The Roman fort at Newstead, Borders, occupies a key location in south-east Scotland and was most likely founded by the Flavian army that advanced north under Agricola. The present volume celebrates a campaign less martial in character, however. In 1905 Melrose solicitor James Curle commenced a programme of excavation at Newstead sponsored by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. This was followed in 1911, less than a year after digging concluded, by a landmark publication that is still regularly cited by students of the Roman army. Such enduring relevance is partly a consequence of Newstead's remarkable finds assemblage, including a wealth of military equipment and organic material, but also testament to Curle's judicious holistic treatment of the evidence. Scrupulous in setting his findings within their wider European context, the scope of Curle's text puts many more recent reports to shame.

To celebrate the centenary of Curle's opus a collection of 19 new papers by 17 respected authorities explores aspects of the site and its excavation. Contributions focus on Curle himself, the Roman military infrastructure, its impact on indigenous communities, selected finds categories, and even the literary legacy of his digging. Such breadth is one of the delights of this volume. Early papers document Curle's fundraising nous, as well as a burgeoning confidence that saw his correspondence with Francis Haverfield graduate from addressing ‘Mr Haverfield’ to ‘My Dear Haverfield’. There is also a fascinating account of how Newstead gradually came to be identified as Roman Trimontium.

The central run of papers loosely follows a site report format, considering structures and chronology before turning to finds. These contributions address various key topics, including the fort's evolution, the dense jumble of temporary camps, the annexes or vici, road infrastructure, the River Tweed crossing, coins, inscriptions, artistry, military equipment, and discoveries from field walking. Interpretation is discussed throughout and together these papers draw together a mass of information to provide succinct statements of current knowledge. Inevitably some authors give different weight to competing theories, highlighting Newstead's continuing significance to live research topics.

One theme that shines through the contributions is how often Curle was right, from the unusual shape of the Agricolan defences to the final abandonment of the fort c. a.d. 180. Nevertheless, earlier errors are corrected. Leather clothing is now recognised as tent fragments, while the violent destruction Curle envisioned marking the end of the first occupation appears to have been an orderly withdrawal. Equally it was Curle's report, not his excavation methods, that was ahead of its time. In common with many contemporaries he lacerated the site stratigraphy with trenches too narrow to detect much more than masonry structures and defences.

The new volume's coverage is not exhaustive. Curle's important study of the samian receives only a passing mention, while the hillfort crowning nearby Eildon Hill North is nominated as ‘the elephant in this particular room’ (6) as limited excavation precludes a thorough assessment of its relationship with the fort. Another absence is more keenly felt, however. Excavations from 1987–93 by Bradford University are yet to be published, obliging various contributors to extract what they can from interim statements and personal correspondence. The Bradford campaign also ignited debate about a possible ritual role for the famous annexe pits containing many of Newstead's most spectacular artefacts. While this subject has been extensively rehearsed elsewhere, it is a shame that there is not a contribution focusing on the pits. The inclusion of summaries covering both the environs project accompanying the 1987–93 Bradford campaign and the new fort and annexe phase plan it generated demonstrate how much fresh information awaits publication, leaving the reader to reflect on the difference between Curle's approach and a report that is currently two decades in the making.

All told, this is a handsomely produced and, despite being black and white throughout, gloriously illustrated volume. It is both a fitting tribute and an essential companion to a landmark publication.