Hadrian's Wall: A study in archaeological exploration and interpretation

The Rhind Lectures 2019

David J. Breeze

• Publisher: Archaeopress Archaeology
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781789691672
• eBook ISBN: 9781789691689
• Topic: Scienze sociali
• Subtopic: Archeologia

The lectures on which this publication is based were delivered as the Rhind Lectures to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in May 2019. The annual Rhind Lectures commemorate Alexander Henry Rhind (1833-1863), a Fellow of the Society renowned for his excavations (finds from which are now in the National Museum of Scotland) and publications. The 2019 lectures were generously sponsored by AOC Archaeology Group.
The first two lectures – chapters in this book – provide the historiographical background to our present understanding of Hadrian's Wall. They start with John Collingwood Bruce, the leading authority on the Wall, from 1848 until his death in 1892, who gave the Rhind lectures in 1883 and whose influence continues to this day. Research on the Wall in the field and in the study from 1892 to the present day are covered in the second lecture. The third and fourth lectures consider the purpose(s) and operation of Hadrian's Wall from the first plan drawn up soon after Hadrian became emperor in 117 through to the final days of its existence as a frontier shortly after 400. Five distinct 'plans' for the Wall are promulgated. The fifth lecture examines the impact of the frontier on the people living in its shadow and beyond. The last lecture reviews the processes which have brought us to an understanding of Hadrian's Wall and considers the value of research strategies, with some suggestions for the way forward. The chapters in this book reflect closely the lectures themselves with the main change being the addition of references.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents Page
• List of Figures
• List of Tables
• Preface
• 1848. The year of revolutions, on Hadrian’s Wall
• The twentieth century: the age of archaeology
• Table 1. The periods of Hadrian’s Wall as stated by Gibson and Simpson in 1911
• Table 2. The periods of Hadrian’s Wall as stated by Birley in 1930 and accepted by Simpson
• The purpose and operation of Hadrian’s Wall under Hadrian
• Figure 64. An altar of Maenius Agrippa at Maryport
• Figure 65. The south gate of MC 42 (Cawfields) showing the large stones used in its construction
• Figure 66. Criffel from Maryport, with the modern look-out tower to the left
• Figure 67. The Wall and Vallum at Cawfields looking east, the Wall runs along the ridge to the left while the Vallum takes the lower ground to the right
• Figure 68. The extra tower in Peel Gap looking east
• Figure 69. The unfinished upcast mound near MC 24 (Wall Fell)
• Figure 70. A milecastle inscription (RIB 1638)
• The Wall after Hadrian: changing functions?
• Figure 71. A coin of Antoninus Pius
• Figure 72. A rebuilding inscription (RIB 1389)
• Figure 73. Milefortlet 21 (Swarthy Hill) looking west
• Table 3. The occupation of turrets and milecastles
• Figure 74. Turret 33b (Coesike) showing the blocking of the door and the infilled recess
• Figure 75. The north gate of milecastle 48 (Poltross Burn) with part of the passage blocked
• Figure 76. The curtain wall at Sewingshields, the Narrow Wall sitting on top of the Broad Foundation
• Figure 77. A coin of Septimius Severus
• Figure 78. Map of northern Britain in about 220
• Table 4. ‘Continuity of regiments in forts in north Britain before and after the Severan campaigns
• Figure 79. Outpost forts and possible loca (A-E) in the 3rd-4th centuries. Carpow and Cramond date only to the Severan period
• Figure 80. The Falkirk hoard dating to about 235
• Figure 81. The bath-house at Lancaster cut by the ditch of the later fort
• Figure 82. A coin of Constantine I
• Figure 83. Map of northern Britain about 280
• Figure 84. A coin of Valentinian I
• Figure 85. Barrack-blocks at Housesteads; the upper barrack dates to the Hadrianic period while the lower to the late 3rd or early 4th century
• Figure 86. Turret 52a (Banks East) which was still occupied in the late 4th century
• Figure 87. Plan of Goldsborough fortlet-cum-tower
• Figure 88. The Wall on Highshields Crags showing the flat top surviving for several metres
