Roman influence beyond the 'Limes' in Scotland

[Melvadius]

Experts return to 'power centre'

 

Archaeologists are to return to an Iron Age "power centre" to further investigate the influence of the Romans on the north of Scotland.

 

Dr Fraser Hunter, of the National Museums of Scotland, will lead the dig at Birnie, near Elgin, next month.

 

Roman coin hordes have previously been found in the area.

 

Dr Hunter said he hoped the work would further uncover clues to an Iron Age community there and the emergence of ancient people known as the Picts.

 

Full article at BBC:

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highla...nds/7487985.stm

Edited July 7, 2008 by Melvadius

[ASCLEPIADES]

Experts return to 'power centre'

 

Archaeologists are to return to an Iron Age "power centre" to further investigate the influence of the Romans on the north of Scotland.

 

Dr Fraser Hunter, of the National Museums of Scotland, will lead the dig at Birnie, near Elgin, next month.

 

Roman coin hordes have previously been found in the area.

 

Dr Hunter said he hoped the work would further uncover clues to an Iron Age community there and the emergence of ancient people known as the Picts.

 

Full article at BBC:

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highla...nds/7487985.stm

Salve, M

 

From a previous thread, the most septentrional confirmed Roman construction.

Edited July 7, 2008 by ASCLEPIADES

[Melvadius]

From a previous thread, the most septentrional confirmed Roman construction.

 

I made no reference to septentrional nor as far as I can see is there any reference to this term (rarely used in English) in the article.

 

The point of the article is that the excavations at Birnie are intended to investigate the local Iron Age culture, from the lack of mention of it the archaeologists involved do not seem to subscribe to the view that Thomshill was a Roman fort, from a quick check, the best current guess is that it may have simply been a marching camp rather than a 'permanent' fort. As such the current intentions of the birnie excavations appear to be to investigate Roman influence beyond Rome's formal 'fixed' frontier area, which on current evidence really does lie much further south probably ending in the area of Strathcaro.

 

Melvadius

Edited July 7, 2008 by Melvadius

[Northern Neil]

From a previous thread, the most septentrional confirmed Roman construction.

 

I made no reference to septentrional nor as far as I can see is there any reference to this term (rarely used in English) in the article.

Melvadius

But in the context of a more generalised discussion on how far North Roman culture spread, it is still perhaps pertinent to the specific discussion about the discoveries at Birnie, given the relatively close proximity of the marching camp at Thomshill, to date the most northerly (Septentrional) Roman structure known.

 

Looking at the article itself, I would like to see more evidence as to why the objects should have been buried for religious / spiritual reasons. This assumption is often made with regard to ancient objects which have been buried, but ancient people were as practical as anyone else - why bury a whetstone, for religious reasons or otherwise? I would not be surprised if there were some informal agreement between the inhabitants of this site and the Roman establishment. My question is, did this site have connections with the adventures of Agricola, or the Severan expedition more than a century later?

[Melvadius]

But in the context of a more generalised discussion on how far North Roman culture spread, it is still perhaps pertinent to the specific discussion about the discoveries at Birnie, given the relatively close proximity of the marching camp at Thomshill, to date the most northerly (Septentrional) Roman structure known.

 

Looking at the article itself, I would like to see more evidence as to why the objects should have been buried for religious / spiritual reasons. This assumption is often made with regard to ancient objects which have been buried, but ancient people were as practical as anyone else - why bury a whetstone, for religious reasons or otherwise? I would not be surprised if there were some informal agreement between the inhabitants of this site and the Roman establishment. My question is, did this site have connections with the adventures of Agricola, or the Severan expedition more than a century later?

 

I will the leave the question of possible relevance open to further clarification of intent. However, the key to your question as with many others about the sequencing of finds is in the dating of individual objects, which this article obviously is not in a position to do. For example, there may be an element of 'ritual' practice which the inclusion of animal remains as votive objects may be an indication. There is also good evidence for the Roman's 'paying off' certain tribes which could explain how a large horde of coins could have been built up in the first place, irespective of how it was later used.

 

Personally I will wait for the full site report to come out to see what the arguments are

Edited July 7, 2008 by Melvadius

[ASCLEPIADES]

From a previous thread, the most septentrional confirmed Roman construction.

 

I made no reference to septentrional nor as far as I can see is there any reference to this term (rarely used in English) in the article.

Melvadius

I didn't explain myself rightly.

I don't contend any of Dr. Hunter's (or this article's) points or conclusions.

I just posted what I considered was a related thread, just like this one.

 

A poor choice of terms, indeed. My bad.

Edited July 7, 2008 by ASCLEPIADES