Hadrian's Wall - Fort - Housesteads (Vercovicivm)

Hadrian's Wall Fort, Quarry, Temple Or Shrine and Vicus

The Roman fort at Housesteads is situated on the eastern end of a mile long crag of whinstone stretching between the Knag Burn in the east and the Bradley Burn to the west. The well-preserved remains of the fort and adjoining sections of Hadrian’s Wall, together with the nearby civil settlement or vicus and its surrounding halo of Romano-British temples and industrial sites, make Vercovicium perhaps the most interesting place on the entire length of the Wall. Housesteads was occupied for almost 300 years and the fort and vicus underwent many changes during this period. The most flourishing time was the third century.

The Building of Housesteads Fort

There is little evidence for pre-Roman activity at Housesteads.  Julius Agricola, governor of Britain (77-84), was the founder of the Roman defences in North Britain. He built the Stanegate, the Roman road which ran from Corbridge to Carlisle, passing a mile south of Housesteads. A few years after his recall to Rome several forts were established along the Stanegate  to make it the effectual frontier of Roman Britain.  The fort at Vindolanda, about  two miles  to the south west was the most important in the area.

Turrret 36b at Housesteads

About 120 A.D. Hadrian visited Britannia and decided to build a wall right along the frontier, but the forts along the Stanegate were to garrison the soldiers. Work started on the Wall started almost immediately, and it was to be defended by   two turrets and a fortified gateway, now known as a Milecastle, every Roman mile, in places it was to be built on along the Whin Sill, a series of rocky cliffs that formed a strong natural barrier. The roman site at Housesteads started off as a mere turret, now described as Turrret 36b. But before the work was completed a decision was taken to build forts on the Wall itself  at intervals of around seven miles. The newly built fort at Housesteads superseded that at Vindolanda.

The Auxiliary Infantry Fort at Housesteads

The fort covers an area of about 5 acres (2 hectares) and anomalously faces east instead of north, utilizing the steep cliff of Housteads Crags to augment its northern defences, which also delineated the course of the Wall. The curious alignment suggests that the fort was built primarily to defend against barbarian incursions along the course of the Knag Burn to the east. Housesteads fort was first erected c.128AD, after the broad wall foundations had been laid down but before the narrow wall was built, and was destroyed (and rebuilt) several times during its lifetime, in 197AD, 296 and 367, before being finally abandoned around the turn of the fifth century. Artillery platforms may have been added to the ramparts in the early-third century.

The Defences of Housesteads

The Walls of Housesteads

Housesteads  was built about A.D. 120-125 and was laid out in the traditional ‘playing card’ shape and covered an area of around five acres.  It had a stone rampart-wall about 1.5 metres thick with a clay bank behind it bringing the total thickness of the rampart up to about 6 metres. Like the Wall, they were made of stone blocks bonded with lime mortar and set into a rubble core. The quarry for the sandstone blocks lay only a few hundred metres away and there was a lime-kiln nearby to produce the mortar. The remains of a set of stairs in the southeast corner, of which four courses survive, suggest the walls were just over 4 metres high.

Gateways of Housesteads

All the gateways at Housesteads were built to the same plan and were more elaborate than in the other wall forts. Its four gates are all double, and were flanked on either side by a guard-room which opened onto the gate passage, closed at both ends by double doors. The gatehouse extended over both the passages as well as the guard rooms.  The large room which ran the whole length of the massive gateway was lit by round-headed windows, fragments of which have been found. The roof was probably flat and used as a fighting platform, the rain water draining off into a tank. The gateway was almost certainly crenelated.

In the spandrel of the gate arches can be seen an inscription recording the Emperor Hadrian, his legate Aulus Platorius Nepos and the legion which built the fort.

The West Gate (Porta Decumana) is the best preserved in the fort, the west impost still standing at full height with bolt holes for the doors still to be seen. In the 4th century the gateway was blocked and the guard chambers turned into heated rooms.
The North Gate (Porta Principalis sinistra) has twin portals divided by two piers with flanking guard chambers opening onto the roadway. The gate is well built of large stones and opened onto a causeway (which has now been removed). The large water tank near the gate was used to collect water from the roof. Even before it was completed the north gate had one of its portals blocked
The East Gate (Porta Praetorium) also had twin portals. It was the main entrance to the fort. The south passageway was blocked after 297 A.D. to strengthen the fort defences.
The South Gate (Porta Principalis Dextra) was probably rarely used for wheeled traffic because the gradient inside was too steep. It was considerably altered in post-Roman times, being for many years converted into a pele tower.

Headquarters (Principia)

The principia or headquarters building was, as is normal, in the centre of the fort. It was the finest building at Housesteads and was the administrative and spiritual centre of the fort. It was entered from the main street by a large arched and projecting gate. On entering the soldier came into a paved courtyard surrounded originally on four sides by a colonnaded veranda (later on the north, east and south only).

From this forecourt another arched doorway led to the great hall which could also originally be entered from the two side streets but later only the north entrance was available. This mighty basilica was roofed in the roof being supported by a row of columns which ran the length of the hall. In the North West corner is a large block of masonry called the tribunal where the fort commandant took his seat on ceremonial or public occasions.

In the opposite corner was another raised platform probably occupied by a statue. The hall was the highest building in the fort and would be lit by upper clerestory windows as in a church. Farthest from the entrance lay five rooms. The central one was the aedes or shrine where were kept the standards of the regiment, the statue of the emperor, and possibly other altars. It was guarded day and night. This central shrine could be seen as soon as one entered the main entrance. In the aedes was usually an underground strong room where the regimental treasures and money were kept, but because of the hard whinstone it does not feature at Housesteads. The two rooms to the north of the shrine were occupied by the adjutant (cornicularius) and his clerks who were responsible for the administration of the unit. The two rooms on the south were used by the standard bearers (signiferi) who were responsible for the pay and savings of the troops. Originally the three central rooms had wide arched entrances. The cross hall was the place where the commandant issued his orders, heard complaints, dealt out punishments and received visitors. It would also be used for a variety of meetings, especially of the centurions.

In later years drastic changes were made to the Principia. The forecourt was changed into living accommodation, the hall became a kitchen and mess room, and the adjutant’s office became an armoury.

