman Museum on Sea Brows to the north of the modern town of Maryport. Beside the museum the earthworks of the Roman fort may still be seen, and beyond it, though not visible, lies a large civil settlement revealed through geophysical survey and the scene of two recent excavations. 'Maryport: A Roman Fort and its community' places the collection in context and describes the history of research at the site. Maryport, although at the north-western edge of the Roman Empire, provides material of international importance for our understanding of the Roman state.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Dedication
• Contents Page
• List of Figures
• An aerial view of the fort at Maryport looking south-east; the museum lies to the bottom right on the top of the cliff. Photog aph Nick May
• Preface
• Ancient and Modern
• Figure 1. The coat of arms of Humphrey Senhouse I dating to 1726. The arms of the Senhouse family are a parrot (this was actually a wooden popinjay painted like a parrot and used for target practice by archers) and they are quartered with those of the Eag
• Figure 2. William Camden, author of Britannia
• Figure 3. The altar drawn by Sir Robert Cotton in 1599, now in the British Museum. This is the woodcut prepared for publicatio in J. C. Bruce, Lapidarium Septentrionale, 874; see Figure 33
• Figure 4. Camden noted this inscription at Netherhall in 1599 and published this drawing in his Britannia (RIB 844); see Figu e 76
• Figure 5. The Senhouse family, its excavations and visitors to Netherhall
• Figure 6. The drawing of the north gate published in Archaeologia 10 (1792) opposite p. 140
• Figure 7. The section cut through Pudding Pie Hill, drawn by Shirley Waldock, the upper drawing showing the interior construction (after Head 1763), with the lower the projected outline extrapolated from Head’s measurements
• Figure 8. Netherhall in the 19th century; the long portico is presumably where most of the collection was displayed. Reproduced by kind permission of Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums
• Figure 9. Some of the altars and sculpture displayed in the portico
• Figure 10. Netherhall and the River Ellen in the 19th century. Reproduced by kind permission of Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums
• Figure 11. The Naval Reserve Training Battery, now the museum, with a replica Roman tower to the right
• Figure 12. A corner in the museum where some of the altars are displayed
• The Roman army at Maryport
• Figure 13. A view of Maryport from the south in the second half of the 19th century. This shows well the whaleback ridge on which the fort sits, the Solway Estuary beyond and Criffel to the left. Reproduced by kind permission of Tyne and Wear Archives and
• Figure 14. The signpost marks the distance to Rome as well as to Ravenglass and Bowness-on-Solway; in the background is Criffel. Photograph the author
• Figure 15. A view of the hill on which sits the Roman fort with the river running at its foot by Joseph Farington, probably painted in the late 18th century; the colour would have been added to this engraving in the late 19th century
• Figure 16. An aerial view of the fort at Maryport looking south-east. Photograph Nick May
• Figure 17. These fragments of the north gate are the only visible stones on the site at Maryport today. Photograph the author
• Figure 18. This sculptural depiction of a gate was found at Maryport and is presumably of a gate at the fort. The woodcut is reproduced from J. C. Bruce, Lapidarium Septentrionale, 901; see Figure 72
• Figure 19. F. A. Child’s drawing of the west gate at Housesteads is similar to that on the sculpture at Maryport (Archaeologia Aeliana 4 series, 40 (1942) 151)
• Figure 20. A drawing of part of the commanding officer’s bath-house published in Archaeologia 10 (1792) opposite p. 140
• Figure 21. A putative lay-out for the fort by Alan Biggins and David Taylor based on their geophysical survey; see Figure 48
• Figure 22. A building inscription of the Emperor Hadrian found at the fort at Moresby (RIB 801); the fragmentary building sto e found at Maryport was probably similar
• Figure 23. The digger is cleaning what is believed to be the intervallum street of an early fort. To the right of the bucket is a post-Roman field drain and to the right of that the stone foundations of a long Roman building. Photograph Jane Laskey
• Figure 24. The ditch of the Roman camp below the temple looking south, excavated by Ian Haynes and Tony Wilmott
• Figure 25. A building inscription recording work at Maryport by the Second and Twentieth Legions (RIB 852)
• Figure 26. A simple record of the Twentieth Legion working at the fort (RIB 853)
• Figure 27. The boar, emblem of the Twentieth Legion, and the possible name of the Emperor Gordian III, reproduced as a woodcut in J. C. Bruce, Lapidarium Septentrionale, 892
• Figure 28. An altar of L. Cammius Maximus recording the fact that the First Cohort of Spaniards had a cavalry component indica ed by EQ in the bottom line (RIB 828)
• Figure 29. Peter Connolly’s painting of a cavalryman, left, and infantryman. Reproduced by kind permission of the Römisch-Germanischen Zentral-museum, Mainz
• Figure 30. An altar dedicated by M. Maenius Agrippa; this was presumably the first of the annual altars that he dedicated to Jupiter as he named the unit as well as himself (RIB 823)
• Figure 31. An altar dedicated by C. Caballius Priscus (RIB 817)
• Figure 32. The altar to Jupiter dedicated by Helstrius Novellus (RIB 822)
• Figure 33. The altar dedicated by C. Cornelius Peregrinus (RIB 812). The stone was found in the north-west corner of the fort before 1599. It is decorated with a human bust and animal heads and the inscription is flanked by fluted columns see Figure 3
• Figure 34. This unusual stone was dedicated by P. Postumius Acilianus, prefect of the First Cohort of Delmatians (RIB 833). The rosette is repeated on the sides and the back of the stone, which appears to have been designed to carry a statue.
