Milecastle 78

Milecastle 78 was one of a series of Milecastles or small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall. DescriptionMilecastle 78 lies halfway between the villages of Glasson and Port Carlisle. It is northwest of an access road to a caravan park. There are no remains visible above ground. The vallum ditch can be traced in this area as a depression up to 0. 8 metres deep. ExcavationsMilecastle 78 was first located and partially excavated in 1934. Only the west wall was examined in the excavations and was found to be 2. 8 metres wide. One course of masonry stood upon the inner face; the outer face had been robbed. The excavators did not record whether remains of the earlier turf and timber phase of the milecastle survive. The milecastle was investigated again in 2000 as part of the Milecastles Project. Trenches were excavated across the west, south, and east walls of the milecastle. The stone milecastle measured approximately 19. 2 metres east-west, and 20. 7 metres north-south externally. The foundations of the walls were 2. 5 metres wide. A burnt feature, possibly a hearth or oven, was found in the southwest corner. No evidence for the Turf Wall milecastle was recovered. Associated TurretsEach milecastle on Hadrian's Wall had two associated turret structures. These turrets were positioned approximately one-third and two-thirds of a Roman mile to the west of the Milecastle, and would probably have been manned by part of the milecastle's garrison. The turrets associated with Milecastle 78 are known as Turret 78A and Turret 78B.

Milecastle 78 was one of a series of Milecastles or small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall. DescriptionMilecastle 78 lies halfway between the villages of Glasson and Port Carlisle. It is northwest of an access road to a caravan park. There are no remains visible above ground. The vallum ditch can be traced in this area as a depression up to 0. 8 metres deep. ExcavationsMilecastle 78 was first located and partially excavated in 1934. Only the west wall was examined in the excavations and was found to be 2. 8 metres wide. One course of masonry stood upon the inner face; the outer face had been robbed. The excavators did not record whether remains of the earlier turf and timber phase of the milecastle survive. The milecastle was investigated again in 2000 as part of the Milecastles Project. Trenches were excavated across the west, south, and east walls of the milecastle. The stone milecastle measured approximately 19. 2 metres east-west, and 20. 7 metres north-south externally. The foundations of the walls were 2. 5 metres wide. A burnt feature, possibly a hearth or oven, was found in the southwest corner. No evidence for the Turf Wall milecastle was recovered. Associated TurretsEach milecastle on Hadrian's Wall had two associated turret structures. These turrets were positioned approximately one-third and two-thirds of a Roman mile to the west of the Milecastle, and would probably have been manned by part of the milecastle's garrison. The turrets associated with Milecastle 78 are known as Turret 78A and Turret 78B.