After the death of his father Caracalla did not visit Britain again. Hadrian's wall had become the frontier, with some outposts to the north.
Simplified map of Britain.
Sillar 2001, fig. 5.There has been some discussion about a very fragmentary inscription with a relief from the Roman fortress at Carpow, far to the north, beyond the border at that time. It was placed above a gate of the fortress. The relief includes a winged Victory standing on a globe. The inscription contained the name of at least one Emperor, and a date of 211-212 AD has been suggested. However, the stylistic date of the relief and the lettering oscillates between the late-Antonine and early-Severan period (EDCS-11800715; RIB 3512).
Relief from Carpow, with Victory on a globe, and emblems of the legion: capricorn and Pegasus.
Photo: Dundee Museums and Art Galleries.Quite a few dedicatory inscriptions for Caracalla have been found in Britain. Most are from 213 AD, and on all of these the name of the governor was erased. Fortunately, one inscription escaped the attention, so that we know his name: Caius Iulius Marcus (EDCS-07901101; RIB 3512). Had he been a steadfast supporter of Geta?
In the early-Severan period Britain was split into two provinces, but it is not clear whether Septimius Severus or Caracalla was responsible. Work on roads and building activity is documented by a few inscriptions. An inscription from 216 AD, from Concangium (Chester-le-Street) may mention an aqueduct and baths: [--- aquam] induxit [balneum ---] (EDCS-07801340; RIB 1049).
