#A2ZChallenge B is for Bertha

B is for Bertha

#A2ZChallenge Theme: The Flavian Ancient Roman Invasion and Occupation of 'Scotland'. 
(see post A for Ardoch for meanings of Flavian and my theme, in general)

Bertha is the name given to the site of a sizeable Roman fort (3.9 ha) which is thought to have marked the northern end of a strategic line of forts and watchtower installations which monitored the stretch of land from the River Forth to the River Tay in Scotland. These are sometimes referred to as ‘The Gask Ridge’. (More on this ridge later in the #A2ZChallenge)

 

c.Nancy Jardine

The name Bertha was given to the area in the 14th Century by John of Fordoun, though during even earlier times (Dark Ages) a ‘Rath inver Almond’ was referred to, meaning ‘fort at the mouth of the Almond.’ 

Also, interestingly, the name of the current town of Perth may be a corruption of the name Bertha. Anecdotal evidence indicated a flood at Bertha in the early medieval era, after which a new town was built where Perth is currently to be found, a little further south on the Tay.  

This line of installations along The Gask Ridge is thought to have been the only defensive element in central Caledonia that was serviced by some form of road laid down in Flavian times. Unfortunately, no datable finds have conclusively identified the road as being of Flavian origin (c. A.D. 79-84). In fact, many historians believe the road may have been set down during the Antonine Occupation c. A.D. 140/142. If the latter is true, then the Antonine regiments may have reinforced a less well constructed pathway laid down in Flavian times.

Tay tributaries - Wikimedia Commons

Somewhere around 1757, W. Maitland wrote observations on a Roman fort located by the River Almond, a tributary of the River Tay which flows in to the North Sea, the fort lying near the confluence of the Almond and the Tay. 

In these observations, he refers to an arable mound in the vicinity as a ‘Causewayridge’ and attributes it to representing a military way.  

Around the same time, Major-General W. Roy also charts the fort but slightly disagrees with W. Maitland over its rampart positions, Roy believing the river course (s) may have altered since the first century A.D. 

(Tip: General Roy maps of 18th Century Scotland can be viewed via the National Library of Scotland online resources- fabulous access and FREE for me!) 

In 1781, some finds from the area were donated to The Society of Antiquaries Scotland, thought to comprise of urns (one of which may have contained a glass phial); a possible amphora; a pig of lead and some glass vessels - though nothing has been uncovered in more recent times.

Skip forward to 1917. J.G. Callander created a ground plan of the fort which has largely been accepted since then, accommodating the Antonine reuse of the site in times after the earliest Flavian construction.

From Ptolemy information  - Wikimedia Commons 

In 1922, I. A. Richmond associated the site with the place named ‘Tamia’ on the map of Ptolemy (c. A.D. 120-150)  For more about Ptolemy on this blog- click HERE. 

Can you find Tamia on the map above? 

The site at Bertha has never provided many details but at 3.9 hectares it would have been sufficiently large enough to accommodate a couple of thousand Roman troops, though perhaps less than that if a number of equestrian units were stationed there.

During the Flavian era, it was likely to have been possible to sail barges, or small craft, on the River Tay beyond where the present town of Perth is situated. They could have sailed, or punted, as far as Bertha and perhaps even further up river to where the site of the huge fortress of Inchtuthil was situated!  

Sea-going ships plying the Oceanus Germanicus (North Sea) may have been able to sail up river as far as Perth. Since General Gnaeus Iulius Agricola employed the Classis Britannica (Navy and Mariner auxiliary forces) in a supply role as well as that of an invasion force, the fort at Bertha would have been a strategic site for the transportation of goods, soldiers and horses. Bertha is well-placed to mount expeditions from which could have stabilised the fertile plains area of modern Tayside and Angus. Bertha may also have been a very useful place to service the invasions northwards to current Aberdeenshire, at least while the huge legionary fortress of Inchtuthil was being built. (more on Inchtuthil to come in the #A2ZChallenge)

Can you imagine those Ancient Roman barges and ships plying their way up the River Tava? I can. 

The image here is from a photograph I took at the Trimontium Museum, Melrose, in the Scottish Borders. I used it as background for a promo poster for my Book 4, Agricola's Bane, launch in Nov. 2018. I've no illustrators name to attribute it further, but I can visualise Roman Classis Britannica vessels looking like this.  

I haven't specifically named Bertha in After Whorl: Donning Double Cloaks - Book 3 of my Celtic Fervour Series but there is a fair bit of action happening not far away from where Bertha would have been. Inchtuthil is named in Books 3 and 4 of my series as Pinnata Castra.

Qu: Had you ever heard of the Bertha Roman fort before today? Please drop me a yes, or no, in the comments box. 

Till tomorrow... and more of Flavian Scotland. 

Slainthe! 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tay.tributaries.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ptolemys_Map_of_the_British_Isles.png

https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC1DKKY_bertha?guid=ca0fdf9e-ef7e-426e-9932-1ccff1ab7b4f