Epiacum, known today as Whitley Castle, is an auxiliary fort in the South Tyne valley in Northumberland, occupied from the early 2nd century AD through at least the mid-3rd century. It is unusual for its lozenge-shaped plan (dictated by the local topography) and for being defended by an exceptionally elaborate set of up to seven ditches on its more vulnerable sides — the most complex multivallate defences of any fort in Roman Britain.
Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →
Sited on the road between Carvoran (Magnis) on Hadrian's Wall and Kirkby Thore (Bravoniacum), Epiacum is widely believed to have overseen and protected the lead and silver mining operations of the Alston Moor orefield, the richest such field in northern Britain. Inscriptions record garrisons including the Cohors II Nerviorum and a vexillation of the Cohors III Nerviorum.
The site has never been extensively excavated, but earthworks survive remarkably well as upstanding remains, and geophysical survey (by English Heritage and others, 2007–10) has revealed the internal layout including the principia, barracks, and a substantial extramural vicus with bathhouse to the south. Surface finds and altars recovered from the area include dedications to Hercules and Apollo, and lead pigs (ingots) from the wider region attest to the mineral economy the fort likely supervised.
Epiacum, known today as Whitley Castle, is an auxiliary fort in the South Tyne valley in Northumberland, occupied from the early 2nd century AD through at least the mid-3rd century. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a fort site from the Roman period in Britain.
Epiakon (Epiacum) 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 Maiden Way Roman road over Hartleyburn Common and Glendue Fell (8.1 km), Maiden Way Roman Road, Melmerby Fell from Bank Rigg northwards to Rowgill Burn (11.4 km), Fell End Roman temporary camp and section of the Stanegate Roman road (16.9 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.
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