#Alongthewallin80days - Day 27

Milecastles 50 to 59 are similar to most along the western end of the wall in that there are no visible remains above ground; Some have been excavated but others have not and there locations have been estimated within relevance to other roman remains near by. 

Milecastle 59 is can be found on level ground 450 metres east of the hamlet of Oldwall in the civil parish of Irthington. As previously mentioned the remains of Milecastle 59 are now under pasture, and are not visible above ground.

The first excavation of Milecastle 59 was in 1894. Stone foundations and a pottery assemblage were uncovered. The pottery was described as 'Romano-British", which baisically refers to the culture in Britain after the Roman conquest in AD 43 (find out more in tomorrows blog). The site was not touched after this til a geophysical survey was conducted in 1981 which indicated that the south wall of the milecastle still survives in situ, the other side walls however have ploughed away or robbed out.

Not far South from the site of Milecastle 59, near to the Vallum,  an inscription was found some 150 metres south of Milecastle 59.  It reads "C(OHORS) IIII LIN(GONUM) F(ECIT)" which translates as "The Fourth Cohort of Lingonians built this." An altar was also found near milecastle 59 which was dedicated to Mars Cocidius, and erected by a centurion of the First Cohort of Batavians.

So although these are no visible remains of milecastle 59 i is quite an interesting milcastle surrounded by history!