lanarkshire-1978/03_154

Transcription

No. 251 ROMAN MONUMENTS No. 251

the gate by as much as 1.8m [metres] but which diminished in
width towards the N [North] angle. It is possible that the curious
stepped appearance of the rampart foundation on the
SW [South West], which was thought to be a structural device to
provide a firm base for the rampart on the crest of the
escarpment, may also have resulted from a secondary
repair. The ditches were varied in number and dimensions:
two were considered necessary on the more vulnerable
NE [North East] and SE [South East], but apparently only one of each of the re-
maining sides; at Roman ground-level the ditches
measured from 5.2m [metres] to 1.5m [metres] in width and from 1.2m [metres]
to 0.6m [metres] in depth, the deepest and widest being found
on the SE [South East] front. The positions of all the entrances
except that on the SW [South West] have been approximately deter-
mined be excavation, but none has been examined in
detail. Nevertheless, it seems likely that the NE [North East] gate
was twin-portalled and that the entrance-passage, which
measured approximately 6m [metres] in width, was flanked on
each side by a timber tower incorporating a guard-
chamber in its ground floor. Little is known about the
street plan or the internal buildings, save that some
structures at least were of timber and exhibited two
structural phases. Further secondary work was observed
on the SE [South East] side of the fort, where an oven built against the
inner rampart-face had subsequently been demolished
and incorporated in a ramp, probably an ascensus, which
contained fragments of brick and tile from a hypocausted
structure. The external bath-house, which lay close to
the left bank of the South Calder Water 95m [metres] NW [North West] of the
fort, displayed two structural phases and was of simple
plan. In its ruins there was discovered a fragment of a
building record bearing the letters COH (cohors).
The identity of the garrison is unknown, but consider-
ation of the size of the fort suggests that it may have
been a cohors quingenaria equitata. All the relics recovered
from the site are of Antonine date.

731578 NS 75 NW November 1973