Mons Graupius Identified

The Contenders

Scotland has more hills than you can metaphorically shake a stick at. Accordingly we must exercise discrimination in trimming the list from every hill down to those that exhibit characteristics which have in the past or now make them worthy of consideration.

No fewer than 29 specific sites have historically been linked to the battle or have been identified for reasons which make their inclusion here worthwhile. We have ignored generalisations such as “somewhere in Caithness or Sutherland” as lacking in specifics that we can analyse.

The benchmark testing - based on the four factors we have discussed at some length above – against which we will interrogate these contending sites are:

A: CAMPAIGNING

Is the site located in an area of known Flavian campaigning?

Is the Flavian activity in the area likely to be Agricolan?

B: MARCHING CAMPS

Is there a marching camp in the vicinity of the site?

Is the marching camp located close to the site?

Does the marching camps position and orientation “address” the site?

Does the marching camp display Flavian characteristics?

Is the size of the marching camp reasonably close to the 117 acre criteria required to accommodate 26,000 men?

C: SITE TOPOGRAPHY

Is the site of an appropriate size to accommodate the forces engaged?

Does the critical area of the engagement include terrain or features which are specifically inconsistent with Tacitus account?

Does the site have a “plain” at the foot of the hill suitable for the recorded chariot action?

Is the hill of an appropriate gradient for:

The Caledonians to be marshalled and advance down and around?
A realistic Roman assault up?

Does the countryside behind the Caledonian position have terrain consistent with the actions recorded in the immediate aftermath of the battle?

Can reasonably ready access to the fleet (approx a day or twos march) be achieved from the sites location?

Is the likely point of contact with the fleet consistent with the broad strategy and location of the Roman fleet on the east coast?

Can the “Boresti” be identified locally?

Are there known marching camps which hint at Agricola’s movements after leaving the site of battle?

Is the sites location consistent with the position chosen the following year for the siting of the legionary fortress of Inchtuthil?

D: THE SITES NAME

Is there evidence in the locality for names from which Mons “Graupius” could be derived?

The Contenders:

LOCATION:	REGION:	TRIBAL AREA:	OS COORDINATES:

Ardoch Moor	Perth	Venicones	NN836114
Bennachie	Aberdeen	Taexali	NJ690257 (alt’ve NJ715251)
Carey	Perth	Venicones	NO174155
Carpow	Perth	Venicones	NO218174
Craig Rossie	Perth	Venicones	NN994133
Culloden	Inverness	Taexali (possibly)	NH740450
Dalginross	Perth	Caledonii	NN773207
Dunning	Perth	Venicones	NO042142
Fendoch	Perth	Caledonii	NN920283
Fortingall	Perth	Caledonii	NN736470
Gask Ridge	Perth	Venicones	NO033180 (alt’ve NN999182)
Glen Eagles	Perth	Venicones	NN913077
Hill of Bruxie	Angus	Vacomagi	NO822802
Hill of Edzell	Angus	Vacomagi	NO590700
Huntlyhill	Angus	Vacomagi	NO620636
Inverquharity	Angus	Vacomagi	NO364557
Kempstone Hill	Angus	Taexali	NO873895
Knock of Crieff	Perth	Venicones	NN874224
Lomond Hills	Fife	Horesti	NO204084
Moncreiffe Hill	Perth	Venicones	NO166192
Mondboddo	Angus	Vacomagi	NO751793
Monifieth	Angus	Venicones	NO495345
Mormond Hill	Buchan	Taexali	NJ970560
Pass of Grange	Moray	Taexali	NJ525525
Peterculter	Aberdeen	Taexali	NJ825000
Stormontfield	Perth	Caledonii	NO144474
Strathfinella	Angus	Vacomagi	NO702762
The Caterthuns	Angus	Vacomagi	NO560660
Tillymorgan	Moray	Taexali	NJ652352

Note; Modern “regions” shown above are abbreviated for convenience. For example where Perth is noted read Perth and Kinross.

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