Commandant’s House (Praetorium) at Housesteads

The house was built on sloping ground with a stone slated roof. The main entrance was from the via principalis. On the left was the reception room, with the kitchens on the right. The dining room was in the North wing. There were 19 rooms (apart from possible upstairs rooms in the South wing), but their uses are difficult to interpret. Those that are heated can be seen from the chimneys shown in the roof. It is a typical courtyard house of Mediterranean type, probably unsuitable for the climatic conditions at Housesteads. The South East corner of the house seems to have been used as stabling, and an exit for cattle and horses is shown on the drawing. There was provision for a small bath (but not a full suite) and a latrine. Whether there were two storeys is uncertain but the South wing was probably so in order to provide privacy, so that the courtyard couldn’t be overlooked by soldiers on the fort wall.

Barracks at Housesteads

The early plan shows ten long buildings which were used as barracks. Each block accommodated 100 men, the garrison at Housesteads being a battalion a thousand strong. The plan was descended from that of the tented camp. In this eight tents, each holding ten men (two groups would always be on guard duty) were placed side by side with a larger tent at the end for the centurion. The two larger rooms at the end were for the centurions and N.C.O.’s. Each room would be divided by a partition leaving a large room for sleeping and a smaller one for equipment. All the rooms would probably be connected by a veranda. The floors appear to have been made of clay. No traces of bunks or beds have been found so mattresses were probably laid on the floor at night.

The barracks at Housesteads have been extensively remodelled making it difficult to have a clear picture of their internal arrangements. When the barracks were finally remodelled here they were split into eight instead of ten rooms and each room was separated by a small space. Clearly they wanted to provide more commodious living accommodation for whatever soldiers occupied them. The centurion’s room at the end was also enlarged.

Via Quintana

The via quintana ran parallel to the main via principalis. It was a minor road giving access to the barracks and also to the granaries. It is joined in the middle by the via decumana. Both these roads are named after divisions in the larger legionary camps. The via quintana (quintus-fifih) divided the fifth maniple from the sixth. The via decumana (decimus-lenth) was the area occupied by the 10th Cohort.

Via Principalis

The via principalis passed between the two gates in the side walls. The area to the east was known as the praefentura (front portion), and was normally used exclusively for barracks. On the left starting from the bottom of the picture are the Commandant’s House, the Headquarter’s Building, the granary and the last building whose use was uncertain but was probably used as a workshop. The via principalis terminated in the massive north rate. Visitors often think this must have never been used because of the sharp drop to the north. But originally there was an inclined road here which was removed during excavations.

The Hospital

Behind the headquarters building stands a courtyard type of building. Although little of medical significance was found during the two excavations (1898 and 1972), the building was undoubtedly the fort hospital. Analogy from other Roman forts makes this supposition almost certain. It has four ranges of rooms including an operating theatre, rooms for patients, latrines, baths and medical stores. It was a stone building with tiled roof. Food would be brought in from the main kitchens. The building was altered many times and in the 3rd and 4th centuries was probably used for workshops.

The Latrine at Housesteads

Sanitation and cleanliness were given much attention in the building of Roman forts. At Housesteads the latrine is found in the south east corner. The latrine is probably the most famous building to be seen here; only a few are known on the Wall. The wooden seating was arranged along two of the walls and fresh water flowed along two channels in which the soldiers could wash their sponges (used like paper today). Each soldier carried an individual sponge which was attached to the end of a stick. There seems to have been a small hole in the floor in front of each seat into which the soldier could stand his individual sponge. The water from the two floor channels emptied into a lower one which flushed under the seats.
In Roman times the walls would have been covered with plaster (and probably graffiti) and the stone would not have been visible. The external sewer passed beneath the fort wall near the corner and surfaced one hundred yards to the south on one of the terraces. The sewage was probably used as manure.

The Granaries (Horrea) at Housesteads

The granary was an important part of a Roman fort. They were usually placed near the centre to be as far away as possible from incendiary missiles. Here was stored corn and possibly other food to last the garrison for several months. Originally there seems to have been a single granary at Housesteads, as shown on the plan, with a line of columns supporting the massive roof. The line of columns was later replaced by a partition wall and later by two walls so two granaries were formed with a narrow space between. These were typical granaries built according to a standard military pattern. They had heavy fire-proof roofs of stone slabs with massive external buttresses at intervals. They were intended not only to take the extra weight but also to allow the roof to project so that water did not run down the walls and cause damp. The upper part of the wall between the buttresses was louvred for ventilation, (louvres were overlapping boards so arranged as to admit air but exclude rain), and near the bottom of the wall were ventilators which allowed free passage of air beneath the floor. The floor was supported on short pillars. Across them ran beams with their inner ends let into the partition walls. On these beams rested lengthwise planks or sometimes flagging (our reconstruction shows short thick planks). This arrangement must not be confused with the hypocaust system which used hot air circulating beneath the floor to warm the room above. Goods access was via the nearby West gate and the granary entrances were also at the west end where there was an open space for carts so they did not interfere with the movement of troops and traffic on the Via Principalis.

Both granaries had a projection which acted as a loading bay. The southern granary also had an entrance on the east with steps leading up to the door – this was probably because at some stage this granary was divided internally. The space between the southern granary and the headquarters building was quite narrow. We do not know whether grain was stored in bulk or in barrels.

Each bin would probably be allocated to an individual unit in the camp to assist in the equal rationing of supplies. We are uncertain whether other kinds of food such as meat and oil were stored here as well. In the last days of the occupation the granaries were used for living accommodation The floors were made solid and flagged over.

Who Built the fort at Housesteads?

Legio Secundae Augusta – The Second Augustan Legion

It would have taken a number of years to build and the Second Legion was probably responsible for the work.

Legio Secundae Augusta – The Second Augustan Legion – Among the altarstones which have been recovered from the Housesteads site are a handfull which attest to the presence of Roman legionary units, in particular the Second Augustan Legion which is mentioned on a couple of altarstones to the Roman god Jupiter, and the Sixth Legion Victrix which appears on an altarstone to the Germanic god Cocidius and on another altarstone to an unknown god. Although the evidence suggests that the Housesteads fort was garrisoned by Roman legionary units, this is not the case. The highly trained legionary soldiers were actually responsible for the vast majority of Roman military installations, and it is certain that the sophisticated stone-built ramparts and interior buildings at Vercovicium could not have been constructed by the auxiliary regiment who were to man these defences. What is equally certain is that the legionary soldiers who were responsible for the construction of the fort must have been housed somewhere whilst building was in progress, and it is quite possible that a couple of legionary centuries were stationed here for a considerable period of time.

