19th March 2024
Roman road remains uncovered in Northumberland

Roman road remains uncovered in Northumberland

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Roman road remains uncovered in Northumberland

Northumbrian Water discovered the evidence during the launch of a £ 55,000 investment scheme at Stanegate Roman Road, near Settlingstones, Hexham.

We are delighted to have discovered this significant piece of secret heritage and play our role in helping to preserve it,” said Brian Hardy, project manager of Northumbrian Water.”

The road is believed to be nearly 2,000 years old.

“We have successfully delivered our investment work, through the use of alternative methods and techniques, to not only enhance and futureproof our customers’ water supplies but also protect this suspected integral part of surviving Roman archaeology.”

In order to document and help protect this significant heritage discovery, the utility company called upon its own experts and informed local authorities.

The relic remnants of the road itself, monitored by Archaeological Research Services Ltd, pre-dates Hadrian’s Wall and had forts along its length – within one day’s march of each other.

This is why the well-known fort at Vindolanda is sited south of Hadrian’s Wall on the course of the Stanegate.”

Philippa Hunter, senior projects officer at Archaeological Research Services Ltd, said:

“While monitoring the excavation pit, our archaeologist identified a deposit of compacted cobbles thought to be the remains of the Roman road’s foundations – it is believed to have been built by Agricola or his successors around 80 AD.

“Here, the road was constructed using rounded cobbles set in a layer measuring around 15cm deep, with around 25cm of gravel surfacing laid on top.

“Unfortunately no dating evidence or finds have been recovered to confirm the precise date of the archaeological remains.

The Roman road at Stanegate, near Settlingstones.

“However, given the location of the cobbles along the projected route of the Roman road and its depth below the modern road surface, we are confident the remains identified form an important part of the early northern Roman frontier.”

Roman settlements, garrisons and roads were established throughout the Northumberland region after Gnaeus Julius Agricola was appointed Roman governor of Britain in 78 AD.

Hadrian’s Wall was completed by about 130 AD, to define and defend the northern boundary of Roman Britain with Stanegate and Dere Street the major road links.