Milecastle 72, Roman fortlet along Hadrian's Wall near Fauld Farm, England.
Milecastle 72 is a Roman fortlet situated beneath farmland near Burgh by Sands and once marked a controlled point along Hadrian's Wall. The remains consist of stone walls forming a rectangular structure with adjoining turret positions that are visible as ground features in the landscape.
This fortlet was built in the 2nd century initially with turf walls before later being rebuilt in stone to match the eastern sections of the wall. Archaeological work revealed construction phases spanning from the early Roman occupation through to later modifications.
This fortlet served as a checkpoint along the wall where soldiers controlled movement and inspected goods passing through the region. Pottery fragments uncovered by archaeologists show how Roman military personnel lived in this remote outpost.
The remains lie beneath current farmland and are not easily visible from public paths, making access challenging without permission from the farm owner. Visiting with a guided tour or after contacting the landowner is the best way to see the site properly.
Two associated turret structures called Turret 72A and 72B stood connected to this fortlet, with Turret 72B being discovered in 1948 at Rindle Hill. These additional structures reveal how Rome built interconnected defenses to monitor the border.
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