RIB 1582 - Altar dedicated to Jupiter Optimus Maximus

To Jupiter, Best and Greatest, the soldiers of the Second Legion Augusta ..

I O M
MILITES
LEG II A[...]
[...]

No commentary.

RIB 1583 - Altar dedicated to Jupiter Optimus Maximus, to Cocidius, and to the Genius Loci

To Jupiter, Best and Greatest, and to the god Cocidius and to the Genius of this place the soldiers of the Second Legion Augusta on garrison-duty willingly and deservedly fulfilled their vow.

I O M
ET DEO COCIDIO
GENIOQ HVIS
LOCI MIL LEG
II AVG AGENTES
IN PRAESIDIO
V S L M

No commentary. Addenda from RIB+add. (1995): See note to RIB 1577. The wheel symbol is typical of altars dedicated to Jupiter: cf. RIB 827, 1981 and 1983, and see Green, The Wheel as a Cult-Symbol in the Romano-Celtic World (1984), 345-7.

Legio Sextae Victrix – The Sixth Victorious Legion

Legio Sextae Victrix – The Sixth Victorious Legion

There is eveidence to sugguest that the Sixth legion also work at Housesteads.

RIB 1577 - Altar dedicated to Cocidius and to the Genius of the garrison

To Cocidius and to the Genius of the garrison Valerius, soldier of the Sixth Legion Victrix Pia Fidelis, set this up as his vow.

COCIDIO [...]
GENIO PR[...]
SIDI VALE
RIVS M L[...]
G VI V P F V P

In view of the frequent occurrence of Deo preceding Cocidio it is possible that Deo once existed on the capital of this altar, but no clear trace is now discernible R.P.W.

RIB 1609 - Fragmentary dedication

…, centurion of the Sixth Legion Victrix Pia Fidelis, gladly, willingly, and deservedly fulfilled his vow.

[...] 𐆛
LEG VI V P F
V S L L M

No commentary.

The Garrison Units at Housesteads

First Cohort of Tungrians

Cohors Primae Tungrorum [milliaria] – The First Cohort of Tungri – The original Hadrianic garrison is not known for certain, but it is possible that the fort housed a large proportion of the First Cohort of Tungrians. After the fort was rebuilt and enlarged during the rule of emperor Septimius Severus c.200AD, the Housesteads fort was known to be occupied entirely by this one-thousand strong auxiliary infantry unit, which had been recruited from amongst the Tungri of Gallia Belgica or modern Belgium.

RIB 1618 - Funerary inscription for Anicius Ingenuus (A.D. 43-410)

To the spirits of the departed (and) to Anicius Ingenuus, medicus ordinarius¹ of the First Cohort of Tungrians: he lived 25 years.

D M
ANICIO
INGENVO
MEDICO
ORD COH
I TVNGR VIX AN XXV
  1. The Medicus Ordinarius (chief medical officer) held a rank equivalent to a centurion and was the man in charge of the capsarii (bandagers) in the valetudinarium (hospital).
  2. The hare carved in the tympanum is probably a symbol of life and immortality.

RIB 1619 - Funerary inscription for Hurmius

To the spirits of the departed (and) to Hurmius, son of Leubasnus, soldier of the First Cohort of Tungrians, beneficiarius of the prefect: Calpurnius, his heir, had this set up.

D M
HVRMIO
LEVBASNI
MIL COH I
TVNGROR
BF PRAEF
CA[...]PVR[...]VS HER F C

A beneficiarius was a soldier, usually a legionary, seconded for special duties by favour (beneficium) of a specific senior officer; in particular the beneficiarius consularis, an officer on the governor’s staff, who might be out-posted. The name Leubasnus or Laubasnius is well attested in Belgica and the Rhineland; it is likely to be Tungrian.

The First Cohort of Tungrians is mentioned on at least eleven inscriptions on stone recovered from the Housesteads fort and its environs; there are three altarstones to the god Jupiter and single altarstones to Mars, Silvanus, Hercules and the Mother Godesses, among others, also a couple of tombstones in memory of men from the unit.

RIB 1586 - Altar dedicated to Jupiter Optimus Maximus and to the Divinities of the Emperors

To Jupiter, Best and Greatest, and to the Divinities of the Emperors the First Cohort of Tungrians, one thousand strong, under the command of Quintus Verius Superstis, prefect, (set this up).

I O M
ET NVMINIBVS
AVG COH I TV
NGRORVM
MIL CVI PRAEE
ST Q VERIVS
SVPERSTIS
PRAE[...]TVS

For the expansion of Aug. as Aug(ustorum) see note to RIB 152.

This regiment is also mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum of the fifth century, but over the years the complement seems to have become depleted, either through battle or natural causes such as retirement or secondment, and the garrison had to be augmented by a succession of other auxiliary units.

Tribunus Cohortis Primae Tungrorum Borcovicio
“The Tribune of the First Cohort of Tungrians at Borcovicium.”
(Notitia Dignitatum xl.40; 4th/5th C.)

 

The First Cohort of Hamian Bowmen

Cohors Primae Hamiorum Saggitariorum – The First Cohort of Hamian Bowmen – Although not mentioned on any inscription in stone this unit of auxiliary bowmen is eloquently attested at the fort, in the shape of a tombstone of an auxiliary soldier. This second century tombstone suggests the presence of at least part of Cohors I Hamiorum Sagittariorum, a regiment of bowmen from Syria. Unfortunately the tombstone is uninscribed but carries a carved image undoubtedly that of an archer, lightly armoured in a short tunic with a peculiarly pointed helmet upon his head and a military cloak about his shoulders, the man is depicted armed with a curved short bow held by his left side, a dagger on his belt and a hatchet grasped in his right hand; the soldier also appears to have a quiver of arrows suspended from a baldric at his right shoulder.

The First Cohort of Hamian Bowmen is the only such regiment known to have been stationed in Britain and they have been attested at the nearby fort at Magnis (Carvoran, Northumberland) on the Stanegate, where they were stationed in Hadrianic times. They would undoubtedly have proved an excellent defensive unit, able to shoot their arrows some considerable distance from the northern battlements of the Housesteads fort.

