medieval-atlas/events-to-about-850/37

Transcription

Roman Scotland in the first century (Flavian period) The following eight maps indicate the present state of knowledge about both temporary and permanent military sites during the three periods of Roman conquest and occupation of Scotland -Aavian, Antonine and Severan. On each map. the picture is almost certainly incomplete, for new discoveries continue to be made as a result of aerial reconnaissance. A description of the conquest of Scotland is given by Tacitus in his account ofthe govemorshipofhis father-in-law lulius Agricola (77-83). By 79 AgricoJa had reached the Tay and in the same season he built fons in the area overrun. Consolidation continued in 80. when he placed aseries ofganisons across the Forth-Clyde isthmus. In lhe following year he operated in western Scotland. In 82 and 83 he campaigned in Caledonia. defeating the northern lribes at Mons Graupius. He retired to Rome the following winter and no account survives of the subsequent gradual withdrawal to the Tyne-~ Bumfield routes in ScotJand from the south: they may indicate the progress of the two portions of the Agricolan army. The much larger camps of Dunning and Abernethy. each about 45 hectares ( 110 acres) may represent the amalgamation of those forces. A series of five c8.{TlpS of similar size to the north have also been claimed as Agricolan, although previously accepted as Severan. Together with the larger site at Logie Durno (58 hectares, 144 acres), these may represent the bivouacs ofAgricola's anny as it advanced towards Mons Graupius. In general, the marching camps indicate the lines of penetration followed by Roman annies and the extensive area over which they eam igned. r . Auchinhove _ MUlryfJ ld Solway line, which appears to have been completed by about 105. Major difficulties lie in relating Tacitus's narrative to the archaeological evidence and in dating the process of abandonment. Roman temporary camps are notoriously difficult to date. but it is reasonably certain that those with gates guarded by devices using claviculae (curving extensions of ditch and rampan) belong to .J F1avian times. Clavicular gates of the Stracathro type are found in camps varying in size from 1.5 to 24.5 hectares (3.7 to 60 acres) in area and though obviously serving different purposes (for example, marching and labour) probably belong to the same series of campaigns. Other camps may be assigned to this period because of their proportions -Flavian sites tend to be square on plan -or because of their observed relationship to structures of known date. Several examples of about 18 hectares (44 acres) in size follow the main lnchluthill & 11 • ... /\ . Glenmall~I & 11 • Logie Dumo Kintore 0jmandykes • A'aed k ~)ayes Stracathro C6~n Inverquharity Dalginross'lr--D . ~~8:/ unmng • Bochastle 0 Ardoch Lochlands 1& 11 •• o Gogar . Woodhead Cadops ~nkhead Kir1