In last November’s newsletter I
reported on a Roman project in Scotland which was being screened by BBC2’s Time
Flyers programme. The project is being run by husband and wife team, Dr David Woolliscroft
and Dr Birgitta Hoffmann, who are both now based at Liverpool University. Full details of
the project are published and kept up-to-date on
the this marvelous website: www.romangask.org.uk
For those without Internet access here is a brief account of the work being carried out.
The project is a long-term programme to study the Roman Frontier works on and around the
Gask Ridge in Perthshire. The Ridge at around 70 metres above sea level lies between the
Scottish Highland massif and Fife, and forms part of a corridor northwards towards the
coastal strip of richer agricultural land that extends to the Moray Firth. It includes
such famous sites as Ardoch and the legionary fortress of Inchtuthill (Pinnata Castra).
It is the earliest
Roman land frontier in Britain (or even The Roman Empire), built in the 80's AD, 40 years
before Hadrian's Wall and 60 years before the Antonine Wall.
For the last five years Dr
Woolliscroft’s team has been engaged in an intensive campaign of surveys, excavation,
and archival work, which has included, where necessary, the preparation of past research
for publication. Recent evidence from this work suggests that the Romans were in
occupation here much longer than had previously been thought. This means Petilius
Cerealis’ campaign against the Northern tribes in the early 70’s AD must have
been far more extensive and more permanent than the historian Tacitus would have us
believe. He gave the credit solely to his father-in-law Argricola in the early 80’s.
The whole line was abandoned in 86-87 AD soon after Agricola (the then governor) had
been recalled back to Rome by the jealous Emperor Domitian. You will notice in our programme that Dr Woolliscroft has kindly agreed to give our
society a talk in November on this very important work.
Next Meeting
Wednesday 5th February at the BP Centre (Scout HQ) in Greenough Street, at 7.30 pm as
usual. This month is the AGM so please remember to bring your annual subscription (details
opposite). At the meeting Adrian Morris will be presenting our last year’s summer
trip to Kirkby Lonsdale.
As you can see we have another full programme of speakers for this year, which I hope you
find as stimulating as last year. If anybody has any further ideas for next year please
let us know at the meeting.
| Feb |
(A.G.M.) Romans in the Lunsdale Valley |
Adrian Morris |
| March |
Recent Archaeology in Greater Manchester |
Norman Redhead |
| April |
Megalithic Monuments |
Steve Hewitt |
| May |
Monastic Buildings |
Brian Marshall |
| June |
Chorley’s Industrial Archaeological Heritage |
Jack Smith |
| July |
Pre-Dynastic Egypt |
John Johnson |
| Aug |
Annual Trip |
TBA |
| Sept |
Chester’s Roman Ampitheatre |
Keith Mathews |
| Oct |
More aspects of Lancashire Archaeological Services |
John Darlington |
| Nov |
The Gask Frontier in Roman Scotland |
Dr David Woolliscroft |
| Dec |
Discoveries on the Egyptian, Libyan Frontier |
Dr Steven Snape |
All meeting are to be held on the first Wednesday of the month.
As well as speakers we are planning a number of site visits and field trips, which have
yet to be arranged. These will include the Lathom House site with Mark Fletcher, the Arley
Mill site and the continuing work on the Roman Road sites at Smallbrook Lane, Brimlow Farm
and Hic Bibi in Coppull.
Hope to see you at the meeting. B.A.
|
