Alauna, Roman fort archaeological site in Maryport, England
Alauna is a Roman fort in Maryport, Cumbria, set on a coastal ridge overlooking the Solway Firth. The remains include traces of military buildings, a civilian settlement, and a Roman road that once led from the northern gate.
The fort was built around 122 AD under Emperor Hadrian as part of the coastal defense system north of Hadrian's Wall. Later research showed that an earlier fort had already stood on this spot, suggesting the location had been in use before the wall was completed.
The Senhouse Roman Museum, just next to the site, holds one of the largest collections of Roman altars in Britain, most of them found here. The inscriptions carved into the stone name the officers who commanded the fort and the gods their soldiers worshipped.
The site is easy to walk around and gives good views over the surrounding coast, but the ground can be uneven in places. The weather here changes quickly, so bringing a waterproof layer is a good idea whatever the season.
Geophysical surveys carried out between 2000 and 2003 revealed the outline of a larger fort buried beneath the visible remains. There is also evidence nearby of a Roman harbor, which would have made this place a supply point along the coast.
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