CIMRM 852 - Mithraeum. Housesteads, Hadrian's Wall, Britain

CIMRM entry

BORCOVICIUM 852. Underground Mithraeum, discovered in 1822 in a slope W. of the Chapel Hill, outside of the Roman Fort at Housesteads. It was excavated definitely in 1892 by Bosanquet. Th. Hodgson in Newcastle Chronicle, 26 Oct. 1822 (quoted by Bruce, 93); J. Hodgson in Archaeologia Aeliania 1,1822, 263ff; History of Northumberland, II (3)1,190; Lauchlan, Rome Wall, Sheet III; Bruce, Lap. Sept., 96f; MMM II 393ff No. 273 and fig. 312; Bosanquet in Arch. Ael. XXV, 1904, 257ff. See fig. 224. The finds are all in the Blackgate Museum in Newcastle-on-Tyne. The sanctuary (L. 14.00 Br. 5.45) is enclosed by brick walls (max. H. 0.66), which are plastered only on the East side. New excavations have revealed, that it might have consisted of a vestibulum, through which on the East side by an entrance the main room could be entered. This consists of a central aisle (Br. 2.65) and two elevated side-benches (Br. 1.65). Traces of the wooden beams of their sidewalls have been preserved. Previous excavations had revealed the hindmost part of the cult-room with the niche (Br. 2.33 D. 0.75) with several altars and reliefs. The floor was covered with tiles, but later on the floor seems to have been raised by another layer, consisting of wood and tiles to prevent itfrom being flooded by the water from the spring. This spring lies on the N.-side in a basin (L. 0.52 Br. 0.37 D. 0.45) of brick work in the floor. Excess water can be drained off through two narrow gutters. A layer of charcoal seems to indicate, that the roof was supported by wooden rafters. The sanctuary contains the following finds:

See CIMRM 853-869 for the finds. Some are on display at Chesters House.