Ardoch Roman Fort

Ardoch Roman Fort is an archaeological site just outside the village of Braco in Perthshire, Scotland, about 7 miles south of Crieff.

Alauna (?)
Entranceway to the fort
Location in Perth and Kinross
Known also asArdoch Roman Fort
Place in the Roman world
ProvinceBritannia?
Location
Coordinates56.2678°N 3.8753°W / 56.2678; -3.8753
TownCrieff
CountyPerth and Kinross
CountryScotland
Reference
UK-OSNG referenceNN839099

At Ardoch are the remains of a Roman fort and several marching camps which included a signal tower. Part of the Roman Gask Ridge, it is said to be one of the most complete Roman camps in Britain, and is one of the best-preserved series of Roman military earthworks in the whole Empire. It is protected as a scheduled monument.[1]

Description

The remains consist of grass-covered earthworks, and are considered among the best preserved Roman earthworks in Britain.[2] The site, which has a complex history, comprises two intersecting forts.[3] The earliest fort is believed to be associated with the campaigns of Agricola (1st century).[3] The later fort was apparently reconstructed within two outer ditches so that this later fort was protected by five ditches on both the east and north sides.[2]

The field to the north is the remnant of a large annexe.[4] Archaeology has demonstrated the existence of a watch-tower (or signal tower) and at least six overlapping marching camps to the north and northeast.[4]

Ardoch was one of a chain of camps separated by one-day marches in a generally north–south direction. Other Roman camps in this chain include Strageath, Inchtuthil, Battledykes, Stracathro, Raedykes and thence taking the Elsick Mounth trackway to Normandykes.[5]

Name

The fort has sometimes been identified with the "Alauna" mentioned in Ptolemy's Geography.[6] Ptolemy placed Alauna in the area occupied by the Damnonii tribe,[7] and the name may be associated with the River Allan which flows about one mile to the south of the fort.[8] However the identification of Ardoch with Alauna is considered tentative.[3]

Later history

The site was reused in the medieval period when a chapel was built near the centre of the fort.[9] The remains of the graveyard enclosure and the site of the chapel are the only archaeological remains which are visible within the fort.[9]

A hoard of Roman silver coins was found four miles north of Ardoch in 1671. At that time, Lord Drummond wrote that the ditches were deep enough to hide a man on horseback. Other trenches to the northeast had been damaged by cultivation against his grandfather's orders.[10]

In 1726 Alexander Gordon claimed that at Ardoch Roman Fort a subterranean passage was said to run from the fort, under the River Tay to the fort or 'Keir' on Grinnin Hill. This tunnel was said to contain a great deal of treasure.[11]

Ardoch was visited by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1842, although only Albert investigated the earthworks, Victoria preferred to remain in their carriage.[12]

Ownership and access

Ardoch Roman Fort is part of the Ardoch estate, and is in private ownership, although access is allowed at reasonable times. To the north, the earthwork remains of two Roman marching camps, known as Blackhill Camp, are in the care of Historic Environment Scotland.[13]

See also

Whitley Castle in Northumberland, also known as Epiacum, is a Roman fort that also retains a remarkable series of ditches and ramparts

References
  1. Historic Environment Scotland. "Ardoch, Roman military complex 900m NNE of Ardoch Bridge (SM1601)". Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  2. David John Breeze, (2002), Roman Forts in Britain, page 60. ISBN 0747805334
  3. Michael Grant, (1986), A Guide to the Ancient World: A Dictionary of Classical Place Names, page 19. H.W. Wilson. ISBN 0824207424
  4. David E. Johnston, (2002), Discovering Roman Britain, page 144. Osprey. ISBN 0747804524
  5. C. Michael Hogan, Elsick Mounth, Megalithic Portal, ed A. Burnham
  6. Ptolemy's Geography — Book II, Chapter 2, at LacusCurtius
  7. Malcolm Todd, (2008), A Companion to Roman Britain, page 78. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0470998857
  8. Osbert Guy Stanhope Crawford, (1949), Topography of Roman Scotland: North of the Antonine Wall, page 39. Cambridge University Press
  9. L. J. F. Keppie (2004), The legacy of Rome: Scotland's Roman remains, page 163. John Donald. ISBN 0859765997
  10. HMC Stirling-Home-Drummond-Moray (London, 1885), pp. 130-1.
  11. Alexander Gordon (1726) Itinerarium septentrionale, London. p. 41.
  12. Ian Mitchell (2000), On the Trail of Queen Victoria in the Highlands, page 135. Dundurn. ISBN 0946487790
  13. "Black Hill Roman Camps". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
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