ALDBOROUGH (Isurium Brigantium)		Quality of Remains
		Ease of Access
		Atmosphere & Setting

History & Occupation:

Isurium was the tribal capital of the very large Brigantes tribe that occupied most of northern England and southern Scotland. Though originally probably only a small civilian site with a fort at nearby Boroughbridge, by the second century it seems to have achieved its Civitas status. Defences were added in the late second century and these were revetted in stone during the third century. The town obviously grew more prosperous and important throughout the occupation, with fine houses being constructed, but in the late fourth century began a decline that may have left it a devolved village after the Roman withdrawal.

Remains and Visit:

Considering the size and importance of Isurium and the large amount of open land that it lies under, disappointingly little can be seen above ground. English Heritage administers a stretch of wall that has been consolidated, though this constitutes only half the south-western defences, with the other 85% or so of the walls beneath the ground. A short walk from the wall lie two small buildings that cover fine mosaics from a town house, though the third and best preserved remains beneath turf with only a sign to note where it is. A museum attached to the site is fairly interesting. Elsewhere are to be found two other vestiges of the Roman past. In the church stands a relief of the God Mercury, and by the main road to the south is a hill which has been tentatively identified as the civitas amphitheatre, though no excavation has taken place there.

Images:

Interval Tower	Walls	Mosaic
Mosaic	Amphitheatre	Statue in Church