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2. SCOTLAND

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 September 2016

Fraser Hunter
Fraser Hunter*
Affiliation:
f.hunter@nms.ac.uk
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Information

Type
Roman Britain in 2015
Information
Britannia , Volume 47 , November 2016, pp. 291 - 298
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2016. Published by The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies 

NORTH OF THE ANTONINE WALL

ABERDEENSHIRE

(1) Macduff (NJ 71 64): a Roman gilt-silver ram's head, probably a bracelet terminal ( fig. 3),Footnote 16 was found by metal-detecting in a field known to contain later prehistoric settlement. It appears to have broken off rather than been deliberately cut.Footnote 17

FIG. 3.

Gilt-silver ram-headed bracelet terminal, Macduff; L 24 mm, Wt 4.93 g. (Photo: Neil McLean, © National Museums Scotland)

PERTH AND KINROSS

(1) Invergowrie (NO 3427 3010): inspection of aerial photographs held in a private collection revealed the north-west corner of the camp in its predicted location.Footnote 18

(2) Lintrose: (a) Tradewinds (NO 2167 3758): an evaluationFootnote 19 just within the south-west corner of the campFootnote 20 recorded no Roman material. (b) Harris (NO 2188 3774): a further watching-briefFootnote 21 within the camp was similarly negative.

(3) Forteviot (NO 039 175): magnetometer surveyFootnote 22 over much of the camp's interiorFootnote 23 revealed the ditch line but no clear trace of internal features, though extensive fluvio-glacial patterning would mask any subtle anomalies.

FALKIRK

(1) Airth (NS 90 87): following a metal-detecting find of an unusual Iron Age terret, excavationFootnote 24 in flood silts alongside a burn revealed a simple Romano-British terret which had been deliberately deposited in a small scoop in the silt. A stray find of a trumpet brooch in a similar topographic location some 150 m west is likely to be a further ritual deposit disturbed by ploughing. It seems a series of individual items were placed as offerings in the flood deposits.

ARGYLL AND BUTE

(1) Cardross (NS 34 78): a copper-alloy medallion of Clodius AlbinusFootnote 25 was found by metal-detecting. This rare discovery, just north-west of the Antonine Wall and close to the Firth of Clyde, may be a diplomatic gift to a strategically significant local leader in an attempt to secure the northern frontier before Albinus withdrew troops for his attempt to usurp Septimius Severus as emperor.

THE ANTONINE WALL

EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE

(1) Bearsden, Burgh Halls (NS 54192 72132): a limited evaluationFootnote 26 found no trace of the Ditch on its projected line.

(2) Easter Balmuildy (NS 5823 7166): evaluation workFootnote 27 immediately east of the fort ditchesFootnote 28 revealed the ground had been extensively disturbed, and no Roman remains were found.

(3) Twechar (NS 6981 7544): a watching-briefFootnote 29 on the upgrading of powerlines crossing the temporary campFootnote 30 revealed no Roman remains in the limited area exposed.

FALKIRK

(1) Rough Castle (NS 843 799): a watching-briefFootnote 31 on the replacement of interpretation boards around the fort exposed but did not excavate features which may be Roman, including an area of flat sandstone slabbing at NS 8433 7986.

(2) Falkirk: (a) Arnothill House (NS 8808 7997): evaluation trenchesFootnote 32 south of Arnothill Lane confirmed the Ditch does not lie on the projected line in this area, but a few metres to the north.Footnote 33 (b) Clyde Cottage (NS 8856 7977): further trenches in the gardenFootnote 34 confirmed the layout of the ditches and road at the entrance to the fort's western annexe. (c) Adrian House (NS 8860 7974): evaluation trenchesFootnote 35 in the grounds confirmed the line of the fort's western ditches.

(3) Polmont (NS 94 78): metal-detecting revealed a fine statuette of a seated griffin ( fig. 4).Footnote 36

FIG. 4.

Griffin figurine from Polmont; H 57 mm. (Photo: Neil McLean, © National Museums Scotland)

(4) Mumrills (NS 918 794): fieldwalking and metal-detecting over the fort siteFootnote 37 recovered pottery, part of a shale bangle, denarii of Domitian and Hadrian and a dupondius of Antoninus Pius.

SOUTH OF THE ANTONINE WALL

INVERCLYDE

(1) Lurg Moor (NS 2950 7373): an accurate survey of the fortletFootnote 38 revealed, inter alia, a counterscarp bank on two sides ( fig. 5).

FIG. 5.

