Mons Graupius Contender: Hill of Edzell
Introduction
Maxwell identified the strategic importance of the area around Edzell in Angus in 1990.
Roman Scotland visited Edzell in 2007 and 2008 and identified the Hill of Edzell, located behind the town of Edzell as a site worthy of careful consideration.
This hill is located in a pivotal position on the North Esk – a major watercourse. The hill bounds the lands of lowland Strathmore - along which the Roman advance would be made - while also plugging the gap leading through Glen Esk (ultimately) to the Cairngorms. This would therefore be an ideally located assemblage point for the Caledonians of the highland zone to meet up with their lowland confederates.
Further the hill, rising from around +70m OD to +228m OD sits commandingly facing the choke point between the West Water and North Esk. This strong position, stretching from Gannochy to Edzell Motte, with well guarded flanks is of a suitable size for the battle.
The Romans subsequently acknowledged the strategic importance of the area, building the Flavian fort at nearby Stracathro. This fort is currently the most northerly securely identified Roman permanent installation anywhere in the Empire.
A: Campaigning
Is the site located in an area of known Flavian campaigning?
Yes
Is the Flavian activity in the area likely to be Agricolan?
Possibly, however the Flavian marching camp and fort probably date to Sallustius Lucullus term as Governor.
B: Marching Camps
Is there a marching camp in the vicinity of the site?
Yes, Stracathro and Keithock.
Is the marching camp located close to the site?
No, both are located circa 5km away.
Do the marching camps positions and orientation "address" the site?
No
Do the marching camps display Flavian characteristics?
Stracathro; yes, this camp is the clavicular gate "type site".
Keithock; no, it displays late Roman marching camp morphology.
Is the size of the marching camp reasonably close to the 117 acre criteria required to accommodate 26,000 men?
Stracathro; no, at 39.3 acres this could accommodate only 8,700 men.
Keithock; no, at 63.3 acres it can accommodate only 14,000 men.
C: Site topography
Is the site of an appropriate size to accommodate the forces engaged?
A battleline, centred on Hill of Ezell and stretching between the West Water and The North Esk would have a frontage around 3km.
Does the critical area of the engagement include terrain or features which are specifically inconsistent with Tacitus account?
No
Does the site have a "plain" at the foot of the hill suitable for the recorded chariot action?
Yes
Is the hill of an appropriate gradient for:
- The Caledonians to be marshalled and advance down and around? Yes
- A realistic Roman assault up? Yes
Does the countryside behind the Caledonian position have terrain consistent with the actions recorded in the immediate aftermath of the battle?
Yes, broken upland setting.
Can reasonably ready access to the fleet (approx a day or twos march) be achieved from the sites location?
Yes, the excellent harbourage of the Montrose Basin, in itself the best candidate for the lost site of Trucculensis Portus.
Is the likely point of contact with the fleet consistent with the broad strategy and location of the Roman fleet on the east coast?
Yes, excellent location and Flavian connections at Dun on the Montrose Basin.
Can the "Boresti" be identified locally?
No
Are there known marching camps which hint at Agricola’s movements after leaving the site of battle?
No
Is the sites location consistent with the position chosen the following year for the siting of the legionary fortress of Inchtuthil?
Yes, Inchtuthil is not too far in the rear of this contending site to be still considered acceptable.
D: The Sites Name
Is there evidence in the locality for names from which Mons "Graupius" could be derived?
No
Summary
The Hill of Edzell is an intriguing possibility and at 12 appropriate answers out of a possible 19 it rates as "interesting".
Like other sites in Strathmore however the inescapable conclusion is that any tribal hosting here, while having good communications with the Caledonian septs of the highland zone would however have been bought at the cost of the tribes abandonment of far too much valuable lowland territory to the Roman torch– indeed all that of the Venicones and much of the Vacomagi.
The suggested site though is interesting and the battle very "fightable" here. Indeed we can imagine Agricola’s dense columns passing the funnel point where the space between the North Esk and West Water is at its narrowest to be met by a wave of Caledonian chariots and the grave concern Tacitus mentions Agricola had for his flanks as the battlefield rapidly increase in width.
No appropriately sized Roman Marching camp is known in the immediate vicinity, however further investigation of the area around Edzell wood to Edzell town itself may perhaps pay dividends as such a location would be a strong one and would directly address the suggested Caledonian position.
NEXT PAGE: The Contenders: Huntlyhill
©2009 Roman Scotland. All Rights Reserved
First Published February 2009
