Milecastle 62 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Milecastle 62 |
|
|---|---|
 Location in Cumbria
|
|
| Type | Milecastle |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 54°56′10″N 2°52′15″W / 54.936002°N 2.870795°W |
| County | Cumbria |
| Country | England |
Milecastle 62, also known as Walby East, was a small fort called a milecastle that was part of Hadrian's Wall. This famous wall was built by the Romans in ancient Britain.
Contents
What is Milecastle 62?
Milecastle 62 was one of many small forts built along Hadrian's Wall. These milecastles were like mini-forts placed about one Roman mile apart. They helped the Roman soldiers guard the wall.
Where was Milecastle 62 Located?
Milecastle 62 was found about 500 meters (that's half a kilometer) east of a small village called Walby. This area is in Cumbria, England. Today, you can't see any remains of the milecastle above ground. It's all hidden beneath the fields.
Discovering Milecastle 62
Even though nothing is visible today, archaeologists have found where Milecastle 62 once stood. They used special methods to learn about this ancient site.
How Archaeologists Found It
In 1980 and 1981, experts used a method called a geophysical survey. This is like using special tools to "see" what's underground without digging. It helped them guess where the milecastle might be.
Later, in 1999, they dug nine small holes, called test pits, across the area. This digging helped them confirm the milecastle's exact spot.
What They Found Inside
The archaeologists discovered that much of the stone from the milecastle had been taken away over time. This is called "robbing" of stone. However, they still found important clues. They identified where the north gate of the milecastle was. They also found traces of a building inside the fort.
Milecastle 62 was a "long axis" type, meaning it was longer than it was wide. It measured about 16.5 meters (54 feet) wide and 24 meters (79 feet) long inside. They even found parts of the original Turf Wall and its milecastle underneath the later stone structures. This shows that the Romans sometimes built stone forts on top of older turf ones.
Turrets Connected to Milecastle 62
Every milecastle along Hadrian's Wall had two smaller guard towers, called turrets, linked to it.
What Were These Turrets For?
These turrets were usually placed about one-third and two-thirds of a Roman mile to the west of a milecastle. Soldiers from the milecastle would likely have guarded these turrets. They acted as extra lookout points along the wall.
Finding Turrets 62A and 62B
The two turrets connected to Milecastle 62 are known as Turret 62A and Turret 62B. However, unlike some other parts of Hadrian's Wall, these specific turrets were not found or identified before 1961. Their exact locations are still a mystery to archaeologists today.
