The Scottish Roman Era Flashcards
What is the Chronology of the Romans in Scotland?
-Arrived AD77
-Flavian I from AD77-83 (Agricola)
-Flavian II from AD90-105
-Hadrian’s wall (AD122)
-Antonine I from AD142-158
-Antonine II from AD158-165
-Severan from AD208-212 (Romans leave now)
Describe Ardoch Fort
-Best-preserved fort in Britain
-Formed part of the ‘Gask System’ which was the first frontier in Scotland (AD79-88)
-It was a key staging point and was continuously remodelled
Describe Inchtuthill
-Intended to be the main permanent Roman settlement in Scotland (like York or London in England)
-After the battle of Mons Graupius, this would consolidate the Roman’s presence in Scotland
-It was a legionary fortress from around AD82-87 when it was then abandoned
-A huge hoard of 750000 nails was found deliberately buried (perhaps preventing locals from using the precious iron?)
Describe the Antonine Wall
-Commissioned by Emperor Antonius Pius (AD138-162)
-Runs 63km from Old Kirkpatrick to Carriden on the Forth (only around half the length of Hadrian’s wall
-Occupied from AD142-158 and all forts abandoned around AD180
-The wall was a 3m high turf rampart built on a stone base with a ditch (vallum) outside
How are Inscribed Distance Slabs useful?
-E.g. the Balmuildy distance slab said to be “the most invaluable jewel of antiquity” - Alex Gordon (1726)
-It includes the name Q. Lollius Urbicus who was known to be a commander under Emperor Antonius Pius thus dating the stone with the construction of the wall
What Material finds are there from this time?
-Inchtuthill nail hoard
-Newstead parade helmets
-Traprain dragonesque broches (suggesting mixing of both cultures)
-Samian pottery (mass-produced imports and the most abundant artefacts from this time)
-One bowl found on Glasgow Green was found to be made in Gaul in 2nd Century showing how organised the Romans’ economy was
-Falkirk coin hoard (coins from emperors from 83BC to AD230)
What’s Special about Birnie Moray?
-Roman coins found within an Iron Age settlement
-latest coins date to 190sAD
-Evidence of contact and perhaps even cooperation with the local ‘Caledonians’
What main areas of interest arose from this time?
-Fortifications and frontiers are significant and characteristic of Romans, thus bringing new ideas to Britain
-Beginning of historical archaeology e.g. Tacitus’ The Agricola
-Inscriptions used to date artefacts
-Chronologies derived from imperial reigns and coins
How did the Romans influence the Local Caledonians?
-New religious influences (beginnings of christianity)
-E.g. Hutcheson hill distance slab (near Bearsden) displays a laurel wreath placed in the beak of an eagle showing victory, with two captive Caledonians either side (Romans were very assertive and coercive)
-Little direct influence but deep indirect ones through political shifts (introducing the idea of splitting up land?) and early Christianity
Who was Tacitus?
-Lived AD56-117
-Roman senator and famous historian
-Father-in-law was Agricola so ‘The Agricola’ is most-likely biased (it is also from a roman perspective anyway)
Describe the Battle of Mons Graupius
-AD83/4?
-Over 30,000 Caledonians led by Calgacus (celtic for ‘Swordsmen’)
-Defeated by the roman army despite outnumbering them
-Around 10,000 Caledonians dead and only 360 Roman soldiers
-Location unkown but excavation of a 163 acre camp at Duncrab near Dunning suggests there was a large army fighting an equally large enemy here
What was the Relationship between Britain and Rome?
-Core-periphery dynamic
-Britain supplied agricultural goods, iron, gold, silver, slaves and perhaps military personnel
-Rome introduced the idea of citizens, frontiers and barbarians
-Perhaps set in motion a shift towards more organised and civilised societies in Britain
-North/South divide with south being romanised/ civilised and north less so