Survey of the Lurg Moor fortlet. (By courtesy of and © Crown Copyright: Historic Environment Scotland)

EAST LOTHIAN

(1) Inveresk, Lewisvale Park tennis courts (NT 34856 72293): a watching-briefFootnote 39 revealed a series of pits and a ditch (with some Roman ceramics), perhaps from a field-system.Footnote 40

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY

(1) Ewes Doors (NY 37252 98609): survey of this watch-towerFootnote 41 revealed traces of a four-post structure some 3 m across within an inner enclosure 5 m in diameter within a 3 m-thick bank; this lay in an outer enclosure some 17 m in diameter ( fig. 6). The entrance is aligned on the Roman road.

FIG. 6.

Survey of the Ewes Door watch-tower. (By courtesy of and © Crown Copyright: Historic Environment Scotland)

(2) Burnswark (NY 186 787): (a) a magnetometer surveyFootnote 42 of the eastern half of the south camp and ‘fortlet’ revealed no trace of any clear internal structures such as field ovens to suggest a prolonged occupation. Core samples were taken for analysis of sediments at key points. (b) Following field evaluation of the Roman camps and preliminary non-invasive metal-detector survey of the hillfort summit in 2014, a generous spread of lead targets was identified across the south ramparts of the hillfort.Footnote 43 This gave impetus for a successful HLF bid in 2015 to carry out a wide-scale detector survey and selective ground-truthing by means of two 10 by 2 m trenches, one placed on the mid-point of the summit and the second astride the western rampart of the hillfort.Footnote 44 These confirmed the distinctive metal-detecting signature of Roman lead sling bullets to an accuracy of 94 per cent. 17 lead bullets were recovered, of three types: 50 g lemon-shaped Type I,Footnote 45 50–60 g acorn-shaped Type II and a third type, a smaller 20 g lemon-shape with a 5 mm diameter hole in one side (dubbed Type IIIs). These smaller bullets were subsequently shown by experimentation to be aerophonic, making a whirring/whistling sound like a wasp.

Non-invasive metal-detector survey confirmed the presence of nearly 700 lead bullets scattered across half a kilometre of the south-facing hillfort rampart, the slinging-line behind the front rampart of the South Camp, and a localised scatter just north of the single north gateway of the hillfort ( fig. 7). Initial interpretation suggests the finds represent a full frontal assault on the hillfort from the south Roman camp and possibly an attempted escape route northwards blocked by focused slingshot from the north Roman camp.

FIG. 7.

Distribution of lead slingshot at Burnswark, from non-invasive metal-detecting. (By courtesy of Dr J. Reid)

(3) Ladyward (NY 1133 8208): magnetometer surveyFootnote 46 over the western part of the fort provided details of the plan ( fig. 8);Footnote 47 the intensity of the response suggests extensive burning at the site.

FIG. 8.

Magnetometer survey of Ladyward fort. (By courtesy of Dr A. Posluschny)

(4) East Gallaberry (NX 97 82): metal-detecting finds of coins and a brooch are likely to be connected to the nearby camp of West Gallaberry or the Antonine fort at Carzield.Footnote 48

(5) Glenlochar: (a) (NX 74 64): metal-detecting around the site recovered a range of finds, including an anthropomorphic handle from a shallow bowl, a lead weight and two pieces of Iron Age-style metalwork (a harness mount and a mini-terret).Footnote 49 (b) (NX 73900 64085): a watching-brief while electricity poles were replacedFootnote 50 revealed an undated feature within Camp V.Footnote 51

Footnotes

16 Now in Aberdeen University Museums collections.

17 Other stray finds of Roman material in 2015 comprise a headstud brooch from Lonnie (Highland), its location near a small loch and burn suggesting it may be a ritual deposit, and a dragonesque brooch from Gateside (Fife), while a bell-shaped stud was found beside Roman Dere Street at Soutra (Midlothian); see Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 16 (2015), 84–5, 112–13, 122. A brooch ‘from Montrose’ (ibid., 35) is the example from Dunnichen reported previously ( Britannia 44 (2013), 283 n. 32).

18 Reported by Joe Gierasik and discussed with Dr D.J. Woolliscroft. For the site see Jones, R.H., Roman Camps in Scotland (2011), 236–7. The presence of a further camp in the area is implied by the 1980s excavations at Dundee High Technology Park which revealed features now recognisable as Roman field ovens some 700 m to the north; see G ibson, and Tavener, , PSAS 119 (1989), 83–9.

19 For E. Crookston by D. Hall, who sent a report.

20 Jones, R.H., Roman Camps in Scotland (2011), 254–5. Earlier excavations, likewise barren, are reported in Britannia 42 (2011), 330 with further references.

