Beckfoot Roman Cemetery and Milefortlet, Cumbria. Archaeological Evaluation Assessment Report.

This report presents an assessment of the results of an archaeological evaluation conducted in February and March 2006 at the site of the Roman cemetery and milefortlet at Beckfoot, Cumbria (NY 0876 4868). The area thought to accommodate the remains of the milefortlet is a designated Scheduled Ancient Monument (National Monument Number Cu 258), and lies within the Frontiers of the Roman Empire:
Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site. The entire archive is currently held by Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) in Lancaster, pending its eventual deposition at the Senhouse Museum, Maryport, Cumbria.
English Heritage issued a specification in 2005 for an archaeological evaluation at the site of the known Roman cemetery, since the erosion of the site by the sea during the past 100 years has destroyed an archaeological resource of considerable importance, and that this erosion is continuing. Given the difficulties which would be involved in a project to preserve the resource in situ, English Heritage considered preservation by record as an alternative option.