Roman Yorkshire: 43-410
The site of Virosidvm Roman Fort on Brough Hill, Bainbridge, Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire.
The Latin translation of 'Virosidvm' was the 'Settlement of true men'. The location of the fort, deep within Brigantian territory is now believed to indicate a connection with the Brigantian campaigns of Quintus Petillius Cerialis who was governor of Britain from AD 71-74. The fort was originally built from timber with clay ramparts, but after a probable attack by the Brigantes in the rebellion of AD 115, the barracks were rebuilt in stone and the ramparts strengthened with sandstone. The fort was in use until the end of the Roman Period AD 410.
Cam High Roman Road, Raydale in the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire.
This Roman Road linked Virosidvm Fort at Bainbridge with Ingleton.
Cam High Roman Road, Raydale in the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire.
This Roman Road linked Virosidvm Fort at Bainbridge with Ingleton.
Kirk Sink, Gargrave in North Yorkshire.
The site of a second century Roman villa.
Victoria Cave, Langcliffe Scar, Langcliffe near Settle in the Yorkshire Dales.
Victoria Cave was discovered by chance in 1837 and is an important archaeological site. Within the lower clay deposits were found 130,000 year old bones of hippos, narrow-nosed rhino, elephants and spotted hyenas. It is believed that the carcases of the larger animals had been dragged back to the cave by hyenas that used it as their den. The temperature at that time would have been much hotter than today, but ten thousand years later the glaciers returned and over the following 110,000 years the cave gradually filled with more layers of clay as the glaciers melted. Remains found within these layers show that around 10,000BC the cave was used by hibernating brown bear, but more importantly, amongst the bones of reindeer, a 12,000 year old antler harpoon was found. This is the earliest evidence of man in the Yorkshire Dales. Above all these prehistoric layers of clay, Roman pottery, jewellery, craft tools and coins have also been found in the cave. They are thought to have belonged to Romano-British craft workers using the cave as a workshop. There is also a belief that the cave was used as a shrine.