There can be a tendency to view individual second-century forts in the northern frontier zone as little more than variations on a predictable theme. But while these installations do typically share a broad generic layout, investigation often ends up shedding light on different facets of military life. Maryport, which lies on the Cumbrian coast beyond the western terminus of Hadrian's Wall, is no exception. Today, like the other hinterland forts, Maryport is often overshadowed by its counterparts along the Wall, but it may have been a different story at times during the Roman period. The fort occupies a conspicuous whaleback-ridge overlooking the interface between the Irish Sea and Solway Firth. This significant setting seems to be reflected in a later decision to upgrade its rampart – in stark contrast to the Wall forts – with what appear to be projecting bastions along its seaward side. Despite the fort's strategic value, its principal interest to modern scholars stems from the wealth of epigraphy and sculpture that has been recovered since at least the 16th century.
Breeze's account of Maryport provides an excellent holistic introduction to the site, embracing not only the fort, but also the extramural settlement that developed beyond its defences and nearby local rural settlements. Appropriately enough, he opens with an account of how the renowned collection of inscribed and sculpted stones was amassed. It was already sufficient to lure the Elizabethan antiquary William Camden in 1599, who wrote favourably of its custodian, John Senhouse. Today, his tenth great-grandson owns the collection, which is on public display in the delightful Senhouse Roman Museum. A series of altars dedicated to Jupiter Optimus Maximus is of especial interest, as these were apparently erected on an annual basis and name a succession of commanding officers. These imply that individual commanders served for a duration of about three years before being replaced. As many of these altars were recovered from pits lying north-east of the fort, it was once thought that the act of setting up a new altar was accompanied by the ritual burial of its predecessor.
Breeze describes how the Senhouse collection testifies to diverse religious practices underway at the site. Mainstream Roman gods rubbed shoulders with the Celtic deity Epona, as well as apparently more local gods such as Belatucadrus and an anonymous horned warrior. An extraordinary monument known as the Serpent Stone seems to have been fashioned from a cut-down altar, while its iconography apparently references the Celtic fetish for heads. An inscribed Chi-Rho and some intriguing gravestones also indicate Christian worship. Despite the breadth of the inscribed stones and sculpture, they are unlikely to capture the full range of acts of devotion practised at Maryport, and more could be said about less grandiose offerings. Ox bones and ash at the base of a nearby – and now sadly levelled – mound known as Pudding Pie Hill are seen as suggestive of ‘funerary, and prehistoric’ activity (p. 10), although they could be a Roman foundation deposit. There are also strong signs of less overt observances in the extramural settlement. Breeze mentions ‘possible wells or cisterns’ behind one house (p. 54). Subsequent publication of the excavation report (J. Zant, The Maryport Roman Settlement Project: Excavation 2013–14, Lancaster 2019) has disclosed that finds from these cavities include a broken portion of a probable Venus statuette, an intaglio, quern fragments and pottery, potentially suggesting a ritual dimension.
Caution when seeking links between pits and belief at Maryport is entirely understandable, given the results of recent investigation of the cavities containing the altars by I. Haynes and T. Wilmott. Their excavations have demonstrated that, rather than the altars being deposited with due reverence, they were simply used as post-packing for the timbers of an enigmatic and probably late Roman monument. This project also illustrates how the Senhouse collection continues to influence modern study of the site. Breeze summarises the results of this research, as well as other recent surveys and excavation conducted in the vicinity of the fort. The result is a lavishly illustrated volume, which provides a succinct and incisive account that will be of value to casual readers and more committed frontier afficionados alike. It has left this reviewer hoping that further hinterland forts could receive similar treatment.
