Bremetennacum

[poliphilo]

The fort at Ribchester (Bremetennacum) was garrisoned by Asturians (from northern Spain) and later by Sarmatians (from modern Hungary).  These were cavalry units (and I'm guessing the ethos- out on the frontiers of Empire- must have been comparable to that of the Wild West forts in John Ford's cavalry movies). Later it became a settlement for veterans- and the local administrative centre.  Judging by some of the carved stone on display it must- in its later phases- have been quite a swanky place.

According to a tradition first recorded in the 16th century, "It was written on a wall in Rome that Ribchester is as rich as any town in Christendom."

This is the museum's most spectacular possession- the gravestone of an Asturian cavalryman.