Trimontium
Encyclopedia
Trimontium is the name of a Roman
fort at Newstead
, near Melrose, Borders
, Scotland
, close under the three Eildon Hills (whence the name trium montium). It was an advance post of the Romans in the Roman province of Valentia
. The fort was identified by Ptolomy in his Geography. Trimontium was occupied by the Romans intermittently from 80 to 211. The fort was likely abandoned from c. 100-105 AD until c..140 AD. At the height of the Roman occupation of the fort, no more than 1500 soldiers and a smaller civilian population lived in the settlement.
In addition to the standard Roman defenses and fort, which include a Roman bath and mansio
built during a major expansion in 86 AD, the Romans built other structures. Chief amongst these was an amphitheatre
excavated in 1996, which could have held between 1000-2000 people, smaller than many other Romano-British amphitheatres.
The main road to the fort led directly west from the main fort. An additional north-south road ran along the outskirts of the fort.
, including ornate cavalry parade (or 'sports') helmets (Newstead Helmet
), horse fittings including bronze saddleplates and studded leather chamfrons, a good series of Roman coins and some datable pottery
. The whole illustrates the history of the Roman army
and that of the Roman military occupation of southern Scotland very remarkably. The cavalry unit stationed at Trimontium, ala Augustae Vocontiorum had been raised among the Vocontii
of southern Gaul
.
Additional ditches were dug in 1947, which defined the defenses of the central fort. Between 1989 and 1993, the Newstead Research Project made further excavations with the support of the Department of Archaeological Sciences at the University of Bradford
. The University of Bedford did another excavation and a geophysical survey on the site in 1996, focusing on annexes beyond the central fort.
. There is also a museum run by the Trimontium Trust at Melrose
.
's novel The Eagle of the Ninth
, while the characters Marcus and Esca are traveling through Valentia in search of the lost Eagle of the Ninth Legion, they spend a night in the fort, and it is described in this context.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
fort at Newstead
Newstead, Scottish Borders
Newstead is a village in the Scottish Borders, just east of Melrose, coordinates 55.599704, -2.691987. It has a population of approximately 260, according to the 2001 census.It is reputedly the oldest continually inhabited settlement in Scotland...
, near Melrose, Borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, close under the three Eildon Hills (whence the name trium montium). It was an advance post of the Romans in the Roman province of Valentia
Valentia (Roman Britain)
Valentia was the name of a consular northern province of Roman Britain.-History:Count Theodosius set up Valentia in 369 AD as part of his reorganisation of Britain following the Great Conspiracy, and probably named it after the reigning emperors, Valentinian and Valens.Ammianus tells of how the...
. The fort was identified by Ptolomy in his Geography. Trimontium was occupied by the Romans intermittently from 80 to 211. The fort was likely abandoned from c. 100-105 AD until c..140 AD. At the height of the Roman occupation of the fort, no more than 1500 soldiers and a smaller civilian population lived in the settlement.
Fort
The fort was laid out like a standard Roman fort. It has three layers of defenses, the first being the central fort itself with its earthen defenses built during the 1st century. The second layer is a series of four ditches built during the last part of the 2nd century. There is an additional series of walls and trenches in the west annex.Mansio
In the Roman Empire, a mansio was an official stopping place on a Roman road, or via, maintained by the central government for the use of officials and those on official business whilst travelling.-Background:The roads which traversed the Ancient World, were later surveyed,...
built during a major expansion in 86 AD, the Romans built other structures. Chief amongst these was an amphitheatre
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
excavated in 1996, which could have held between 1000-2000 people, smaller than many other Romano-British amphitheatres.
The main road to the fort led directly west from the main fort. An additional north-south road ran along the outskirts of the fort.
Site archaeology
Excavations by James Curle between February 1905 and September 1910 began the first exploration of the site, making many findings. These include the foundations of several successive forts, one above the other, which throw much light on the character of the Roman military post; an unparalleled collection of Roman armourArmour
Armour or armor is protective covering used to prevent damage from being inflicted to an object, individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact weapons or projectiles, usually during combat, or from damage caused by a potentially dangerous environment or action...
, including ornate cavalry parade (or 'sports') helmets (Newstead Helmet
Newstead Helmet
The Newstead Helmet is an iron Roman cavalry helmet dating to 80–100 AD that was discovered at the site of a Roman fort in Newstead, near Melrose in Roxburghshire, Scotland in 1905. It is now part of the Newstead Collection at the National Museum in Edinburgh. The helmet would have been worn by...
), horse fittings including bronze saddleplates and studded leather chamfrons, a good series of Roman coins and some datable pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
. The whole illustrates the history of the Roman army
Roman army
The Roman army is the generic term for the terrestrial armed forces deployed by the kingdom of Rome , the Roman Republic , the Roman Empire and its successor, the Byzantine empire...
and that of the Roman military occupation of southern Scotland very remarkably. The cavalry unit stationed at Trimontium, ala Augustae Vocontiorum had been raised among the Vocontii
Vocontii
The Vocontii were a Gallic people who lived on the east bank of the Rhône.-Location:Their main towns were Lucus Augusti and Vasio , but they occupied an extensive territory stretching from Vercors in the north, the buttresses of Mont Ventoux in the south-west, Manosque in the south-east and...
of southern Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
.
Additional ditches were dug in 1947, which defined the defenses of the central fort. Between 1989 and 1993, the Newstead Research Project made further excavations with the support of the Department of Archaeological Sciences at the University of Bradford
University of Bradford
The University of Bradford is a British university located in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The University received its Royal Charter in 1966, making it the 40th University to be created in Britain, but its origins date back to the early 1800s...
. The University of Bedford did another excavation and a geophysical survey on the site in 1996, focusing on annexes beyond the central fort.
Museums
The many finds from Trimontium are on display at the Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. There is also a museum run by the Trimontium Trust at Melrose
Melrose, Scotland
Melrose is a small town and civil parish in the Scottish Borders, historically in Roxburghshire. It is in the Eildon committee area.-Etymology:...
.
In fiction
In Rosemary SutcliffRosemary Sutcliff
Rosemary Sutcliff CBE was a British novelist, and writer for children, best known as a writer of historical fiction and children's literature. Although she was primarily a children's author, the quality and depth of her writing also appeals to adults; Sutcliff herself once commented that she wrote...
's novel The Eagle of the Ninth
The Eagle of the Ninth
The Eagle of the Ninth is a historical adventure novel for children written by Rosemary Sutcliff and published in 1954. The story is set in Roman Britain in the 2nd century AD, after the building of Hadrian's Wall....
, while the characters Marcus and Esca are traveling through Valentia in search of the lost Eagle of the Ninth Legion, they spend a night in the fort, and it is described in this context.