At the end of the third century came the addition of the Cuneus Frisiorum, a small, irregular cavalry force of Frisian tribesmen from Tuihantis (modern Twenthe in Holland). This regiment is attested on a single inscribed stone from outside the Housesteads fort, an altar to Mars and the Aliasagae goddesses.

RIB 1594 - Altar dedicated to Mars and the two Alaisiagae and to the Divinity of the Emperor (A.D. 222-35)

To the god Mars and the two Alaisiagae and to the Divinity of the Emperor the Germans being tribesmen of Twenthe of the cuneus of Frisians of Vercovicium, styled Severus Alexander’s, willingly and deservedly fulfilled their vow.

DEO
MARTI EÍ¡T DVABVS
ALAISIAGIS EÍ¡T N AVG
GER CIVÍ¡ES TVIHAÍ¡NTI
CVNÍ¡EI
  1. Tuihantis is the present-day region Twente in the eastern Netherlands. Fort Vercovicium was part of Hadrian’s Wall. Tuihanti tribesmen have been interpreted by different scholars as Frisians .
  2. I.e. Loyal to an emperor who came from Alexandria, of which there are very few; Vespasian wintered at Alexandria 69/70AD before he entered Rome as emperor; the would-be usurper Gaius Avidius Cassius, governor of Syria, who revolted in early 175AD was born there; Septimius Severus stayed at Alexandria and in the East from 197 until his return to Rome in 202; the fratricidal emperor Caracalla (211-217AD) modelled himself on Alexander the Great, and is known to have slaughtered many citizens of Alexandria during his stay there in 215, and his murdered brother Geta had previously made plans to rule the eastern empire from that city; the pretenders Lucius Domitius Domitianus and his successor Aurelius Achilleus tried to set up an alternative administration at Alexandria, but this was overthrown by the emperor Diocletian in 298. The translation of this phrase is tentative, however, and may also be given: “… of Vercovicium, [loyal to] Severus Alexander …”; the emperor Alexander Severus ruled from 222 to 235AD.
The inscription below is also probably by the Cuneus Frisiorum.

RIB 1593 - Altar dedicated to Mars Thincsus, the Alaisiagae, and the Divinity of the Emperor

To the god Mars Thincsus and the two Alaisiagae, Beda and Fimmilena, and to the Divinity of the Emperor the Germans, being tribesmen of Twenthe, willingly and deservedly fulfilled their vow.

DEO
MARTI
THINCSO
ET DVABVS
ALAISIAGIS
BEDE ET FI
MMILENE
ET N AVG GER
M CIVES TV
IHANTI
V S L M
  • cives Tuihanti: Scherer suggests that they came from the district of Twenthe in the province of Over-Yssel, Holland.
  • The sculptured lintel has in its central panel a figure of Mars with sword, shield, and spear and at his right side a goose. The Alaisiagae, portrayed naked and cross-legged, each extend towards Mars what appears to be a palm-branch, and carry a wreath in their other hand.
There are two other examples of Cunei Frisiorum; at Derventio (Papcastle, Cumbria; RIB 882; 241AD) and Vinovia (Binchester, Durham; RIB 1036; undated).

Numerus Hnaudifridi – The Company of Hnaudifridius

By the fourth century the Numerus Hnaudifridi, a Germanic mercenary unit is recorded on a single altarstone to the Alaisagae goddesses. It has been mooted that this unit may be synonymous with the Cuneus Frisiorum on the premise that the original irregular ‘Wedge’ of Frisians may have become depleted to such low numbers, that by the fourth century the unit merited the status of a mere Numerus, and that the commander of the force, one Hnaudifridus, bears a name which is certainly Germanic in origin, and may indeed have been that of a Frisian tribesman.

RIB 1576 - Altar dedicated to the Alaisiagae and to the Divinity of the Emperor

To the goddesses the Alaisiagae, Baudihillia and Friagabis, and to the Divinity of the Emperor the unit of Hnaudifridus gladly and deservedly fulfilled its vow.

DEABVS
ALAISIA
GIS BAV
DIHILLIE
ET FRIAGA
BI ET N AVG
N HNAV
DIFRIDI
V S L M

For this expansion of N. Aug. in the singular see note to RIB 152.

The Decline of Housesteads Roman Fort

We do not know the history of Housesteads after the fort was finally overrun. There is slight evidence that it became an Anglian Christian settlement. Cuddy’s Crag nearby is said to have received its name from St. Cuthbert on one of his visits, and fragments of a possible small Christian church have been found.

Dateable Building Inscriptions From Housesteads

RIB 1594 - Altar dedicated to Mars and the two Alaisiagae and to the Divinity of the Emperor (A.D. 222-35)

To the god Mars and the two Alaisiagae and to the Divinity of the Emperor the Germans being tribesmen of Twenthe of the cuneus of Frisians of Vercovicium, styled Severus Alexander’s, willingly and deservedly fulfilled their vow.

DEO
MARTI EÍ¡T DVABVS
ALAISIAGIS EÍ¡T N AVG
GER CIVÍ¡ES TVIHAÍ¡NTI
CVNÍ¡EI
  1. Tuihantis is the present-day region Twente in the eastern Netherlands. Fort Vercovicium was part of Hadrian’s Wall. Tuihanti tribesmen have been interpreted by different scholars as Frisians .
  2. I.e. Loyal to an emperor who came from Alexandria, of which there are very few; Vespasian wintered at Alexandria 69/70AD before he entered Rome as emperor; the would-be usurper Gaius Avidius Cassius, governor of Syria, who revolted in early 175AD was born there; Septimius Severus stayed at Alexandria and in the East from 197 until his return to Rome in 202; the fratricidal emperor Caracalla (211-217AD) modelled himself on Alexander the Great, and is known to have slaughtered many citizens of Alexandria during his stay there in 215, and his murdered brother Geta had previously made plans to rule the eastern empire from that city; the pretenders Lucius Domitius Domitianus and his successor Aurelius Achilleus tried to set up an alternative administration at Alexandria, but this was overthrown by the emperor Diocletian in 298. The translation of this phrase is tentative, however, and may also be given: “… of Vercovicium, [loyal to] Severus Alexander …”; the emperor Alexander Severus ruled from 222 to 235AD.

RIB 1589 - Altar dedicated to Jupiter Optimus Maximus (A.D. 258)

To Jupiter, Best and Greatest, for the welfare of Desidienus Aemilianus, prefect, both his own (and) his family’s, (the dedicator) set this up and willingly fulfilled his vow in the consulship of Tuscus and Bassus.

