Housesteads Mithraeum (Bardon Mill)
(Previously recorded by the Ordnance Survey as NY 76 NE 14.1)
[NY 7903 6846] Roman Temple (site of). (1)
Seven or eight temples and at least three shrines are attested at Housesteads by altars. Two of the temples stood near the Knag Burn, one, a temple to the Mothers, close to 'where a large column is still lying exposed', and the remainder on or near Chapel Hill. An altar to Hercules found in the spring of 1934 about 280 yards to the east of the south east corner of the fort (sited on plate XXIII at NY 78846875) seems to infer also, the presence of a temple or shrine in this quarter of the settlement. The remains of a shrine were found during excavation in 1933 at the east end of an external building south of the fort (sited on plate XXII to approximately NY 79046870), but there are no structural remains of the other two shrines. (2)
The Mithraeum stood in the valley below the farmhouse, at a point now marked by a single upright post, and was excavated in 1822 and 1898. (3)
Finds dated it to the mid 3rd century. (4)
A wooden post, set in a shallow depression at NY 79046846, and a water filled well to its north (NY 76 NE 138) mark the sites of the Mithraeum and shrine respectively. There are no surface remains in either vicinity and, apart from the 'large column' lying at NY 79456872 no visible evidence elsewhere, for the sites of the other temples and shrines. (5)
Scheduled. (6)
The site of the mithraeum is marked by a depression in the ground. It probably lay at the western edge of the lower vicus together with a cemetery to the west. No trace of the building can be seen today as it was covered over after excavations in 1822 (Hodgson) and 1898 (Bosanquet). The building measured no more than 15m long and 6m wide. A level platform had been dug into the ridge and was lined with clay-bonded stone walls. Originally, the building probably had a thatched roof. One end of the building was sunk deeper than the other and this would have created the effect of entering a real cave. Inside was a nave with raised side aisles, and a spring. Altars and statues were set up in the sanctuary and nave, some of which were recovered during the 19th century excavations.
The mithraeum was in use in the thrid century, probably for two separate phases. An altar dated AD 252 may represent a re-dedication of the shrine after repairs. Another altar appears earlier and probably belongs to the original dedication of the mithraeum in the early third century.
The mithraeum was in a poor state of preservation when discovered in the 19th century, with damage to both ends. However, wooden planking and logs that formed a secondary floor did survive in the central part. (7)
Seven or eight temples, and at least three shrines are attested at Housesteads by altars. Five or six of the temples are on or near Chapel Hill (NY 791 685), including the Mithraeum (at NY 7905 6846). (8a)
In 1822, workmen struck the top of an altar; a partial excavation of that year showed it to be standing in its original position at the W end of a rectangular building. (8b)
The building was fully excavated in 1898, and identified as a temple dedicated to the Persian god Mithras. (8c)
Full description of altars and inscriptions. (8d)
A wooden post set in a shallow depression marks the site of the Mithraeum. (8e)
The Mithraeum survives as a circular platform, about 11m across, set into a SE-facing slope to a maximum depth of 1.1m. None of the stonework is visible. Lying on the ground surface in the centre is what appears to be a section of stone water channel, and about 5m to the E is a silted spring containing some stone, but no apparent walling in situ, into which is inserted a modern porcelain basin for cattle. The remains of the temple were surveyed by RCHME Newcastle at 1:1000 as a part of the Housesteads Survey. (8f)
A elongated circular depression is visible on air photographs at NY 7905 6846, and presumably represents the site of the Mithraeum. (8h)
Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (8i)
General association with HER 6564 (Housesteads Roman Fort). (8)
[NY 7903 6846] Roman Temple (site of). (1)
Seven or eight temples and at least three shrines are attested at Housesteads by altars. Two of the temples stood near the Knag Burn, one, a temple to the Mothers, close to 'where a large column is still lying exposed', and the remainder on or near Chapel Hill. An altar to Hercules found in the spring of 1934 about 280 yards to the east of the south east corner of the fort (sited on plate XXIII at NY 78846875) seems to infer also, the presence of a temple or shrine in this quarter of the settlement. The remains of a shrine were found during excavation in 1933 at the east end of an external building south of the fort (sited on plate XXII to approximately NY 79046870), but there are no structural remains of the other two shrines. (2)
The Mithraeum stood in the valley below the farmhouse, at a point now marked by a single upright post, and was excavated in 1822 and 1898. (3)
Finds dated it to the mid 3rd century. (4)
A wooden post, set in a shallow depression at NY 79046846, and a water filled well to its north (NY 76 NE 138) mark the sites of the Mithraeum and shrine respectively. There are no surface remains in either vicinity and, apart from the 'large column' lying at NY 79456872 no visible evidence elsewhere, for the sites of the other temples and shrines. (5)
Scheduled. (6)
The site of the mithraeum is marked by a depression in the ground. It probably lay at the western edge of the lower vicus together with a cemetery to the west. No trace of the building can be seen today as it was covered over after excavations in 1822 (Hodgson) and 1898 (Bosanquet). The building measured no more than 15m long and 6m wide. A level platform had been dug into the ridge and was lined with clay-bonded stone walls. Originally, the building probably had a thatched roof. One end of the building was sunk deeper than the other and this would have created the effect of entering a real cave. Inside was a nave with raised side aisles, and a spring. Altars and statues were set up in the sanctuary and nave, some of which were recovered during the 19th century excavations.
The mithraeum was in use in the thrid century, probably for two separate phases. An altar dated AD 252 may represent a re-dedication of the shrine after repairs. Another altar appears earlier and probably belongs to the original dedication of the mithraeum in the early third century.
The mithraeum was in a poor state of preservation when discovered in the 19th century, with damage to both ends. However, wooden planking and logs that formed a secondary floor did survive in the central part. (7)
Seven or eight temples, and at least three shrines are attested at Housesteads by altars. Five or six of the temples are on or near Chapel Hill (NY 791 685), including the Mithraeum (at NY 7905 6846). (8a)
In 1822, workmen struck the top of an altar; a partial excavation of that year showed it to be standing in its original position at the W end of a rectangular building. (8b)
The building was fully excavated in 1898, and identified as a temple dedicated to the Persian god Mithras. (8c)
Full description of altars and inscriptions. (8d)
A wooden post set in a shallow depression marks the site of the Mithraeum. (8e)
The Mithraeum survives as a circular platform, about 11m across, set into a SE-facing slope to a maximum depth of 1.1m. None of the stonework is visible. Lying on the ground surface in the centre is what appears to be a section of stone water channel, and about 5m to the E is a silted spring containing some stone, but no apparent walling in situ, into which is inserted a modern porcelain basin for cattle. The remains of the temple were surveyed by RCHME Newcastle at 1:1000 as a part of the Housesteads Survey. (8f)
A elongated circular depression is visible on air photographs at NY 7905 6846, and presumably represents the site of the Mithraeum. (8h)
Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (8i)
General association with HER 6564 (Housesteads Roman Fort). (8)
N6668
EXCAVATION, Housesteads (Vercovicium) 1898; ASHBY, T
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1966; E C Waight
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION, English Heritage: Hadrian's Wall WHS Mapping Project, NMP 2008; English Heritage
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: Hadrian's Wall Project ; RCHME
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: Housesteads Survey
EXCAVATION, Housesteads (Vercovicium) ; J HODGSON
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1966; E C Waight
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION, English Heritage: Hadrian's Wall WHS Mapping Project, NMP 2008; English Heritage
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: Hadrian's Wall Project ; RCHME
MEASURED SURVEY, RCHME: Housesteads Survey
EXCAVATION, Housesteads (Vercovicium) ; J HODGSON
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