The Roman Fortification North of Hadrian’s Wall (Antonine Wall)
The northernmost wall ever built by Rome
Hadrian’s Wall is one of the most famous pieces of Roman architecture in the world. People marvel at its length and its construction. The wall was built on the far northern frontier of Roman Britain. Many people erroneously believe that Hadrian’s Wall is the northernmost frontier outpost of the Roman Empire. That was not the case. Another wall, built shortly after the completion of Hadrian’s Wall, stood 100 miles north of Hadrian’s Wall. This lesser-known wall, known as The Antonine Wall or Antonine’s Wall, actually marked the northernmost point of the Roman frontier.
So why is The Antonine Wall largely forgotten when Hadrian’s Wall remains in people’s collective memories? One of the reasons is that the construction of Antonine’s Wall was completely different from Hadrian’s Wall. Hadrian’s Wall was made from stone, which is why it remains partially intact today, while the Antonine Wall was a turf wall. Since the other wall was made from turf, it degraded and vanished under the soil. But Antonine’s Wall was actually designed to supersede Hadrian’s Wall in strength and durability.