I O M
PRO SALVTE
DESIDIENI AE
[...]LIANI PRAEF
[...] ET SVA SV[...]
[...]M POSVIT VOT
[...]Q SOLVIT LIBE
NS TVSCO ET BAS
SO CO[...]

Bainbrigg assigned it to Chester in the Wall (or Busy Gap); Horsley, with hesitation, to Vindolanda, while Hodgson, Bruce, and Huebner assigned it to Carvoran. For the attribution to Housesteads see Haverfield (loc. cit.), Birley, Cumb. Westm. AAST 2nd Ser. 51 (1951) 181. The text is grammatically muddled, for posuit lacks a subject. It seems probable that the prefect was the dedicator. But the mason, obsessed by the idea that the dedication was made for the prefect’s welfare, forgot that the prefect was in fact the dedicator and put his name into the genitive instead of the nominative case. The original draft may have been something like: pro salute sua et suorum Desidienius Aemilianus praefectus posuit … . 7, 8.  In A.D. 258 Tuscus and Bassus were consuls. Addenda from RIB+add. (1995): Desidienus: Birley, Review, 229, cf. CIL iii 12916 for this nomen.

RIB 1600 - Altar dedicated to Mitras (A.D. 252)

To the invincible Sun-god Mitras, Lord of Ages, Publicius Proculinus, centurion, on behalf of himself and his son Proculus, willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow in the consulship of our Lords Gallus and Volusian.

  • In a.d. 252 the consuls were the emperors Gallus (for the second time) and Volusian.

RIB 1613 - Inscription

For our Lords Diocletian and Maximian …

D [...  ...]
M[...  ...]

No commentary.

RIB 1612 - Dedication to Septimius Severus, Caracalla, and Geta (A.D. 205-208)

For the Emperor-Caesars Lucius Septimius Severus Pius Pertinax Augustus, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Pius Augustus, and for the most noble Caesar Publius Septimius Geta, the First Cohort of Tungrians, a thousand strong, (set this up) by order of Lucius Alfenus Senecio, imperial pro-praetorian legate.

IMP CA[ ... ]PT [...]
[...  ]ERT [...]
[...]
[...] [...]AE [...]
[...]VIT PÍ¡RA[...]
[...  ]EG A[...]

This falls within the dates A.D. 198-209 during the joint rule of Septimius Severus and Caracalla, before Geta became Augustus. Note to EE ix 1184, item 3: R.C. Bosanquet to F.H., Sept. 1898, reported that in the Headquarters Building with two fragments of an inscription with cable-border he had found ‘the lower half of a c or g (not upper part of a p or r)’. Accordingly, F.H. in in PSAN² 2nd Ser. 8 (1899) 253 recorded that ‘the other [fragment], from the last line, bears a smaller g or c‘. In 1899, however, he inspected these fragments (MS. x f. 52) and described this one as ‘top of r, p (?)’ with cable-moulding above. In Arch. Ael. 2nd Ser. xxv (1904) 279 no. 4 he wrote: ‘The other fragment contained only part of one letter and what letter is uncertain.’ In EE ix 1184 he recorded three fragments im, p, and (from the bottom line) c, forgetting that this supposed c (reported in PSAN) was by now figuring as the broken p of the initial imp fragments R.P.W. Addenda from Britannia xxxvii (2006): When fragment (f) was first found R.P.W. commented: ‘As PRA[ in this context could not be interpreted as praefectus, praesidium or praetentura, it appears necessary to regard it as praetorium, which is the building in which it was found, although it is placed after the verb which governs it’ [our italics]. But this sequence, subject-verb-object, although it is colloquial Latin and often found in ‘curse tablets’, for example, is inappropriate to a formal dedication on stone. Not surprisingly, it is never found in RIB (except, as it happens, in Richmond and Wright’s imaginative restoration of RIB 1051(b); it is also required by the metre of RIB 1228 and 2059, but these are informal and metrical.) This difficulty disappears if pra[ecepto] is restored instead, ‘by order of Lucius Alfenus Senecio, imperial propraetorian legate’. praeceptum is the standard term for an order given by higher authority, whether it be that of a general, emperor or god. Thus in Britain Tacitus uses it of a manoeuvre ordered by Agricola, praecepto ducis. (Agricola 37; see further, TLL x.2 (iii), s.v. praecipio, 454-5; this verb is used by Flavian-period decurions at Carlisle and Vindolanda, of orders given by their commanding officer: see Tab. Luguval. 16.3, ita ut praecepisti, and Tab. Vindol. II, 628 i.4, rogo domine praecipias.) It is not found in RIB, but the cognate verb is used of a third-century governor’s order that a temple be rebuilt, restitui pr(ae)cepit. (Brit. vii (1976), 378-9, No. 2, where there is space on the stone for AE, but no sign that it was ever cut.) In other provinces it is occasionally found, as ex praecepto, for governmental initiatives. Examples in particular can be found for Septimius Severus. (A building-inscription, CIL viii 8991: turrim ruina lapsam ex praecepto P(ubli) Aeli Peregrini v(iri) e(gregii) proc(uratoris) Aug(ustorum) Rusaditani restitueru[nt]. Two special promotions, CIL iii 10471 (ILS 1153): ex praec(epto) dom(inorum) n(ostrorum); and CIL viii 11174 (ILS 1440): ex sacro praecepto. [div]ino pr[aecepto] is a possible restoration of RIB 1051(a).) So it is acceptable in a Severan inscription at Housesteads, as a variant of the phrasing found elsewhere, notably in RIB 740 and 1234, iussu L(uci) Alfeni Senecionis. This governor’s building inscriptions already show unusual variation of phrase: compare RIB 746, sub cura L(uci) Alfeni] Senecionis (thus also 722, 723); RIB 1462, [cu]rante Alf[eno Senecione]; RIB 1909, sub Alfeno Senecione. (RIB 740, with its cable-moulded border and ansae, gives an impression of what RIB 1612 would have looked like. RIB 746 also has a cable-moulded border) It follows that this fragment belongs to RIB 1612 after all. The inscription was evidently broken into many pieces, and dispersed as building-material across the central area of Housesteads. Like many building-inscriptions, it does not name the building built (or rebuilt), since this was unnecessary: it formed a prominent part of it. No doubt it was the principia.