• Figure 89. The late timber hall at Birdoswald; the main uprights are represented by modern posts
• Figure 90. A coin dating to 406-408 found at Great Whittington
• Figure 91. Map of northern Britain in about 370
• The impact of Rome: life on and around the frontier
• Figure 92. The wall at Walltown, a statement of imperial power
• Figure 93. The Deskford carnyx, the head of a Caledonian war trumpet
• Figure 94. Map of northern Britain about 200
• Figure 95. Military deployment in Dacia
• Figure 96. The Vallum crossing at Benwell: the ditch was originally twice as deep
• Figure 97. Ptolemy’s map of Ireland
• Figure 98. Plan of the settlement at Milking Gap
• Figure 99. Plough marks under the headquarters building of the fort at Carrawburgh
• Figure 100. The settlement at Pegswood showing the farmstead and field system
• Figure 101. Two brooches found on Edinburgh Castle rock
• Figure 102. The Crosby Garrett helmet after restoration
• Figure 103. Geophysical survey of Birdoswald fort and its extra-mural settlement by TimeScape
• Figure 104. The buildings outside the south gate of Housesteads
• Figure 105. The mithraeum at Carrawburgh
• Figure 106. An inscription recording the vicani Vindolandenses at Vindolanda
• Figure 107. A house at Maryport excavated by Oxford Archaeology Ltd
• Figure 108. Houses in the civil settlement at Brigetio abandoned in the late 3rd century
• Figure 109: Barracks at South Shields, a. in the early 3rd century, b in the mid 3rd century
• Figure 110. The distribution of beads at Vindolanda, a. in the 3rd century, b. in the 4th century, indicating a radical change in the settlement pattern
• Figure 111. Part of the reconstructed house at South Shields
• Figure 112. The distribution of coins at the west gate of Wallsend fort
• Figure 113. Part of the Traprain Treasure.
• Figure 113. Part of the Traprain Treasure.
• Hadrian’s Wall today and in the future
• Figure 114. The west gate at Housesteads before clearance in the early 19th century
• Figure 114. The west gate at Housesteads before clearance in the early 19th century
• Figure 115. The Roman Northern Frontier Seminar inspecting MC 37 (Housesteads)
• Figure 115. The Roman Northern Frontier Seminar inspecting MC 37 (Housesteads)
• Figure 116. Richmond’s plan illustrating the operation of Hadrian’s Wall
• Figure 116. Richmond’s plan illustrating the operation of Hadrian’s Wall
• Figure 117. The Ilam pan
• Figure 117. The Ilam pan
• Figure 118. Graffito of the fort at Bu Ngem, Libya, with the towers standing two storeys above the fort walls
• Figure 118. Graffito of the fort at Bu Ngem, Libya, with the towers standing two storeys above the fort walls
• Figure 119. Brooch from Chieming, Bavaria, showing a fort gate with two storeys above
• Figure 119. Brooch from Chieming, Bavaria, showing a fort gate with two storeys above
• Figure 120. MC 42 (Cawfields) with, to the left, the gap which was the measured location of the milecastle
• Figure 120. MC 42 (Cawfields) with, to the left, the gap which was the measured location of the milecastle
• Figure 121. Map of the Roman Empire
• Figure 121. Map of the Roman Empire
• Figure 122. The National Trail on Hadrian’s Wall showing wear on the line of the path and the measures taken to combat it
• Figure 122. The National Trail on Hadrian’s Wall showing wear on the line of the path and the measures taken to combat it
• Figure 123. The shrine to Jupiter Dolchenus at Vindolanda
• Figure 123. The shrine to Jupiter Dolchenus at Vindolanda
• Figure 124. Geophysical survey of the fort, extra-mural settlement and surrounding area at Maryport by Timescape; at the bottom of the plan is a rural farmstead occupied in the Roman period
• Figure 124. Geophysical survey of the fort, extra-mural settlement and surrounding area at Maryport by Timescape; at the bottom of the plan is a rural farmstead occupied in the Roman period
• Figure 125. Geophysical survey of MC 73 (Dykesfield) by TimeScape; the milecastle is above 42, with two further enclosures to its west
• Figure 125. Geophysical survey of MC 73 (Dykesfield) by TimeScape; the milecastle is above 42, with two further enclosures to its west
• Acknowledgements
• Abbreviations
• Further Reading
• Index
• Back cover