#A2ZChallenge - A for Ardoch

A is for Ardoch Ancient Roman Fort...

and a bit about Agricola as well! 

Introduction to my A to Z Blogging Challenge!

Do you know anything about Scotland during the Flavian era? If not, and you want to, check in every day to this blog during this April 2019 (except Sundays) and find out a little… and then a little more!

The theme is a particular obsession of mine. I can be found out and about around Aberdeenshire, Scotland, giving visual presentations to various interested groups on what I know of Ancient Roman Scotland (as an interested amateur). 

Emperor Vespasian-
Wikimedia Commons

The theme also forms the basis for my Celtic Fervour Series – essentially a clan saga – about my fictitious Brigante clan from the Hillfort of Garrigill who flee northwards to Caledonia to avoid the clutches and domination of the Ancient Roman Empire. (see blog sidebar for more info) 

What was the Flavian era? The Flavian Imperial dynasty ruled the Roman Empire between A.D. 79 and 96, beginning with Emperor Vespasian. Recent archaeological excavations have confirmed that a number of fortresses, forts, fortlets and watchtowers in southern Scotland were likely to have been first constructed in the earliest part of the Flavian era, during the commands of Governors Bolanus (c. 69-71) and Cerialis (c.71-73). Further installations were created throughout Scotland during the governorship of General Gnaeus Iulius Agricola.

What were the Agricolan Campaigns?

Agricola
Wikimedia Commons

General Gnaeus Iulius Agricola was the Roman Governor of Britannia (Legatus Augusti pro praetore) from c. A.D. 77-84 who led campaigns into Caledonia, the name the Ancient Romans gave to what is now Scotland. 

Gaius Cornelius Tacitus
Wikimedia Commons

Some details of these campaigns have come down through the centuries to us via translations of the writing of Cornelius Tacitus, in his work named ‘The Agricola’. Tacitus indicated that Agricola spent seven summer campaign seasons in northern Britannia after taking up the Governorship. After first subduing and controlling the Brigantes (currently north England), Agricola spent the rest of his campaign seasons gradually pushing his armies northwards. 

(see older posts on this blog about Agricola) 

There’s sufficient ground evidence to show Agricola's armies were encamped all the way to the current Moray Firth in north-east Scotland, and there’s plenty of evidence of wooden fort building from southern Scotland all the way to Stracathro in north Tayside. (Details of some of these will follow during this #A2Z Blog Challenge).

Ardoch Roman Fort - Wikimedia Commons

Ardoch Roman Fort has one of the best preserved earthworks in the whole of the Ancient Roman Empire and was first laid down by the forces of General Agricola. 

As early as 1726, Alexander Gordon wrote about it and encouraged interested people to view it as it was so well preserved. During the 1750s, General William Roy located it and added the site to his extensive mapping system.

J H Cunningham excavated it for the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 1896/7, his Clerk of Works using the innovative system of noting changes to soil colour and texture where wooden post holes had been situated. This allowed for a ground plan of the site to be estimated. Some confusion was inevitable, though, since these early excavators were not aware of the site having being used by different consecutive groupings of soldiers – i.e. different phases of use overlapping each other.

Click HERE to see source material and Ardoch under snow! 

Where is Ardoch Roman fort? Find it below on my own map of forts and fortlets in the central belt area of modern-day Scotland. (note: I'll likely be using this map a number of times during the April #A2ZChallenge!)

Nancy Jardine March 2019

Recent investigations show sufficient evidence of 3 occupations at Ardoch. 

1) probably built by Agricola in the early 80s.

2) likely to have been during the Antonine period c.139/142

3) likely to have been c. 160

Over the ensuing centuries the area was fortunately NOT ploughed out which means it can still be seen so well today.  

What remains to the naked eye is a rectangular area of around two hectares (sufficient for c.1000+ troops). The perimeter is surrounded by a rampart and up to five ditches are still evident in some parts. It is located by the Roman road which ran north from the fort and road system that joined the  Forth-Clyde areas. Aerial photographs indicate crop marks in the vicinity of the fort, which could represent up to six temporary marching camps and another possible fort, interpreting it as a strategically important site.

During the 1600s a Roman tombstone was found at Ardoch. It was dedicated to the Divine Shades (underworld deities) and commissioned in honour of Ammonius son of Damio, of the First Cohort of Spaniards, who served 27 years. Regular service duration was generally 25 years for a legionary or auxiliary soldier but some equestrian soldiers and mariners (Naval marine auxiliary) served for 27 years.

  

Had you ever heard of Ardoch Roman Fort? Please leave me a - Yes, or No -  in the comments box!

Till tomorrow...and more of Roman Scotland.

Slainthe! 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ardoch_Roman_Fort_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1981385.jpg  Attrib: Dr. Richard Murray

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vespasianus01_pushkin_edit.png

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gaius_Cornelius_Tacitus.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Julius_Agricola_-_panoramio.jpg

Please click HERE and HERE to see some source material for Ardoch.