ABSTRACT
Previous efforts to explain the collapse or transformation of Hadrian’s Wall have been built upon historical narratives rather than upon a consideration of archaeological evidence in the context of the late Roman military occupying a frontier. Excavations have revealed evidence for 5th century occupation at a number of forts in the frontier of northern Britain, and an argument has been put forward supporting the idea that the limitanei garrisons of the 4th century served as the foundations for post-Roman, 5th century warbands. Up to this point, the argument has been separated into separate strands of evidence: military, non-military, palaeoenvironmental, and relative to other frontiers. It is now important to weave these strands together to present a picture of the final century of Roman military occupation of the northern British frontier and its post-Roman evolution.
