The pits, each about 3 feet long, 2 feet wide and 6 feet deep, would have been filled by vertical stakes, sharpened to a point, waiting to impale anyone who stumbled into them. They're pretty much unqiue to the Roman presence in Scotland and highlight how threatened the Romans felt on this far northern edge of their empire.
There are a huge number of historical sites within easy striking distance of Glasgow, ranging from neolithic tombs to the site of the last siege of a castle in Britain (Stirling Castle in 1746). However, these are amongst my favourites. They're lilia, which are packs of large defensive pits dug by the Romans in front of Rough Castle Fort on the Antonine Wall around AD 140.
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More reminders of Roman history in #Scotland : this sculpture with shield, javelin & eagle standard is surrounded by discs bearing Roman numerals, in the wee village of Dullatar, near the Antoine Wall
A few more shots of Maximus. Well, that's what I call him, Big Max doesn't talk much, but he's a good listener.
Even in #Scotland , all roads lead to Rome!
My old chum, Maximus, still guarding the edge of empire, standing sentinel on the Antoine Wall, eyes on the northern horizon.
I'm studying the Romans in Scotland at school, so today we dressed up as Roman soldiers and took a trip to the remains of the Antonine Wall where we met Silvanus!
A distance stone dating from the construction of the Roman Antonine Wall in what is now central Scotland. The upper one is a modern replica embedded in a sculpture of a Roman soldier at Lambhill Stables in Glasgow, while the lower one is the original which can be found in the city's Hunteriam Museum.
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Looking out over the northern edge of the Roman Empire from the Lambhill Stables in Glasgow, or at least what was its northern edge between AD 142, when the Antonine Wall was constructed, and AD 162, when it was abandoned as the Romans pulled back to Hadrian's Wall.
The remains of the remarkable Bearsden Roman Baths, on the Antonine Wall which was built between AD142 and 144. The baths were rediscovered in 1973 under 1860s development and are now overlooked by rather more modern neighbours. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/bearsden/romanbaths/index.html
Taken this day, 2021, Big Head https://www.flickr.com/photos/woolamaloo_gazette/51241898862/in/photostream/
Large sculpture of a Roman Legionary's head, on the Antonine Wall, still keeping watch at the borders of the Empire two millennia on...
Aurelius by Malcom Robertson. Positioned on the line of the Antonine Wall behind the Lambhill Stables, this giant head looks out from the site of a former fort across what was once the northern frontier of the Roman Empire and into the barbarian terrritory beyond.
Rough Castle Roman Fort, on one of the best preserved stretches of the Antonine Wall near Falkirk. It's a great place to appreciate what the wall was like: and, just possibly, was the origin of the story of King Arthur’s Camelot. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/falkirk/roughcastle/index.html
Part of the Antonine Wall near Rough Castle, two miles west of the centre of Falkirk. The Antonine Wall was built from AD142 to 144 and ran for 37 miles (60km) from Bo'ness on the River Forth to Old Kilpatrick on the River Clyde. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/falkirk/roughcastle/index.html
Looking forward to teaching a class on #RomanScotland for the students of the Notre Dame London Global Gateway tomorrow. There is a lot to cover in one hour, but I hope to at least mention the two new fortlets at Carleith and Bonnyside on the #AntonineWall.
The bath house at Bar Hill Roman Fort, close to the Antonine Wall near Kilsyth and looking north over the Kelvin Valley to the Campsie Fells. The Antonine Wall was built from AD142 to 144 and marked the north-west frontier of the Roman empire. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kirkintilloch/barhill/index.html
Today's trip home to see dad also included a visit to the edge of the Roman Empire. A simple walk in Scotland can be a walk across millennia of history.
Remember, all roads lead to Rome, but you should check online for information on road works which may cause delays.
Defensive Roman pits, or lilia, protecting the Antonine Wall at Rough Castle near Falkirk. For a time this formed part of the north-west frontier of a Roman Empire that stretched all the way to the Middle East. More pics and info: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/falkirk/roughcastle/index.html
Out with dad, paying another visit to our Legionary friend, still guarding the northern border of the Roman Empire on the Antonine Wall
