What is the Antonine Wall?
Q: What is the Antonine Wall?
A: The Antonine Wall is a stone and turf fortification built across northern Great Britain by the Roman Empire in the middle 2nd century. It was built by Roman emperor Antoninus Pius to control barbarians, and it ran between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde in modern Scotland.
Q: When was the wall constructed?
A: The wall was constructed between 139 and 142 AD at the order of emperor Antoninus Pius.
Q: How long was the wall?
A: The wall was about 59 kilometres (37 miles) long.
Q: How wide was it?
A: Its foundations were made of stone and were between 4.5 metres (15 feet) and 5 metres (16 feet) wide.
Q: What kind of ditch surrounded it?
A: In front of the wall on its northern side there was a ditch that was at least 3.6 metres (12 feet) deep, nearly 12 metres (39 feet) wide in places, and 7 metres (23 feet) away from the wall itself.
Q: Was it ever fortified again after being abandoned?
A: No, after being abandoned around 163 AD, it never received any further fortifications despite attempts by Emperor Septimius Severus to repair it in 208 AD.
Q: Is any part of it still visible today?
A: Yes, some remains are still visible today with many under care from Historic Scotland or UNESCO World Heritage Site Committee, although most is private property now.
