Burscough Roman fort
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| Burscough Roman fort | |
|---|---|
  Location in Lancashire | |
| Founded during the reign of | Claudius |
| Founded | c.1st century AD |
| Place in the Roman world | |
| Province | Britannia |
| Structure | |
| — Sandstone structure — | |
| Built | c.1st century AD |
| — Wood and earth structure — | |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 53°35′28″N 2°50′13″W / 53.591°N 2.837°W |
| County | Lancashire |
| State | England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Site notes | |
| Discovery year | 2014 |
| Condition | Earthworks |
| Controlled by | Scheduled monument |
Burscough Roman Fort was a c.1st century AD[1] auxiliary fort near what is now Burscough, West Lancashire, England.
Archaeological excavations are ongoing, and the site has been described as "the most significant Roman discovery made in Lancashire for over 100 years".[2]
The site of the fort has an area of 30,000m² and was built in at least two phases. An initial sandstone auxiliary fort oriented north to south and measuring 160 metres in length with a shallow rampart was constructed in the first century AD during the Roman conquest of Britain.[3] A second site constructed over the eastern rampart suggests the presence of a later, smaller fortlet.[4]
Several internal structures have been identified through geophysical survey including an eastern gateway with two gate towers, and multiple sandstone buildings which have been identified as granaries or barracks. Beam slots and hearths have also been identified, suggesting some industrial usage.[3]
History
While the exact age and name of the fort are not yet known, it is believed to have been built during the Roman conquest of Britain in the first century AD,[3] likely during the reign of Claudius.
An initial auxiliary fort was built with a later fortlet built on its eastern side.[3]
The site was inhabited at various intervals until at least the mid-4th century AD,[3] owing to the multiple ditches identified at the site.[4] It has been suggested that there was a possible hiatus in the habitation of the site c.3nd century AD.[3]