Facing the enemy? : a GIS study of 1st century Roman fortifications in the Scottish landscape

Facing the Enemy is a GIS-based examination of the relationship between Roman fortifications occupied during the Flavian period (AD 77-86/90), and their Scottish landscape setting. It undertakes spatial analysis of the positioning, orientation, intervisibility and interconnectivity of the early legionary fortresses, forts, fortlets, camps and towers. The study combines mapping data, remote sensing technologies, along with archaeological evidence in an extensive GIS database, and takes a systematic approach to analysing the landscapes surrounding the fortifications.The work demonstrates that Flavian fortifications were almost always located in positions which enabled the military to control movement through the landscape, with coastal sites frequently guarding access to river networks and fortifications further upstream. The study concludes that the military strategy in Flavian Scotland was not to block all movement through the landscape as such a strategy would have been impossible in such a varied setting, but rather to control the main corridors of movement, and by extension, exert control and authority over the indigenous population. Cover Title Page Copyright Archaeology of Roman Britain Subseries Titles in the Archaeology of Roman Britain Subseries Of Related Interest Acknowledgements Table of Contents List of figures List of tables Editorial Note Abbreviations Abstract 1. Introduction 1.1. Aims and Objectives 1.2. Method and Approach 1.3. Research Limitations and Implications 1.4. Summary 2. Romans and Scottish Landscapes 2.1. An Early Frontier Zone? 2.2. Historical Background 2.3. Interpretation Influences 2.3.1. Tacitus 2.3.2. Richard of Cirencester 2.4. Native and Roman Interaction 2.5. Roman Military Infrastructure 2.5.1. Other Structures 2.5.2. Legionary Fortress 2.5.3. Camps 2.5.4. Forts 2.5.5. Fortlets 2.5.6. Towers 2.5.7. Coastal Sites 2.5.8. Road Networks 2.5.9. Coastal and River Networks 2.6. Interpretation Challenges 2.6.1. Fortification Sequencing 2.6.2. Fortification Dating 2.7. Natural Environment 2.7.1. Water 2.8. Summary 3. Data and Methods 3.1. Data Collection and Sources 3.1.1. Roman Literary Texts 3.1.2. Legacy and Site Data 3.1.3. Mapping Data 3.2. Analytical Methods 3.2.1. Positioning: Defensive and Elevation 3.2.2. Intervisbility: Viewpoints, Binary Viewsheds and Lines-Of-Sight 3.2.3. Orientation 3.2.4. Interconnectivity 4. Location and Positioning 4.1. Classical Texts: Positioning 4.2. Positioning: Spatial Analysis 4.3. Analysis: Defensive Topography 4.4. Analysis: Site Elevation 4.5. Analysis: Binary Viewsheds 4.6. Summary 5. Intervisibility 5.1. Roman Signalling 5.2. Analysis: Line-Of-Sight (Signalling) 5.2.1. Towers on the Gask Ridge 5.2.2. Towers in Southern Scotland 5.3. Summary 6. Orientation 6.1. Classical Texts: Orientation 6.2. Orientation: Recent Studies 6.3. Analysis: Fortification Orientation 6.4. Analysis: Directions that Fortifications Face 6.5. Summary 7. Interconnectivity 7.1. Road Networks 7.2. River Networks 7.3. Classical Texts: Waterways 7.4. The Antiquarian Account 7.5. Analysis: Fortifications and Roads 7.6. Analysis: Coastal and River Networks 7.7. Analysis: River Crossings 7.8. Scotland’s River Networks 7.8.1. River Tweed 7.8.2. Firth of Forth 7.8.3. Firth of Tay 7.8.4. Northeast and Moray Firth 7.8.5. Firth of Clyde 7.8.6. Southwest and Solway Firth 7.9. Summary 8. Discussion 8.1. Roman Control of Scottish Landscapes 8.2. Role of ‘Temporary Encampments’ 8.3. Intervisibility And Signalling: Testing a Methodology 8.4. Profiling Fortification Sites 8.5. Roman Military Strategies in Scotland 8.6. Profiling Fortifications Beyond Flavian Scotland 8.7. Research Opportunities 8.7.1. Fortifications Dating and Sequencing 8.7.2. The Indigenous Population 8.7.3. Signalling 8.7.4. Road Network 8.7.5. Water Levels 9. Conclusion Bibliography Appendix One: Flavian Sites Appendix Two: Site Data Index of Main Sites Back Cover