• Figure 35. An altar dedicated by T. Attius Tutor (RIB 838)
• Figure 36. A map of the Roman empire showing the provinces which were the homes to the commanders at Maryport and where they went on to serve. Copyright the author
• Figure 37. L. Antistius Lupus Verianus states that his city of origin was Sicca in North Africa (RIB 816)
• Figure 38. The altar dedicated to Jupiter by L. Cammius Maximus is unfortunately damaged, but it does record his promotion to he Eighteenth Cohort of Volunteers (RIB 827)
• Figure 39. This altar erected by M. Censorius Cornelianus records both his transfer to the Tenth Legion Fretensis based in Judaea and that his home was Nemausus, modern Nîmes (RIB 814)
• Figure 40. The tombstone of Julius Marinus, recording his rank, ordinarius (centurion), at the end of the 2nd line and age 40 (RIB 858)
• Figure 41. The tombstone of a man from Galatia, which can be read in the 3rd line (RIB 864)
• Figure 42. A dedication in Greek to Asclepius by A. Egnatius Pastor, presumably the regimental doctor (RIB 808)
• Figure 43. This tile bears the inscription, COH I HISPA|INDVTIVSFEC, The First Cohort of Spaniards, Indutius made this (RIB 2474)
• The extra-mural community
• Figure 44. The tombstone of Julia Martina (RIB 866), reproduced as a woodcut in J. C. Bruce, Lapidarium Septentrionale, 879
• Figure 45. A female figure wearing an ungirt Gallic tunic and cloak around the shoulders, the typical dress of women in the no th-western Roman provinces from the late 1st to the late 3rd centuries
• Figure 46. A female figure wearing a foot-length girt Roman tunic and palla draped over her left shoulder and upper arm, and the woodcut of the same tombstone published in J. C. Bruce, Lapidarium Septentrionale, 890
• Figure 47. A fragment of a glass bangle found at Maryport. The fragment measures 23mm by 8mm and is reproduced here at twice the actual size.
• Figure 48. The geophysical survey undertaken by Alan Biggins and David Taylor
• Figure 49. Joseph Robinson’s plan of his discoveries. The modern field pattern was established in the 19th century
• Figure 50. The house excavated by Joseph Robinson
• Figure 51. The house excavated by Oxford Archaeology North looking north-west. Copyright Oxford Archaeology
• Figure 52. Chain mail dating to the 2nd or 3rd century found during the Oxford Archaeology North excavation
• Religion at Maryport
• Figure 53. J. Collingwood Bruce at the entrance to the keep of Newcastle castle with a sculpture of Victory found at Housesteads; Bruce travelled to Maryport to record the altars. Copyright Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Great North
• Figure 54. J. C. Bruce’s plan of the altar pits; the excavations of Ian Haynes and Tony Wilmott demonstrated that this is not accurate
• Figure 55. The altar pits as revealed by the excavations of Ian Haynes and Tony Wilmott
• Figure 56. This altar by C. Caballius Priscus records the name of the regiment he commanded (RIB 817)
• Figure 57. This altar, also dedicated by C. Caballius Priscus, states only his name with the name of his regiment understood (RIB 818)
• Figure 58. A sacrificial scene on the Bridgeness distance slab on the Antonine Wall showing an ox, sheep and pig waiting to be sacrificed, drawn by Margaret Scott
• Figure 59. On this occasion, Maenius Agrippa dedicated his altar to Jupiter and the Deity of the Emperor (RIB 824)
• Figure 60. The altars found in the shrine at Osterburken on display in the museum in the arrangement that they were found. Pho ograph the author
• Figure 61. The plan of the temple and circular building excavated by Joseph Robinson
• Figure 62. The temple following excavation by Ian Haynes and Tony Wilmott
• Figure 63. The plan of the temple excavated by Ian Haynes and Tony Wilmott
• Figure 64. The plaque recording a dedication to Iupiter Optimus Maximus Capitolinus, and the woodcut prepared for J. C. Bruce, Lapidarium Septentrionale, 888, which shows the plaque complete (RIB 832)
• Figure 65. This is probably the head of a deity. Jupiter has been suggested, but so has Neptune, which would be appropriate fo a coastal fort
• Figure 66. A dedication to Military Mars by T. Attius Tutor, prefect of the First Cohort of Baetasians (RIB 837)
• Figure 67. A dedication to Neptune (RIB 839)
• Figure 68. A dedication to Volcanus/Vulcan by Helstrius Novellus, prefect of the First Cohort of Spaniards (RIB 846)
• Figure 69. A statue of Vulcan, possibly unfinished
• Figure 70. Hercules on the side of an altar
• Figure 71. The goddess Minerva holding a spear and shield
• Figure 72. A sculptural depiction of a gate with a lady, presumed to be Venus, standing to one side (see Figure 18)
• Figure 73. This damaged head may represent Mercury
• Figure 74. A dedication to Eternal Rome and Fortune the Home-Bringer (RIB 840)
