Uncovering Brocavum
Date Written
13 February 2026
What was life really like in the shadow of a Roman fort? 🎥
Time stamps 🕧
00:00 – Introduction
00:49 – Previous excavations and research
02:28 – Phases of the Roman settlement
06:56 – Waterlogged wonders
10:22 – Unpacking our finds
17:25 – The burial ground
18:07 – How were cists built?
19:52 – Conclusion
Nestled just off the A66 in Cumbria lies Brougham – known to the Romans as Brocavum.
Over the past year, archaeologists from Oxford Cotswold Archaeology (OCA), working alongside National Highways, have been uncovering remarkable new evidence as part of the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project. First investigated in the 1960s, fresh excavations are now revealing new clues about Roman life beyond the fort walls.
Who lived here? Soldiers? Traders? Families? What did daily life look like on the edge of the Roman Empire?
From roads, cemeteries and settlements to the objects people left behind, these discoveries are helping us piece together the human story of Brocavum – not just as a military outpost, but as a thriving community. Join us as we explore the latest findings and uncover the lives of those who once called Brocavum home.