Alauna (Maryport) was a Roman auxiliary fort on the Cumbrian coast, established around AD 122–125 as part of the Hadrianic coastal defensive system extending the Wall's frontier south along the Solway. The stone fort covered approximately 2.4 hectares and housed a 500-strong auxiliary unit; it remained in occupation through the 2nd, 3rd, and into the 4th centuries, with associated vicus (civilian settlement) spreading north and east.
Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →
Alauna was the command and supply hub for the chain of milefortlets and towers running down the Cumbrian coast, monitoring seaborne approaches to the Wall's western flank and likely controlling traffic across the Solway Firth. It is particularly notable for producing the largest single group of Roman altars from Britain — the Maryport altars — many dedicated to Jupiter Optimus Maximus by successive commanders, including the cohors I Hispanorum and cohors I Baetasiorum.
Excavations from the 19th century (Senhouse family) through to recent campaigns by Newcastle University and the Senhouse Museum Trust have revealed the fort plan, the vicus, a substantial parade ground, and a probable classical temple/monumental complex on the northeast plateau where the altars were buried in ritual pits. The site has yielded over 17 inscribed altars, tombstones, and sculpture, now largely held at the Senh
Alauna (Maryport) was a Roman auxiliary fort on the Cumbrian coast, established around AD 122–125 as part of the Hadrianic coastal defensive system extending the Wall's frontier south along the Solway. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a fort site from the Roman period in Britain.
Alauna/Alione is classified as a Roman fort — a military site in the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer. Roman Britain's archaeology encompasses thousands of sites ranging from legionary fortresses and marching camps to villas, temples and towns.
Several Roman sites lie within a short distance, including Maryport (Alavna) Roman fort, part of the Roman frontier defences along the Cumbrian coast, its associated vicus and a length of Roman road (0.3 km), Roman cremation cemetery, 380m south east of Maryport Roman fort (0.4 km), Sea Brows (milefortlet 23), 500m south west of Bank End part of the Roman frontier defences along the Cumbrian coast (0.9 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.
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