The Turf Wall of Hadrian, 1895–1935

• Published in: Journal of Roman Studies
• Main Authors: Simpson, F. Gerald, Richmond, I. A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1935
• Subjects: Literature and Literary Theory; Archeology; Visual Arts and Performing Arts; History; Classics; Bowers; Two Mile; SCAR
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/296549; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0075435800034407

The turf-built sector of Hadrian's Wall was discovered in 1895 by the Cumberland Excavation Committee, at Appletree, east of Wall Bowers milecastle, 51. In the next three years, the associated ditch was traced underneath Birdoswald Fort and under the Stone Wall at milecastles 49 (Harrow's Scar) and 51, forming thus a two-mile loop-line (pl. 1) with the ditch of the Stone Wall which it preceded. The recognition of the new Wall as turf-built was made easy by the analysis of the Antonine Wall three years earlier, and Dr. Arthur Raistrick's pollen-analysis, given below in an Appendix (p. 18), puts the exact nature of the material beyond doubt.