Roman BritainRomano-British enclosed settlement and hut-circles on Beanley Moor, 650m south-east of Broomhouse
Roman Settlement · Civilian

Romano-British enclosed settlement and hut-circles on Beanley Moor, 650m south-east of Broomhouse

Roman Britain
Pleiades ID: nhle-5624
Site type
Settlement
Category
Civilian
Latitude
55.4607
Longitude
-1.8307
Overview

History & context

This is a small enclosed native settlement on Beanley Moor in north Northumberland, comprising a sub-rectangular stone-walled enclosure containing the foundations of stone-built hut circles, typical of upland Romano-British farmsteads in the region. Such sites in the Cheviot fringe were generally occupied between the 1st and 4th centuries AD, though many had Iron Age origins continuing into the Roman period. It would have functioned as a single extended-family farmstead, combining domestic occupation with stock management and small-scale cultivation.

Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →

Significance

Historical significance

The site forms part of the dense pattern of indigenous settlement on the moorlands of the Breamish–Aln watershed, lying within the civilian zone behind Hadrian's Wall but in territory dominated by native (Votadinian) farming communities rather than direct Roman occupation. Beanley Moor itself contains a notable concentration of such enclosures alongside the larger hillfort earthworks, suggesting sustained settlement continuity through the Roman centuries.

Archaeology

Archaeological record

The site is known principally from earthwork survey rather than excavation, with the enclosure wall and internal hut platforms visible as upstanding stone features; no published excavation results provide dating evidence specific to this monument. Its classification rests on morphological comparison with excavated parallels in the Cheviots, such as those at Greaves Ash and Hartburn, where similar enclosed hut groups produced Roman-period material.

About this site

Questions & answers

What is Romano-British enclosed settlement and hut-circles on Beanley Moor, 650m south-east of Broomhouse?

This is a small enclosed native settlement on Beanley Moor in north Northumberland, comprising a sub-rectangular stone-walled enclosure containing the foundations of stone-built hut circles, typical of upland Romano-British farmsteads in the region. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a settlement site from the Roman period in Britain.

What type of Roman site is Romano-British enclosed settlement and hut-circles on Beanley Moor, 650m south-east of Broomhouse?

Romano-British enclosed settlement and hut-circles on Beanley Moor, 650m south-east of Broomhouse is classified as a Roman settlement — a civilian 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.

What other Roman sites are near Romano-British enclosed settlement and hut-circles on Beanley Moor, 650m south-east of Broomhouse?

Several Roman sites lie within a short distance, including Romano-British enclosed settlement on Beanley Moor, 800m south-east of Broomhouse (0.1 km), Romano-British farmstead on Beanley Moor, 500m SSE of Broom House (0.3 km), Romano-British enclosed settlement, 800m NW of East Bolton (2.5 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.

How can I research the history of the area around Romano-British enclosed settlement and hut-circles on Beanley Moor, 650m south-east of Broomhouse?

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Research the area around Romano-British enclosed settlement and hut-circles on Beanley Moor, 650m south-east of Broomhouse