Overview

This book contains four substantial studies scrutinising aspects of the evidence for the design and form of the curtain, milecastles and turrets of Hadrian’s Wall as preserved in the primary archaeological record. Together they constitute a fresh assessment of the original appearance of the Wall and its structures, a matter of long-running controversy since nowhere does any part of the Wall survive to full height. The nature of the top of the curtain, and the form of superstructures over milecastle gateways, are not simply structural details of merely academic interest: the contributors show that both have a profound impact on how we interpret the function of the linear barrier both in its initial conception and as used over three centuries by the Roman army.

Full Product Details

Author:   Derek A. Welsby ,  Nick Hodgson (Independent Researcher; formerly Principal Keeper of Archaeology, Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums, Honorary Research Fellow, Durham University)
Publisher:   Archaeopress
Imprint:   Archaeopress Archaeology
Weight:   0.860kg
ISBN:  

9781805831457

ISBN 10:   1805831453
Pages:   178
Publication Date:   13 November 2025
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
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Table of Contents

List of Figures List of Tables   Introduction – Derek A. Welsby and Nick Hodgson Laying out the ground plans of turrets and milecastles on Hadrian’s Wall – Derek A. Welsby Introduction Turrets Milecastles Discussion Conclusion Acknowledgements Bibliography   Did Hadrian’s Wall have a wall walk? – Paul Bidwell Introduction The width of the Wall Walls blocking turret recesses The line of the later Stone Wall in relation to the stone turrets originally built as part of the Turf Wall Chamfered stones from a string course The bridges on the line of the Wall A crenellated parapet Weaponry and use of the Wall-walk as a fighting-platform Surveillance, patrols and defence The Antonine Wall Conclusions Acknowledgements Bibliography The stones from a chamfered string course on Hadrian’s Wall and their implications for the appearance of the Wall-top – Nick Hodgson Introduction The chamfered string course stones The chamfered string course and the wider question of parapet and wall-walk The wall-walk as a fighting platform or a sentry walk Acknowledgements Appendix 1: Published records of chamfered string course stones from Hadrian’s Wall Appendix 2: The Berm Obstacles Bibliography   Milecastle gate towers: present or absent? – Derek A. Welsby Introduction Discussion The presence or absence of towers over milecastle gateways Tower or no tower? Conclusion Acknowledgements Appendix 1. Inventory of milecastle gates where there is relevant data for use in this study Appendix 2. Measurements of the visible stonework in milecastle and fort gates along Hadrian’s Wall Bibliography

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Author Information

Derek Welsby completed a PhD on Roman military archaeology, going on to spend most of his career excavating along the Nile and in the deserts of Central and Northern Sudan. For much of that time he was an assistant keeper based in what is now the Department of Egypt and Sudan at the British Museum. He has excavated on Roman sites in the UK, Turkey and Libya and has travelled extensively throughout the Empire. Nick Hodgson holds a BA degree from Oxford and PhD from Newcastle. He was formerly Principal Keeper of Archaeology, Tyne & Wear Museums (now Northeast Museums). He has excavated and published widely on Hadrian’s Wall and is currently preparing the results of the long-running excavations at South Shields Roman fort, at the eastern end of the Wall, for publication.

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