Speaking with Shadows
Hadrian's Wall near Birdoswald Roman Fort

Episode 6 – Far From Home: The People of Hadrian’s Wall

Set on a spectacular ridgeline in the Cumbrian hills, Birdoswald Roman Fort on Hadrian’s Wall was once a meeting place for communities from across the Roman Empire. Men, women and children travelled from as far afield as Spain and Syria in order to serve at the empire’s north-western frontier. At Birdoswald, inscriptions and symbols reveal that the Dacians, from modern-day Romania, built a community here over many hundreds of years.

Join Josie Long as she explores the diverse and complex cultures of Birdoswald in our final episode of Speaking with Shadows – the podcast that listens to the people that history forgot.

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In this final episode of the series Josie meets Andrew Roberts and Frances McIntosh to learn more about the people who lived at Birdoswald and what the site can tell us about how their identities changed over time. Burial urns discovered in a nearby field and now on display in the museum offer an intriguing insight into the lives and deaths of women and children living on the Wall. The Romanian poet Denisa Comănescu reads from her poem ‘A Birdoswald Sequence’ while local residents Malcolm Redman and Angela Stephenson tell us about their lives on the Wall today.

 

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Gallery

Stone altar bearing the inscription ‘Hunters of Banna’

Stone altar bearing the inscription ‘Hunters of Banna’

Stone altar bearing the inscription ‘Hunters of Banna’
This stone altar found at Birdoswald was dedicated by a group of people who called themselves the ‘Hunters of Banna’. Banna is the Latin name for Birdoswald, and the inscription suggests its scribes were proud to live there
The remains of the fort at Birdoswald

The remains of the fort at Birdoswald

The remains of the fort at Birdoswald
The original fort walls would have been four to five metres high. There were six gates in total: one on each side and two additional single-portal gates on the east and west sides
Burial urn found at Birdoswald

Burial urn found at Birdoswald

Burial urn found at Birdoswald
Research into this urn revealed the remains of a woman who had been buried with iron ring mail
An inscription found at Birdoswald bearing a symbol of the Dacian people

An inscription found at Birdoswald bearing a symbol of the Dacian people

An inscription found at Birdoswald bearing a symbol of the Dacian people
The symbol seen on the right hand side is a falx – a distinctive curved sword used by the Dacians
Fragment of a memorial stone to two young children

Fragment of a memorial stone to two young children

Fragment of a memorial stone to two young children
One of the children was called Blaesus – a traditional Dacian name – and the other was Decebalus – the name of the Dacian king and hero who the Romans defeated some 100 years previously
Detail from Trajan’s Column showing Rome’s defeat of the Dacians

Detail from Trajan’s Column showing Rome’s defeat of the Dacians

Detail from Trajan’s Column showing Rome’s defeat of the Dacians
The Dacians, many of them kneeling, can be seen holding their distinctive curved sword, the falx (© Photo Scala, Florence. Courtesy of the Ministero Beni e Att. Culturali)

The People of Birdoswald

Once sworn enemies of the Roman Empire, the Dacians became trusted protectors of its north-western frontier.  They lived at Birdoswald longer than any other military unit, and left the deepest legacy.  The names and symbols they left behind show that their identities were rich, complex and ever-changing. Not only were they loyal to the institutions of the empire, but they adopted local rituals and gods, while cherishing links to far-flung parts of the Roman world. 

Explore their story and learn more about the diverse cultures on Hadrian’s Wall.

Read more

Further Reading

  • Hingley, Richard, Hadrian’s Wall: A Life (Oxford, 2012)
  • Hodgson, Nick, Hadrian’s Wall: Archaeology and History at the Limit of Rome’s Empire (London, 2017)
  • Southern, Patricia, Hadrian’s Wall: Everyday Life on a Roman Frontier (Stroud, 2016)
  • Wilmott, T, Birdoswald Roman Fort: 1800 Years on Hadrian’s Wall (Stroud, 2001)

Download a transcript of episode 6

Episode Credits

Presenter: Josie Long

Producer: Katharine Kerr for Fresh Air

Contributors:

  • Dr Andrew Roberts – Properties Historian, English Heritage
  • Dr Frances McIntosh – Collections Curator for Hadrian’s Wall and North East, English Heritage
  • Malcolm Redman – Owner of Bush Nook Guesthouse
  • Denisa Comănescu – Poet
  • Angela Stephenson – Historic Properties Steward, English Heritage

Explore More

  • Visit Birdoswald

    Visit Birdoswald Roman Fort in Cumbria to see the longest remaining stretch of Hadrian’ Wall, and explore the ruins of the Roman fort, turrets and milecastle.

  • Uncovering the Secrets of Hadrian’s Wall

    The remains of Birdoswald Roman Fort have revealed more about Hadrian’s Wall than any other site along the Wall. Discover what some of the key finds tell us about the Romans and those who came after.

  • Death and burial rites at Birdoswald

    A rare excavation of burial urns found at Birdoswald has allowed researchers to examine the remains of those who lived and died at the fort. Discover what the new research reveals.

  • Listen to more Speaking with Shadows

    Explore more episodes of Speaking with Shadows, the podcast that listens to the people that history forgot. 

  • History of Birdoswald

    Explore Birdoswald through time and learn about the community who travelled across the empire and made the fort their home.

  • Shop: Walk the Wall

    Explore Birdoswald’s historic landscape using our pocket-sized, waterproof guide. The two circular walks include maps, directions and points of interest.