RIB 1637 - Dedication to Emperor Hadrian

This work of the Emperor Caesar Trajan Hadrian Augustus (was built by) the Second Legion Augusta under Aulus Platorius Nepos, propraetorian legate.

IMP GA[...]S TRAIAN
HADRIAN AVG
LEG I[...] AVG
A PLATORIO [...]EPOTE LEG PR P[...]

Presumably both parts came from Hotbank milecastle, no. 38, which lies 400 m. north-west of Bradley Farm.2. For the genitive case Hadrian(i) see RIB 1638, note. Addenda from RIB+add. (1995): Hill, Arch. Ael. 5th Ser. 19 (1991), 37, discusses the masonry skills of the Wall builders, and considers that these ‘ill-spaced and inelegant’ inscriptions all came from the same hand.

RIB 3325 - Dedication to Hadrian (A.D. 117-138)

For the Emperor Caesar Hadrian Augustus, son of the deified Trajan Parthicus, grandson of the deified Nerva, the … Cohort of … a thousand strong…

Perhaps IM[...]
D[...]
COH[...]
MI[...]

Resembles the Hadrianic milecastle-inscriptions RIB 1637, 1638 and 1666.

The Etymology of Vercovicium (Housesteads)

The etymology of the Roman name for Housesteads (Vercovicium) appears to be wholly Latin in origin. The actual name of the fort is in dispute. The name appears as Borcovicium in the fifth century Notitia Dignitatum, where it is listed between the entries for Brocolitia (Carrawburgh, Northumberland) and Vindolanda (Chesterholm, Northumberland), the former fort on the Wall and the latter on the Stanegate. The The Ravenna Cosmography of the seventh century lists the name Velurtion, this time between the entries for Carrawburgh and Aesica (Great Chesters, Northumberland), but a dedicatory inscription recovered from the site suggests that the name may actually begin VER…(see RIB 1594 above); hence the modern acceptance of the name Vercovicium, translated as ‘The Settlement on the Slope’ (from Latin: vergo incline + vicus village or settlement). The name may derive from a Celtic term meaning “the hilly place” or  “the place of the effective fighters”.

The Vicus or Civil Settlement

Most Roman stations had civilian settlements attached to them in which the wives and children of the soldiers lived. Many of the troops when they retired after twenty five years’ service would also settle here. Merchants, craftsmen, farmworkers and others would make up what was one of the largest civilian settlements attached to a Wall fort. The village was most prosperous and extensive in the late 3rd and early 4th century. The size and prosperity of the Housesteads settlement was probably helped by the gateway in the Wall at the Knap Burn which encouraged trade across the frontier.

The civil settlement at Housesteads occupied the area to the immediate south and east of the Wall fort, along each side of the two minor roads which linked the fort with the Stanegate to the south-east and to the south-west. The civil buildings were arranged in terraces due to the steep nature of the surroundings, and identified remains include a number of domestic dwellings, shops and taverns, some with shuttered frontages. The buildings in the vicus were mainly rectangular in plan, arranged with their long axes at 90° to the main street. The remains of a couple (or five) of these civilian houses lie just outside the southern gateway of the fort, their gable-ends fronting the original Roman roadway indicating that it led straight down the hill and not by the less strenuous, meandering course of the modern road which serves the farmhouse. No attempts were made to provide it with defences. The Vallum protected the settlement from the south and the wall from the north

The civil settlement was at its most prosperous in the late-third to early-fourth centuries, but was abandoned by the late fourth century following barbarian raids from the north. A considerable proportion of the civilian population were then re-housed within the defences of the fort itself, and a number of internal buildings appear to have been re-furbished and altered to accommodate them, including even the principia or headquarters building, the former administrative centre of the fort. There was plenty of room to spare in the fort at this time due to the depletion of the garrison over the years, from a nominal force of one-thousand down to only about three-hundred men.

Temples and Altars at Housesteads

There have been over thirty altars to pagan gods unearthed at Housesteads, the greatest number dedicated to Jupiter the head of the Roman pantheon who has nine, closely followed by the war god Mars with seven, both of these powerful deities were often observed by the military. After the two classical gods the Germanic god Vheterus is honoured with six altarstones, the Persian god Mithras has three, the Germanic god Cocidius is mentioned on another three, and the Germanic goddesses known collectively as the Alaisagae also have three, though all of their altars are shared with other deities. There are a number of other altarstones to a wide variety of gods, some shared, others not; to Greek Hercules, Latin Silvanus, also one to the Mother Goddesses and at least another four unidentified. The texts from a selection of these altarstones are given and translated on this page, those naming military units above, others below. All of the known religious texts on stone are tabulated below:

A Breakdown of Housesteads Deities

  • Iuppiter Optimus Maximus (Jupiter Best and Greatest) –  9 Stones: RIB 1581, 1582, 1583 [IOM et Cocidius et Genio Loci], 1584, 1588 [IOM et Num Aug], 1589
  • Numen Augusti (the Divine Spirit of the Emperor) – 9 Stones: RIB 1576 [Alaisagae et Num Aug], 1584-1588 [IOM et Num Aug], 1593 [Mars Thincsus et Alaisagae et Num Aug], 1594 [Mars et Alaisagae et Num Aug], 1596 [Mars et Victoria et Num Aug]
  • Mars – 7 Stones: RIB 1590 [statue base], 1591, 1592, 1593 [Mars Thincsus et Alaisagae et Num Aug], 1594 [Mars et Alaisagae et Num Aug], 1595 [Mars et Victoria], 1596 [Mars et Victoria et Num Aug]
  • Veterus – 6 Stones: RIB1562 [Hueteri], 1563 [Huitri], 1604-1607 [Veteribus]
  • Cocidius – 3 Stone RIB 1577 [Cocidius et Genio Praesidi], 1578 [Silvanus Cocidius], 1583 [IOM et Cocidius et Genio Loci]
  • Alaisagae – 3 Stones: RIB 1576 [Alaisagae et Num Aug], 1593 [Mars Thincsus et Alaisagae et Num Aug], 1594 [Mars et Alaisagae et Num Aug]
  • Sol/Mithras – 3 Stones: RIB 1599 [Sol Inv Mytras], 1560 [252AD; Sol Inv Mitras], 1561 [Sol]
  • Victoria – 2 Stones: RIB 1595 [Mars et Victoria], 1596 [Mars et Victoria et Num Aug]
  • Genii (Guardian Spirits) – 2 Stones: RIB: 1577 [Cocidius et Genio Praesidi], 1583 [IOM et Cocidius et Genio Loci]
  • Mercury – 1 Stones: RIB: 1597 [M Calve]
  • Matres- 1 Stones: RIB: (Mother Goddesses): 1598
  • Silvanus – 1 Stones: RIB: 1578 [Silvanus Cocidius]
  • Dis Deabus – 1 Stones: RIB: 1579