• Figure 75. T. Attius Tutor dedicated this altar to the Emperor’s Victory (RIB 842)
• Figure 76. The Victory of the Emperors (RIB 844); this inscription was recorded as being at Netherhall in 1599 (see Figure 4)⤀
• Figure 77. The dedication to the Valour of the Emperor by Hermione (RIB 845)
• Figure 78. A triad of ?Sea Nymphs
• Figure 79. A woodcut showing the triad before part of the stone was lost, reproduced from J. C. Bruce, Lapidarium Septentrionale, 896
• Figure 80. A goddess sitting on a chair holding a possible cornucopia
• Figure 81. The statuette of a Genius – the god or spirit of the place – holding a cornucopia and patera, that is, a metal pan
• Figure 82. The god Sol on the keystone of an arch
• Figure 83. A horned god holding a spear and a rectangular shield
• Figure 84. The depiction of a Celtic god, though without horns, holding a spear and a round shield
• Figure 85. The phallus of Marcus Septimius
• Figure 86. A phallic stone
• Figure 87. A phallic stone
• Figure 88. The goddess Epona
• Figure 89. A Chi-Rho symbol on a stone now lost. Published without comment in W. Hutchinson, The History of the County of Cumberland, Carlisle, 1794, vol. 2, pl. v, no. 39; this drawing prepared by Wilfrid Dodds for Mike Jarrett in 1954.
• Figure 90. The fir cone
• Figure 91.Two burials in the cemetery excavated by CFA Archaeology Ltd. To the left are the burial vessels with their contents; to the right after emptying
• Figure 92. The stone recording Rianorix
• Figure 93. The cemetery north of the 1870 altar find spot excavated by Ian Haynes and Tony Wilmott
• Figure 94. The Serpent Stone as it is today
• Figure 95. The Serpent Stone as found
• Figure 96. The face on the Serpent Stone
• Figure 97. One of the heads found at Burrow Heights near Lancaster. Photograph the author
• Figure 98. The tombstone of a cavalryman
• Figure 99. The damaged tombstone which probably depicts a soldier
• Figure 100. The cliffs of Maryport today looking towards the museum
• Maryport in its setting
• Figure 101. The pattern of military deployment in northern England. Copyright the author
• Figure 102. The hollow crossing the field diagonally is believed to mark the route of the Roman road approaching the fort from Papcastle. Photograph the author
• Figure 103. The plan of the rural settlement excavated by CFA Archaeology Ltd; for the geophysical plan of the site see Figure 48 where the settlement is at the bottom of the plan
• Figure 104. Composite aerial view, created by Merlin UAS Ltd, of the excavation of the rural settlement by CFA Archaeology Ltd; the ditch is defined by the narrow cuts across it
• Figure 105. A section across the ditch of the rural settlement excavated by CFA Archaeology Ltd
• Figure 106. Plan of the settlement at Ewanrigg by Robert Bewley. Reproduced by kind permission of the Cumberland and Westmorla d Antiquarian and Archaeological Society and Robert Bewley
• Figure 107. Swarthy Hill as viewed from the fort at Maryport: the dark triangle beside the coast to the right of centre in the photograph is the hill. Photograph the author
• Life on the edge of empire
• Figure 108. An artist’s impression of the Roman fortlet at Barburgh Mill in south-west Scotland. Drawn by Michael J. Moore
• Figure 109. Criffel as viewed from the fort at Maryport
• Figure 110. A coin of the Emperor Hadrian. Reproduced by kind permission of the Great North Museum and the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne
• Figure 111. The milefortlet at Swarthy Hill looking south-west towards the whaleback hill of Maryport. Photograph Andrew Selkirk
• Figure 112. A gate of the late Roman fort at Cardiff as rebuilt by the 3rd and 4th Marquis of Bute in the years following 1869 (work was not completed until 1927). Photograph the author
• Figure 113. The south-west corner of the fort with the platform which may have been the location of an external bastion visible to the right. Photograph Andrew Selkirk
• Figure 114. The tombstone of [S]purcio
• Final thoughts
• Figure 115. The excavation of a house in the extra-mural settlement by Oxford Archaeology North in progress
• Figure 116. A new altar, dedicated by T. Attius Tutor, found by Ian Haynes and Tony Wilmott, used as packing in the holes dug to receive the timbers of a building
• Figure 117. Traditional images of the interior of Roman forts are, not surprisingly, dominated by males, but there is increasi g evidence of the presence there of at least some women. Drawn by Michael J. Moore
• Figure 118. Two belt stiffeners, each about 38mm long, dating to the 4th century and indicating continuing occupation of the fort by the army at this time
• Figure 119. An altar to the goddess Setlocenia dedicated by Labareus, a German (RIB 841), reproduced as a woodcut in J. C. Bruce, Lapidarium Septentrionale, 875.
• Acknowledgements
• Further Reading
• Index