From lionesses to latrines: five treasures of Roman Scotland

By Elizabeth McQuillan

1 – The Cramond lioness This statue, dating from the Roman occupation of Cramond west of Edinburgh in the second and early third centuries AD, was found in 1997 in river silts adjacent to the ferry steps on the east side of the River Almond. Spotted by the local ferryman, Robert Graham, the excavated sculpture was made from non-local white sandstone and was a substantial 1.52 metres long, 46cm wide and 55cm high. The carved statue depicts a crouching lioness with her paws on the shoulders of a small, naked, bearded chap. She appears to be having a bit of a chew on his head, and this is in keeping with carnivorous symbolism from the Roman Empire, which represents the destructive power of death. Two snakes emerge from underneath the lioness’s body, at the base of the neck, depicting the survival of the soul. It is thought that the statue was a tombstone for someone of importance – perhaps the commander at Cramond Fort. What remains? The Cramond Lioness is on display in Edinburgh, in the Early People gallery, Level 0, at the National Museum of Scotland. 2 – Roman Bath House, Bearsden Every Roman fort had its own bath house and latrine to serve the needs of the resident soldiers. Lying along the Antonine Wall, at the site of Bearsden Fort, the foundations of the Bearsden bath house show a changing room, latrine, cold room, cold bath, two warm steam rooms, a hot steam room, a hot bath and a hot dry room. Heat was provided by a hypocaust system, whereby hot air was funnelled under the floor and up the walls. Analysis of sewage from the ancient latrine reveals a diet that included wheat, barley, coriander, dill and celery – as well as opium poppy seeds. The latter were presumably eaten for medicinal or leisure purposes. Fruits included figs, raspberries, brambles, blaeberries, strawberries and hazelnuts. Certainly no deep-fried fish suppers or Mars Bars in evidence at that time. What remains? The baths can be found at Roman Road (funnily enough), Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, with relics from the site held at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow. 3 – Antonine Wall The north-western frontier of the Roman Empire, the Antonine Wall extended for 60km from modern Old Kilpatrick on the north side of the River Clyde to Bo'ness on the Firth of Forth. Under the orders of Emperor Antonius Pius in the AD 140s, the wall was constructed over a generation, by the Second, Sixth and Twentieth legions of Britain, until being abandoned in the 160s in favour of Hadrian’s Wall. The fortification itself consisted of a turf rampart three to four metres high, fronted by a huge ditch. Forts were placed along the wall about every 3km, with mini fortlets in between, and beacon platforms to light warning signals and to communicate. What remains? Sections of the Antonine Wall can still be seen, especially in the Falkirk area, including at Watling Lodge, Rough Castle, Kinneil Estate, Polmonthill, Callendar Park and Seabegs Wood. Exhibitions about the wall are at Kinneil Museum in Bo'ness and at Callendar House Museum in Falkirk. 4 – The Traprain treasure Found in 1919 within the iron-age hill fort on Traprain Law in East Lothian, this hoard of Roman silver represents the most important late-Roman treasure find in Europe. The majority of the booty consists of silver tableware: plates, goblets, flacons and spoons. Rather in keeping with our modern culture of recycling, much of it had been folded, flattened or otherwise rendered manageable for melting in the crucible. It was a significant cache of treasure, amounting to 160 pieces of silver and weighing in at 770 ounces (Troy weight). Coins from the treasure indicate that the period when the treasure was deposited would have been from the emporers Valens to Honorius (364–423 AD), in the closing stages of Roman Britain. Much debate and research still continues as to what the stash represents and why it was hidden in the pit: did some early entrepreneur earn or steal the Roman goods, was it bullion for diplomatic negotiation or the spoils of a wealthy Roman trader? What remains? The silver was carefully restored by an Edinburgh silversmith and is on display in Edinburgh at the National Museum of Scotland. 5 – Trimontium Recorded by the second century geographer Ptolemy, Trimontium is adjacent to the three peaks of the Eildon Hills and represents the growth of a frontier Roman fort over centuries, with the first fort dating to the first century AD and the fourth fort as late as the 180s. Discovered on a bluff overlooking the River Tweed at Newstead, the excavations revealed the rise and fall of several forts on that site. This would have been the military HQ for Scotland. With the forts came annexes, shanty buildings, taverns and shops. Later came the discovery of the most northerly amphitheatre in Europe. A sizeable collection of interesting Roman artefacts was excavated, offering an insight into life at a frontier post. These include bronze and iron parade helmets belonging to auxiliary cavalrymen, items from horse harnesses, domestic implements, personal possessions and tools for a wide range of crafts. What remains? While the site itself comprises of mainly agricultural land, the artifacts can be seen at the Trimontium Heritage Centre in Melrose.

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