Possible Nymphaeum Housesteads Temple 1

A small, simple apsidal shrine measuring 13¾ ft. by 16½ ft. with a semicircular wall on the north-west side, lies just south of the vicus settlement, north of Chapel Hill. Inside, four heavy stone slabs set upright in a rough square encloses a strongly-flowing freshwater spring at the bottom of a 4½ ft. well. Two uniscribed altars were found within the building which proves its sanctity, and it is very likely that this very small temple, which may comfortably accommodate no more than six worshippers, was connected with the worship of some unknown water deity, or group of deities, perhaps the water nymphs. Finds of coins and pottery sherds have provided evidence of a construction date for the building around the mid-2nd century and its demise during the early-4th. Other nymphaea are known at Carrawburgh and Chedworth.

Temple of Martius Thincsus and the Goddesses Alaisiagae Housesteads Temple 2

RIB 1593 - Altar dedicated to Mars Thincsus, the Alaisiagae, and the Divinity of the Emperor

To the god Mars Thincsus and the two Alaisiagae, Beda and Fimmilena, and to the Divinity of the Emperor the Germans, being tribesmen of Twenthe, willingly and deservedly fulfilled their vow.

DEO
MARTI
THINCSO
ET DVABVS
ALAISIAGIS
BEDE ET FI
MMILENE
ET N AVG GER
M CIVES TV
IHANTI
V S L M
  • cives Tuihanti: Scherer suggests that they came from the district of Twenthe in the province of Over-Yssel, Holland.
  • The sculptured lintel has in its central panel a figure of Mars with sword, shield, and spear and at his right side a goose. The Alaisiagae, portrayed naked and cross-legged, each extend towards Mars what appears to be a palm-branch, and carry a wreath in their other hand.

RIB 1591 - Altar dedicated to Mars

To the god Mars Quintus Florius Maternus, prefect of the First Cohort of Tungrians, willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow.

DEO
MARTI QVINT
FLORIVS MA
TERNVS PRAEF
COH I TVNG
V S L M

No commentary. Addenda from RIB+add. (1995): For the same prefect see RIB 1578. See also note to RIB 202.

RIB 1595 - Altar dedicated to Mars and to Victory

To Mars and Victory ..

MARTI
ET VIC
TORIAE
[...]

No commentary.

RIB 1596 - Altar dedicated to Mars and Victory and the Divinities of the Emperors

To the god Mars and Victory and the Divinities of the Emperors under the charge … custos armorum ..

DEO
[...]ARTI ET
VICTORIAE
ET NVMINIB AVGG
SVB CVRALIC . VI
. IVIC ... II .
.. V . IS VALLVTI
ALPIBAIIRISI
. I . I ... SIC ..
VS ... VIVIOB
4 NDICII
... CVS ARM
.. SD .. T

Wrongly ascribed to Ebchester by Bruce.A custos armorum was the soldier in a century or a turma responsible for the arms and armour.

The Mithraeum Housesteads Temple 3

RIB 1599 - Altar dedicated to Mytras

To the invincible Sun-god Mytras, Lord of Ages, Litorius Pacatianus, beneficiarius of the governor, for himself and his family willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow.

DEO
SOLI INVI
CTO MYTRAE
SAECVLARI
LITORIVS
PACATIANVS
BF COS PRO
SE ET SVIS V S
L M

Cumont, loc. cit., says Saecularis refers to the Ludi Saeculares of A.D. 246. Richmond, loc. cit., comments on the tendency to eclecticism, ‘in which Sol, Mithras and Saeculum become a single concept’.A beneficiarius was a soldier, usually a legionary, seconded for special duties by favour (beneficium) of a specific senior officer; in particular the beneficiarius consularis, an officer on the governor’s staff, who might be out-posted.

RIB 1600 - Altar dedicated to Mitras (A.D. 252)

To the invincible Sun-god Mitras, Lord of Ages, Publicius Proculinus, centurion, on behalf of himself and his son Proculus, willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow in the consulship of our Lords Gallus and Volusian.

  • In a.d. 252 the consuls were the emperors Gallus (for the second time) and Volusian.

Situated to the south of the fort was a small temple dedicated to Mithras, the Persian Sun-God. It measured 54 feet in length by 16 feet broad, and had a paved central isle 6½ feet wide running between platforms raised at least 2 feet high on either side. A sanctuary at the far end of the temple was flanked on each side by a small altar stone, and contained a sculpted relief of the Birth of Mithras. Mithraic temples were all very similar and were dark to suggest the cave where Mithras slew the bull.  A spring provided the building with running water, which was presumably required for ritual purposes. Nothing can now be seen but when excavated valuable sculptures and inscriptions were found.  The altars found at Housesteads were all dedicated by fort commanders of the third century when the worship of Mithras flourished.  There is another superb example of a Mithraeum at the nearby fort of Carrawburgh.

RIB 1601 - Altar dedicated to the Sun-god

To the Sun-god Herion willingly and deservedly (made) this vow.

SOLI
HERION
V L M

On the capital is the head of the Sun-god, radiate, with a whip in his hand R.G.C.

RIB 1578 - Altar dedicated to Silvanus Cocidius

To the god Silvanus Cocidius Quintus Florius Maternus, prefect of the First Cohort of Tungrians, willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow.

DEO
SILVANO
COCIDIO
Q FLORIVS
MATERNVS
PRAEF COH
I TVNG
V S L M

No commentary.

RIB 1598 - Altar dedicated to the Mother Goddesses

To the Mother Goddesses the First Cohort of Tungrians ..

[...]TRIBVS
COH I TVNGR
[...]V[...]

No commentary.

Altarstones to the God Hueterus

RIB 1602 - Altar dedicated to Hueteris

To the god Hueteris Superstes [and] Regulus willingly and deservedly fulfilled their vow.

