[NY 6655 6571] MAGNA ROMAN FORT [G.S.]
[NY 6650 6579] Bronze Modius found AD 1915 (1)

The fort measures 435ft north to south, and 360ft east to west. It was given an outer stone wall in AD 136-37, but probably superseded an earlier phase as attested by the bronze modius (AD 90-91) found near the north west angle in 1915 (now in Chester Museum), and the upper part of a tombstone of Flavian style. Apart from the north west angle-tower, which is exposed, little is known of the internal buildings, except for early descriptions of a bath-house near the south west angle. The Roman name of this fort is more likely to be Banna rather than Magna. (2)

Resurveyed at 1:2500. The fort has been extensively mutilated by cultivation, and little of its rampart survives beyond the north west angle (where it is substantially intact) and the !ploughed-down! south side. There are no structural remains, other than the base of the angle-tower previously noted. (3)

Name 'Magnis' accepted for 4th edition Roman Britain Map. (4)

NY 665657. Sandstone slab. (5)

Two ditches located. (6)

Bronze corn measure of AD90 found in 1915. (7)

Inscribed stones. (8)

'Modius Claytonensis' - bronze dry-measure. (9)

Inscription found in 1816 in NE corner of Carvoran fort (RIB 1791). (10)

Samian from Carvoran. In Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle, acc no 1978.9. (11)

Scheduled. (12)

Geophysical survey. (13)

Named MAGNIS (14a)

Archaeological history summarised by Birley (2) and Daniels (14b) to 1978. The only exposed masonry is the north-west tower; elsewhere the defences are reduced to a turf-covered outward-facing scarp. No internal features are visible. Coin now recorded as NE 66 NE 57. Tombstone now recorded as NE 66 NE 58. (14c)

The west and north sides of the ditch defences and traces of the southern rampart of Carvoran Roman fort, are visible as earthworks on air photographs. The foundations of the rectangular tower in the north-west corner are also visible. There is no evidence for other phases of fort on the air photographs made availble to the Hadrian's Wall NMP Project. Cropmarks of a possible road lie to the south of the fort and is recorded in NY 66 NE 66 371, UID 1393618. (14d)

A 12 hectare geophysical survey in 1999 included the stone fort and the settlement area to the north, south, and east. Some details of the internal fort buildings were revealed. Extensive traces of buildings were revealed to the south-east of the fort on the line of the Stanegate roman Road. Excavation in 2002 confirmed destruction of the remains by stone robbing at the fort's south gate, as well as the east and west walls. A further 15 hectare geophysical survey was undertaken in 2000. The extent of the fort was well-defined, although the full extent of the settlement was not surveyed. The evidence suggested that the buildings appear to have developed to the east and south of the fort along the route of the Stanegate. Some appear to be workshops or for storage, as well as residential. Outside the east gate of the fort are two large buildings, one of which appears to have an internal courtyard. No evidence for buildings could be seen north of the fort. (14e-g)

Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (14h)

General association with HER 6079 (Carvoran vicus), HER 6080 (Carvoran Roman Cemetery), HER 33363 (Roman coin), HER 33543 (hollow way), HER 24553 (Roman burial mounds), HER 33633 (Roman road), HER 33609 (trackway or aqueduct), HER 33339 (ditch), is referred to by HER 12391 (Stanegate), and HER 5968 (Maiden Way). (14)