In his book, ‘Britain and the Fall of the Roman Empire’ Ken Dark notes that while the Roman Forts in Wales show little to no occupation in the 5th and 6th centuries, there is a peculiarity about the area from the Mersey to Hadrian’s wall when compared to these sites in Wales, and that most of the archaeological context from the sub-roman period in this area actually comes from these old Roman Forts, specifically in the area that was formerly under the control of the Roman Dux Britanniarum. Hadrian’s wall seems to have been a hotspot for reoccupation/continued use by the Brythonic Elites of the 5th and 6th centuries, with Vindolanda, Birdoswald, Housesteads, and Chesters. Birdoswald and Housesteads in fact show refortification via earthen banks sealing the old walls. The fortress in South Shields shows abandonment and reoccupation, including refortification and new construction within the fortress.
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Ken Dark's Brigantian High-Kingship and the…
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In his book, ‘Britain and the Fall of the Roman Empire’ Ken Dark notes that while the Roman Forts in Wales show little to no occupation in the 5th and 6th centuries, there is a peculiarity about the area from the Mersey to Hadrian’s wall when compared to these sites in Wales, and that most of the archaeological context from the sub-roman period in this area actually comes from these old Roman Forts, specifically in the area that was formerly under the control of the Roman Dux Britanniarum. Hadrian’s wall seems to have been a hotspot for reoccupation/continued use by the Brythonic Elites of the 5th and 6th centuries, with Vindolanda, Birdoswald, Housesteads, and Chesters. Birdoswald and Housesteads in fact show refortification via earthen banks sealing the old walls. The fortress in South Shields shows abandonment and reoccupation, including refortification and new construction within the fortress.