DEO
HVETERI
SVPERSTES [...]
REGVLV[...]
V S L [...]

PSAN³ 3rd Ser. 4 (1910) 96 reports excavations at the two angle-towers, but no mention is made of any inscription. This altar was found in 1910, presumably on one of these sites R.P.W.[Brit. xxxvii (2008)] Found partially underneath the south-west corner of the foundations of the interval tower between the east gate and the south-east angle-tower (Simpson, Simpson (ed.), Watermills and Military Works on Hadrian’s Wall (1976) 131).

RIB 1603 - Altar dedicated to Huitris

To the god Huitris Aspuanis for himself and his family fulfilled his vow.

DEO
HVITRI
ASPVANIS
PRO ET SVIS
VOT
SOL

F.H. in EE notes that the letters Hu- are of Germanic origin, confirmed by Professor M. Rödiger, and that the most correct spelling is Hueter- or Huetir-, not the much-used Veter- or Vitir-.


RIB 1606 - Altar dedicated to the Veteres

To the Veteres Aurelius Victor set up his vow.

VETER
IBVS
[...]OSVVIT A
VRE VICT V

No commentary.

RIB 1589 - Altar dedicated to Jupiter Optimus Maximus (A.D. 258)

To Jupiter, Best and Greatest, for the welfare of Desidienus Aemilianus, prefect, both his own (and) his family’s, (the dedicator) set this up and willingly fulfilled his vow in the consulship of Tuscus and Bassus.

I O M
PRO SALVTE
DESIDIENI AE
[...]LIANI PRAEF
[...] ET SVA SV[...]
[...]M POSVIT VOT
[...]Q SOLVIT LIBE
NS TVSCO ET BAS
SO CO[...]

Bainbrigg assigned it to Chester in the Wall (or Busy Gap); Horsley, with hesitation, to Vindolanda, while Hodgson, Bruce, and Huebner assigned it to Carvoran. For the attribution to Housesteads see Haverfield (loc. cit.), Birley, Cumb. Westm. AAST 2nd Ser. 51 (1951) 181. The text is grammatically muddled, for posuit lacks a subject. It seems probable that the prefect was the dedicator. But the mason, obsessed by the idea that the dedication was made for the prefect’s welfare, forgot that the prefect was in fact the dedicator and put his name into the genitive instead of the nominative case. The original draft may have been something like: pro salute sua et suorum Desidienius Aemilianus praefectus posuit … . 7, 8.  In A.D. 258 Tuscus and Bassus were consuls. Addenda from RIB+add. (1995): Desidienus: Birley, Review, 229, cf. CIL iii 12916 for this nomen.

RIB 1597 - Altar dedicated to Mars

To the god Mars Calve(…), a German, (set this up).

DEO M
CALVE
GER

No commentary.

Outside of Housesteads Fort

The area surrounding the Housesteads fort is bristling with other shrines and signs of industrial and agricultural activity:

  • Bath House – A military bath-house has been found to the east of the fort on the opposite bank of the Knag Burn.
  • Industrial Furnace – Evidence of large-scale iron-working was discovered in a building just outside the east gate of the fort to the south of the Military Way.
  • Lime Kiln – Identified in the area between the eastern fort ramparts and the Knag Burn.
  • Cultivation Terraces – Evidence of extensive cultivation of the surrounding hillsides is evident in the form of these furrows, which run along the gentle slopes to the south of Houseteads Crags.
  • Quarries – Nearby quarry workings which supplied building stone for the Wall and fort, were at one time mistakenly identified as a military amphitheatre. [The exact location of these quarries is unknown to me, but may possibly lie north-east of the fort at the western end of Kennel Crags, where an ovoid feature north of the Wall is depicted on the OS Outdoor Leisure Map #43 at grid ref. SY791690. ]
  • Cemeteries – Two possible Roman cemeteries have been identified; the first to the south-west of the Mithraeum, and the second between the Stanegate road and the Knag Burn, south-east of the Temple of the Matres.

Excavations on the site of the valetudinarium or military field hospital in the centre of the fort (NY790688) in 1970 revealed evidence that the building continued to be used after it had ceased to function as a field-hospital.

Visiting Housesteads Roman Fort Today

Housesteads  is open all year round and is managed by English Heritage and National Trust. Admission to Housesteads Roman Fort is free for English Heritage and National Trust members. Parking charges apply. The car park is managed by Northumberland National Park.

The visible remains of the fort at Housesteads date primarily to the third and fourth centuries, and include the principia or regimental headquarters building, the praetorium or commanding officer’s residence, a valetudinarium or field hospital, and examples of barracks, bath-houses, latrines, workshops and granaries. Visitors to the site may be under the impression that the north gate of the fort was not used, as it opens out upon a precipitous rocky cliff, this was not the case, for the Roman engineers included in their plans a causeway or ramp leading up to this northern gate which was removed during the course of modern excavations at the Housesteads fort.
Of the vicus which occupied much of the area surrounding the fort, several buildings can be seen, mainly along the road leading from the fort’s southern gateway south and then east towards the Newborough fort on the Stanegate.

References for Housesteads Roman Fort

  • Hadrian’s Wall Map and Guide by the Ordnance Survey (Southampton, 1989);
  • Hadrian’s Wall in the Days of the Romans by Ronald Embleton and Frank Graham (Newcastle, 1984) pp.130-151;
  • Hadrian’s Wall History Trails Guidebook III by Les Turnbull (Newcastle, 1974);
  • Britannia ii (1971) p.250; Britannia i (1970) pp.276/7 & Fig.4;
  • Temples in Roman Britain by M.J.T. Lewis (Cambridge 1966) p.73 & fig.74;
  • The Roman Inscriptions of Britain by R.G. Collingwood and R.P. Wright (Oxford 1965).

Roman Roads near Housesteads Roman Fort

Wall: E (5) to Brocolitia Military Way: W (4.75) to Cawfields (Northumberland) Military Way: E (2.75) to Coesike Wall: W (5.5) to Great Chesters (Great Chesters, Northumberland) Probable road: SW (4.25) to Vindolanda (Chesterholm, Northumberland)

Plan of Hadrian's Wall - Fort - Housesteads (Vercovicivm)

Hadrian's Wall - Fort - Housesteads (Vercovicivm)
Sites near Hadrian's Wall - Fort - Housesteads (Vercovicivm)