Report from the northern frontier of Rome:
Archaeologists are likening the discovery to winning the lottery. A Roman cavalry barracks has been unearthed near Hadrian’s Wall, complete with extraordinary military and personal possessions left behind by soldiers and their families almost 2,000 years ago. A treasure trove of thousands of artefacts dating from the early second century has been excavated over the past fortnight. The find is significant not just because of its size and pristine state, but also for its contribution to the history of Hadrian’s Wall, showing the military build-up that led to its construction in AD122.
The barracks pre-dates the wall: the Romans already had a huge military presence in the area, keeping the local population under control.
“The native Britons took an opportunity, when the emperor Trajan died in AD117, to rebel,” says Andrew Birley, who heads the archaeological team. “The soldiers stationed in the north before the wall was built became involved in fighting and were very vulnerable. The evidence we have from this [find] shows the incredibly rich and diverse lifestyle these people had.”
Archaeologists stumbled on the site by chance and have been taken aback by finds in a remarkable state of preservation. These include two extremely rare cavalry swords – one of them complete, still with its wooden scabbard, hilt and pommel – and two wooden toy swords. One has a gemstone in its pommel. As well as other weapons, including cavalry lances, arrowheads and ballista bolts – all left behind on the floors – there are combs, bath clogs, shoes, stylus pens, hairpins and brooches. Sections of beautifully woven cloth have also been unearthed. They may have come from garments and have yet to be tested.
Romans vs. Picts — another act in the endless frontier saga. Roman frontier tales are a mini-genre from the early 20-teens. Liked Centurion pretty well. Didn’t see The Eagle, but I may fire it up this winter when the fog rolls in and the nights are chill and full of the brooding menace of the North…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_cYUGpAoJw
Matthew says
You don’t really think of Romans using Cavalry. I knew that they did, but when I think of Roman soldiers I think of foot soldiers. Hadrian’s wall was built because to keep the Picts out. The Great Wall of China to keep the Mongols and other steppe nomads. The Maginot Line to keep out the Germans.
I believe Hadrian’s Wall is reference in Game of Thrones. (Only read parts of the books and never saw the show.)
JimC says
The Wall in A song of Ice and Fire is surely inspired in great part by Hadrian’s Wall, and the Wildlings by the Picts, etc.
Perhaps we will soon have Trump’s Wall to keep the Mexicans out. And the beat goes on…
Matthew says
It does seem that walls are part of the zeitgeist. Matt Damon was in that movie about The Great Wall that I think bombed. One of the most popular animes of recent times is Attack On Titan in which the remnants of humanity hide behind walls from man-eating giants which get busted open in the first episode. I think 911 was such a shock even internationally that it comes out in pop culture.
As a Texan, I wonder if it is even logistically possible to build a border wall around Texas. Texas is the size of France. It has varying terrain. A lot of ranchers in the area don’t want the government on their land.
J.F. Bell says
Hell, if Mexico’s full of frozen zombies a wall’s probably not a bad idea.
JimC says
Given the current state of affairs, I’m not prepared to count any scenario out.
Matthew says
It won’t work on the Worms of the Earth though. They will just tunnel under it. The Horror!
JimC says
Right?
J.F. Bell says
Maybe. But Nevada’s still on this side of the fence, and last I checked Nevada contains America’s secret weapon in the war on subterranean…things.
Ain’t a worm hatched can stand against Burt Gummer.
john roberts says
The Romans had a small force of citizen cavalry, but most were auxilia supplied by allies. There were famous Gallic, Libyan, Numidian and Sarmatian cavalry units. Bth Batavi, a Germanic people living on islands in what is now the Netherlands, had cavalry that specialized in river-crossing actions. They supplied this service in lieu of taxation. But Romans much preferred infantry and engineer tasks.
Matthew says
Thanks. I had look up what a Numidian was…
deuce says
I haven’t seen The Eagle, but the Sutcliffe novel it’s based on is excellent. I don’t know if Rosemary read REH, but there are something like echoes of Howard in that book and several other of her books set in Britain during that period.
JimC says
I’ve heard nothing but good about Sutcliffe.
Keith West says
I’ve not read Sutcliffe, but I really liked The Eagle.
lane batot says
Fascinating time period in history, for sure! I recommend “The Last Eagle”, as well as “The Last Legion”–both are good movies of the period. But you wanta GREAT movie? Get “Centurian”!!!! Also, the 2004 “King Arthur” movie, with Clive Owen as a Roman captain “Athur”(Arturius) left behind, and Kiera Knightly as a Pict/Woad “Guinivere”, banding together to fight invading Saxons, is quite a twist to the traditional tale! I saw it in the theatre and didn’t quite get it–hoping, I guess, for another “Excalibur”(which, of course, there CAN’T EVER be!). But then I got a cheapo copy of Arthur at the Wal-Mart, and gave it another chance, and by gosh, I REALLY LIKE that movie now! It is certainly FAR and away much more likely the origin of the Arthur legends as anything else, and very well done, IF one can get over the romantacized ideal of King Arthur and the Round Table, that most of us were weaned on! By-the-by, I got ALL of those other movies mentioned above cheapo at the Wal-Mart, and I’m sure they’d be cheapo on Amazon, as well….And, in regards to “frozen zombies” coming up from Mexico–whatever comes up from Mexico,you can bet, it WILL NOT be FROZEN!!!!
Greg Marshall says
The concept of battle on the wall is stirring, for sure, but what struck me when we walked the wall was how long the Romans lived in Britain, and how comfortable they made themselves, relatively speaking.
There were great settlements like Vindolanda, but the actual defence of the wall took place in the watchtowers or turrets and milecastles spaced along the wall. These were much less ornate structures and would have offered fairly rudimentary comforts during the long Northumbrian winters. There would have been at most a brazier or open fireplace, probably doused at night to preserve vision.
By contrast, the rear echelons had stone barracks and stables, hot and cold baths, and steam rooms, with permanent, well-constructed steam rooms. Many of the buildings were heated from below via hypocausts, or ducts that led from massive fireplaces under the floors of the buildings.
The Picts (my ancestors, I assume) were probably living in mud and stone huts at the time.
Walking these walls, you can visualize the “Romans”, most of whom were not from Rome, huddling under their cloaks and keeping watch in the rain and sleet of a northern winter, then periodically retiring gratefully to the larger forts for warmth, food, wine and probably women.
My wife and I have walked about half of the length of the Wall, in the interesting parts from Chollerton to Carlisle. If you get tired of hiking the wilds of Oregon, I can recommend it. The country is beautiful, and the views northward are striking, as much of the wall is built on an escarpment a couple hundred feet above the level of the land. Carry rain gear.
Also you get to hear a new brand of the English language, the incomprehensible dialect of the Geordies.
JimC says
That is wonderful and I thank you for sharing it. Most evocative, and it makes me badly want to take that hike.
john roberts says
Winston Churchill wrote: “In the 5th century the Romans left Britain and took central heating with them,”
JimC says
That guy…
Matthew says
You really should write a post on Churchill. Either Winston or Mad Jack Churchill the last man to use a long bow in combat.
I know, I know you probably have enough on your plate right now.
JimC says
Aye, in both cases.