Hadrian's Wall

The northern limit of the Roman Empire lies only about forty miles north of us.  To demarcate territory conquered by Rome from territory overrun by Barbarians, Emperor Hadrian had his army construct a stone wall.

The wall was 80 miles long running from coast to coast, east to west across northern England.

Originally, it was 20 feet high, but most of the stones have been taken to be used in other walls, houses, and roads.

The wall was built on top of cliff.  Here looking east.  To the left, in the lowlands is where there were Barbarians.

The cliff -- a basalt sill -- looking west.

There is some debate about the purpose of the wall.  It might have served as a trade barrier, siphoning market men toward guarded passageways in the wall.  The Romans would have collected taxes there.  It could have been a work project for the army.  It might have been for defensive purposes, but its intermittent weaknesses make that uncertain.

Nevertheless, there are forts at regular intervals along the wall.

The archaeological remains on the ground and in a series of museums are stunning.  One museum has six hundred leather shoes.

Museum photo, not ours.

A bread oven currently being excavated.  Note the preserved wooden posts in front of the oven.  They held the roof of the house in place.

A replica tombstone.

Interpretive sign of communal baking undertaken by Roman soldiers inside the fort walls.

A very clear day.

At the beginning of our treks.

At the end of our treks.