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Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 13954

Hob Uid: 13954
Location :
Cumbria
Carlisle
Waterhead
Grid Ref : NY6157066150
Summary : Excavations at Birdsowald Roman fort uncovered a polygonal enclosure; it is suggested that it may have been an Iron Age promontory fort.
More information : (Area NY 6157 6615) Richmond, in his revision of Bruce (1) says that "the vallum cuts through an earlier native promontory fort", but the evidence for this does not seem entirely conclusive. The Excavation Report for 1933 (2) refers to the polygonal enclosure formed by "cutting off the high spit south of the Stone Fort" (Camboglanna, NY 66 NW 14) by a double ditch and stockade, and the finding of numerous sherds of native pottery which "seem to vouch for a distinct native occupation of the promontory. If so, the association of Roman sherds with this occupation .... shows that it did not long precede the Roman works; indeed it would be comprehensible that the natives were driven away by the coming of the Romans". However, "the absence of native relics from the ditches of the polygonal work, coupled with the presence of Roman ware, (and) the use of a stockade rather than a rampart" suggest that "a final explanation must perhaps await evidence from the other parts of the site". (1-3)

Nothing visible on the ground. (4)

Sources :
Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : Bruce and Richmond 1966 Handbook to the Roman Wall 12th Edn
Page(s) : 168
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : (Simpson and Richmond)
Page(s) : Dec-30
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 34, 1934
Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 262
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 33, 1933
Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details : F1 BHP 03-NOV-71
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Monument Types:
Monument Period Name : Iron Age
Display Date : Iron Age
Monument End Date : 43
Monument Start Date : -800
Monument Type : Promontory Fort
Evidence : Conjectural Evidence
Monument Period Name : Uncertain
Display Date :
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date :
Monument Type : Polygonal Enclosure
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Components and Objects:
Related Records from other datasets:
External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : NY 66 NW 3
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :
Related Activities :
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1933-01-01
End Date : 1933-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1971-11-03
End Date : 1971-11-03