Carrawburgh Mithraeum Photos
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14 years ago
Carrawburgh was the site of a 3 acre (1.5 ha) auxiliary fort on Hadrian's Wall called Brocolitia, Procolita, or Brocolita (badger holes). This fort was the Wall's most northern point, and just over a mile west of milecastle (30). It either used the Wall as its northern rampart, or was built parallel to it. It certainly postdates both the Wall and it was built over the vallum. Only the fort's earthworks are now visible, the Wall at this point and the fort's north ramparts having been demolished for the construction of General Wade's early 18th century military road -now the B6318. John Clayton carried out a partial excavation of the site, revealing a military bath-house outside the fort's west gate in 1873 and the fort's south-west corner-tower in 1876. The Sixth Legion was never permanently stationed at the Carrawburgh but was primarily responsible for its construction. The Roman Inscriptions of Britain show its garrisoning units tincluded The First Cohort of Aquitani in the Hadrianic period. The First Cohort of Tungrians AD 122 to 138. The Cohors I Cugernorum at the end of the 2nd century & The First Cohort of Batavians AD 213 to 222 and AD 237. The First Cohort of Frisiavones are also attested at Brocolitia at some stage, as shown by an inscription on an altar stone, which tells us that Optio Maus had repaid a vow to the goddess Coventina. The Mithraeum In the small vicus on the low-lying marshy ground outside the fort's south-west corner have been found three religious sites. Nearest to the fort was an early 3rd century Mithraeum, of which remains can be seen onsite, and a reconstruction at Newcastle University's Museum of Antiquities. The remains of the Mithraeum were discovered during the dry summer of 1949, lying within a hollow in normally boggy ground outside the southern defences of the fort, where the top portions of three altars were seen protruding out from the grass. The site was completely excavated the following year and was found to be a Mithraic temple, in an excellent state of preservation, with its three altars still upright and in position, and each bearing a dedicatory inscription by a third-century commander of the nearby fort's garrison. Excavation has revealed that the temple was first erected early in the third century and altered several times before being destroyed, probably by northern barbarians who took advantage of the unrest caused by the Roman usurpers Carausius and Allectus, who withdrew a large proportion of the Wall garrison south c.296AD in order to sustain their rebellion. It seems to have been rebuilt shortly afterwards during the visit of the emperor Constantius who campaigned in the north of Britain. The Mithraeum was finally desecrated and demolished early in the fourth century, probably by Christians. Easy to find by walking around the fort, this is the most impressive Mithraeum that exists in Britain today and a hidden and overlooked Gem. Plenty of parking and it is free. See : http://www.hadrianswallcamera.co.uk/HWC8.html read more
