Magnis (Carvoran) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Magnis |
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_Roman_Fort_-_north_boundary,_and_Corvoran_Roman_Army_Museum_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1374187.jpg)
Carvoran (Magna) Roman Fort - north boundary; and Corvoran Roman Army Museum
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 Location in Northumberland
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| Location | |
| Coordinates | 54°59′06″N 2°31′28″W / 54.9849°N 2.5244°W |
| Place name | Carvoran |
| County | Northumberland |
| Country | England |
| Reference | |
| UK-OSNG reference | NY665656 |
Magnis or Magna was a Roman fort located near Hadrian's Wall in northern Britain. Today, its ruins are known as Carvoran Roman Fort. You can find them near Carvoran, Northumberland, in northern England. This fort was built on the Stanegate frontier, an important Roman road. The Stanegate connected Coria (Corbridge) in the east to Luguvalium (Carlisle) in the west. Magnis was built even before Hadrian's Wall existed.
Today, the fort is home to the Roman Army Museum.
Contents
What's in a Name? The Story of Magnis
The fort at Carvoran is usually called 'Magnis'. This name appears in old Roman documents like the Ravenna Cosmography and the Notitia Dignitatum. We also found a small piece of writing that mentioned "numerus Magne<c>e(n)s(ium)", which means "of the unit of Magn[...]".
The name could be Magni or Magna in Latin. Even though it's a small fort, it's sometimes called "Magna," meaning "great" or "large." One idea is that the name comes from an old Celtic word, maen, which means "stone" or "rock."
Life at the Roman Fort
Before the stone fort you see today, there were several earlier camps made of wood. We know this from aerial photos. The earliest signs of Roman activity here date back to the late 1st century AD.
Why Was Magnis Built?
Magnis was built around 80 AD on the Stanegate frontier. Its main job was to protect the spot where the Maiden Way Roman road crossed the Stanegate. The Maiden Way ran north to south, and the Stanegate ran west to east. This means Magnis was an important outpost even before Hadrian's Wall was constructed.
The Maiden Way went south from Magnis to Bravoniacum (Kirkby Thore near Penrith). There was another fort, Whitley Castle (or Epiacum), halfway between them, just north of Alston, Cumbria.
Who Lived at Magnis?
Around 120 AD, a special group of 500 archers arrived at Magnis. They were called the Cohors Prima Hamiorum Sagittaria. These archers came from Hama (in modern-day Syria). They were the only known archer regiment in Britain!
How Hadrian's Wall Changed Magnis
Hadrian's Wall was built starting in 122 AD, just a few hundred yards north of the fort. The Wall's ditch, called the Vallum, was dug north of Magnis. This ditch separated the fort from the Wall and the main frontier area. For some reason, the Vallum was even diverted further north than needed around the fort.
The fort was rebuilt with strong stone walls in 136-137 AD. This happened when the Antonine Wall was being built further north. More rebuilding took place around 161 AD. After the Romans left the Antonine Wall, the same archer unit that was there during Hadrian's time returned to Magnis.
The Civilian Settlement (Vicus)
Outside the fort, there was a large civilian settlement called a vicus. This village spread out on at least three sides of the fort. We know this from surveys of the ground. Visitors in the 1700s also noticed it. Many carvings found here are dedicated to a local god named Vitiris.
Discoveries at Magnis
Archaeologists have found many interesting things at Magnis. One discovery was a 2-foot-long iron spearhead, found deep inside a well. Another famous find is the "modius," a bronze container used to measure grain in Roman times.
The site is now looked after by the Vindolanda Trust. This means the ground has special layers that preserve old organic materials very well. A new five-year excavation project started in 2023, supported by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Explore the Roman Army Museum
Magnis is home to the Roman Army Museum, which is managed by the Vindolanda Trust. Like the museum at Vindolanda, the Roman Army Museum was updated and reopened in 2011. It helps visitors understand what life was like on the northern edge of the Roman Empire.
Inside the museum, you can see real Roman artifacts, including weapons and tools. There are also life-size models and a cool 3D film that shows Hadrian's Wall both in the past and today. A large timeline helps you learn about the history of Hadrian's Wall. One gallery is all about the emperor Hadrian himself.
Another big gallery shows daily life in the Roman army through the eyes of eight auxiliary soldiers. It even has a film showing their activities. You can also see rare items, like a surviving helmet crest.
Images for kids
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Magna plan from a 1964 map
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A lidar scan of Magna