21 For Mr and Mrs Burrows by D. Hall, who sent a report.

22 Led by Dr T. Poller as part of Glasgow University's SERF Project.

23 For which see Jones, R.H., Roman Camps in Scotland (2011), 205–6.

24 By Dr F. Hunter of National Museums Scotland; the finds are in Falkirk Museum.

25 Identified by Dr S. Moorhead; now in Clydebank Museum. Full publication is planned.

26 For Anderson Bell & Christie by A. Hunter Blair and K. Green of GUARD Archaeology; B. Will sent a report.

27 Led by M. Kilpatrick of GUARD Archaeology for Caledonian Properties Ltd; B. Will sent a report.

28 For the fort, see S.N. Miller, The Roman Fort at Balmuildy (1922).

29 For Freedom Network Services by J. Lochrie of Headland Archaeology, who sent a report.

30 See Jones, R.H., Roman Camps in Scotland (2011), 313.

31 By P. Fox of Kirkdale Archaeology for Historic Scotland.

32 By G. Bailey, who sent a report.

33 See Britannia 39 (2008), 275 for earlier work in the vicinity.

34 Led by G. Bailey (who sent a report) for Falkirk Community Trust and Edinburgh Archaeological Field Society; for earlier work see Britannia 46 (2015), 289.

35 For Falkirk Community Trust by G. Bailey, who sent a report.

36 Now in Falkirk Museum; full publication by F. Hunter in PSAS 145 (forthcoming).

37 Led by G. Bailey (who supplied information) for Falkirk Community Trust and Edinburgh Archaeological Field Society.

38 By the Survey and Recording team at Historic Environment Scotland; A. Welfare sent details. For the site, see JRS 43 (1953), 105–7; Robertson, A., PSAS 97 (1963–4), 198–200 .

39 For Fouin and Bell Architects by N. Johnstone of AOC Archaeology; M. Cook sent a report.

40 The site lies north of the ridge which housed the bulk of the fort complex, but an extensive surrounding area saw some Roman activity; see M.C. Bishop, Roman Inveresk: Past, Present and Future (2002), map inside rear cover.

41 By the Survey and Recording team at Historic Environment Scotland; A. Welfare sent details. For the site, see RCAHMS, Eastern Dumfriesshire: an Archaeological Landscape (1997), 397, no. 1220 .

42 Led by Dr A. Posluschny, then of the Römisch-Germanische Kommission, as part of the Archaeolandscapes Europe project.

43 For discussion of the site, see Jobey, G., TDGNHAS 53 (1978), 67–104 ; Campbell, D., Britannia 34 (2003), 19–33 ; Keppie, L. in Hanson, W.S. (ed.), The Army and Frontiers of Rome (2009), 241–52; Breeze, D., Archaeological Journal 168 (2011), 166–80; Reid, J., Current Archaeology 316 (2016), 20–6.

44 The work, sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Dumfries and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society and the Trimontium Trust, was led by Dr J. Reid and A. Nicholson; Dr Reid sent details.

45 Greep, S., Britannia 18 (1987), 183–200 .

46 Led by Dr A. Posluschny for the Römisch-Germanische Kommission as part of the Archaeolandscapes Europe project.

47 Known from aerial photography; see RCAHMS, Eastern Dumfriesshire: an Archaeological Landscape (1997), 177, fig. 18; 309, no. 1208 .

48 For further details see Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 16 (2015), 59. The finds are in Dumfries Museum.

49 For further details see Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 16 (2015), 56; the handle will be published in F. Hunter, PSAS 145 (forthcoming). The finds are in Stewartry Museum.

50 By J. Pickin for CIET (UK) Ltd.

51 For the site see Jones, R.H., Roman Camps in Scotland (2011), 215–16.

Figure 0

FIG. 3.Gilt-silver ram-headed bracelet terminal, Macduff; L 24 mm, Wt 4.93 g. (Photo: Neil McLean, © National Museums Scotland)

Figure 1

FIG. 4.Griffin figurine from Polmont; H 57 mm. (Photo: Neil McLean, © National Museums Scotland)

Figure 2

FIG. 5.Survey of the Lurg Moor fortlet. (By courtesy of and © Crown Copyright: Historic Environment Scotland)

Figure 3

FIG. 6.Survey of the Ewes Door watch-tower. (By courtesy of and © Crown Copyright: Historic Environment Scotland)

Figure 4

FIG. 7.Distribution of lead slingshot at Burnswark, from non-invasive metal-detecting. (By courtesy of Dr J. Reid)

Figure 5

FIG. 8.Magnetometer survey of Ladyward fort. (By courtesy of Dr A. Posluschny)