Mons Graupius Contender: Ardoch Moor
Introduction
Ardoch Moor (also known as Muir of Orchil) is the rough plain (app. OD +150m) in Strathallan immediately fronting the rolling escarpment leading up to Coire Odhar (OD +357m). The place is famous for the well known group of Roman installations at Ardoch near Braco.
It was without doubt the remarkable state of preservation of the fort there which generated sufficient antiquarian interest to prompt Chalmers in 1807 to hail it as the location of the battle, a suggestion subsequently taken up by Stuart (1845) in his classic work Caledonia Romana.
The site is bounded by the River Knaik and the Machary Water and interestingly contains a farmstead whose name - “Victoria” - records the fame the site received by Chalmers claim.
The slight remains of the Roman roads “agger” or ditches hereabouts were probably the features which Chalmers explained as a rampart which the legions threw up and stationed themselves “behind” out of the way of the Caledonian chariotry.
The upland road leading to Comrie following the course of the River Knaik was the route Chalmers suggested that the retreating Caledonians took.
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?
Yes
B: Marching Camps
Is there a marching camp in the vicinity of the site?
Yes
Is the marching camp located close to the site?
Yes
Does the marching camps position and orientation “address” the site?
Not very well, it appears to owe its orientation more to the adjacent Roman road.
Does the marching camp display Flavian characteristics?
No, it displays a site structural sequence indicating a later period.
Is the size of the marching camp reasonably close to the 117 acre criteria required to accommodate 26,000 men?
Yes, at 119 acres it could accommodate 26,400 men.
C: Site topography
Is the site of an appropriate size to accommodate the forces engaged?
Width suits very well.
Depth – the long rolling profile of the escarpment running up to Coire Odhar, at over 1,500m, would give the Caledonians too deep a formation between front ranks on the plain and those located on higher ground for effective command and control to be maintained.
Does the critical area of the engagement include terrain or features which are specifically inconsistent with Tacitus account?
No. The watercourses running along the moor are generally minor.
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, very broken upland setting.
Can reasonably ready access to the fleet (approx a day or twos march) be achieved from the sites location?
The sites central location would enable a march to the Tay or Forth.
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 if the Tay or Forth was used.
Can the “Boresti” be identified locally?
Yes, Horrea in Fife.
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 sited aggressively – but not too far - in advance of this contending battle site.
D: The Sites Name
Is there evidence in the locality for names from which Mons “Graupius” could be derived?
No
Summary
Ardoch is a site that has been too readily dismissed in the past.
Without doubt the main Flavian works in the area are the two-stage permanent forts and the associated labour camps housing the troops employed constructing them.
The remarkable log jam of marching camps on the site in the main belong to later periods (article forthcoming) but it is interesting to note that not only was Ardoch a pivotal strategic location in ongoing Roman campaigning north of the Forth – Clyde line but that on at least one other occasion a Roman battlegroup of very similar size to the forces Agricola deployed at Mons Graupius passed this way.
The proposed battlefield is suitable in most respects except for the depth of the Caledonian position which appears too deep. The suggested headlong retreat along the pass of the River Knaik would also have been suicidal for the tribes who would more probably have scattered into the high ground behind Coire Odhar.
Ardoch Moor achieves a respectable 15 appropriate answers out of 19, making this site a “strong contender”.
NEXT PAGE: The Contenders: Bennachie
©2009 Roman Scotland. All Rights Reserved
First Published February 2009
