Petriana, Roman fort at Stanwix, Carlisle, England.
Petriana was a Roman fort at Stanwix near Carlisle that occupied six acres and featured multiple gates designed for rapid cavalry movement. The site contained barracks, storehouses, and administrative buildings arranged in the typical layout of a military garrison.
The fort was initially built with earthen ramparts around 122 CE as a base for Hadrian's Wall. After temporary abandonment, it underwent reconstruction into permanent stone structures starting in 165 CE.
The Ala Gallorum Petriana cavalry unit, recruited from Gaul, maintained a long-term military presence that shaped daily life at this location. Their continued stationing made Stanwix a key defense point on Rome's northern frontier.
The remains lie partly beneath Saint Michael's churchyard and are not freely accessible as an open site. Sections of the ramparts and towers have been revealed through excavations that continue to uncover new details.
Excavations in 2017 uncovered a bathhouse with inscriptions dedicated to the Empress Julia Domna and gemstones left behind by Roman visitors. This discovery reveals that people at the fort left personal items and mementos during their time there.
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