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Description
In the 1990s, geophysical surveys on the extramural areas of Hadrian's Wall forts demonstrated that they were more extensive than formerly believed, however very little excavation has taken place since that time to investigate their relationship with the forts. Extensive excavation within the fort and cemetery at Birdoswald since 1987 has resulted in the detailed understanding of these areas against which work on the extramural areas could be set. Partnership excavations by Historic England and Newcastle University from 2022 to 2024 to the east, west, and north of the fort have produced important new evidence on the chronology, zoning and function of these settlements. A building previously located by Ian Richmond proved to be the fort bathhouse, specifically the stoking chamber and flue, the latter extraordinarily well preserved. The discovery of a run of water pipes leading directly into the bathhouse shows how the water supply operated with relation to the heating system, and led to the identification of the entry point of an aqueduct from the north.