Mons Graupius Contender: Fendoch
Introduction
In 1778 Colonel Shand identified a putative Roman marching camp of around 113.5 acres, located between the River Almond and Fendoch Burn near Buchanty in Logie Almond, an identification Christison concurred with in 1898. Crawford however queried the identification in 1925 and the putative camp currently remains unproven.
(The site subsequently gained fame in the late 1930`s when archaeologists explored the permanent fort here, the digs findings enabling the post to be hailed as the most completely known Roman fort anywhere at that time).
Logie Almond skirts Caledonii territory. Shand proposed that the marching camp was Agricola’s base at Mons Graupius and that the fighting took place on Dun Mor, principally as it is crowned with an iron age fort and guards the narrow southern entrance to Glen Almond – a location known as the Sma` Glen.
Roman Scotland visited the site (circa +200m OD) in 2008, and noting the extremely difficult and constricted ground fronting Dun Mor (+466m OD) identified Stroness Hill (+336m OD) to the camps immediate south as a potential alternative candidate site here.
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?
The permanent fort here is attributable to the earliest years of Sallustius Lucullus Governorship.
B: Marching Camps
Is there a marching camp in the vicinity of the site?
Yes,
Colonel Shand speculated that one was on the site of Fendoch in 1778 but this remains unproven.
Innerpeffray 1 and 2 are approximately 9 km away.
Is the marching camp located close to the site?
Proven - No
Does the marching camps position and orientation “address” the site?
No
Does the marching camp display Flavian characteristics?
No, both Innerpeffray camps display 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?
No
Innerpeffray 1 is too small, at 67.3 acres it can accommodate only 15,000 men,
Innerpeffray 2 is too large, at 130.5 acres it can accommodate 29,000 men.
C: Site topography
Is the site of an appropriate size to accommodate the forces engaged?
Dun Mor has an extreme highland setting and does not have adequate space to allow Roman deployment.
The frontage of Stroness Hill extends as a ridge but similarly does not have sufficient space at its foot for the Roman battleline to deploy.
Does the critical area of the engagement include terrain or features which are specifically inconsistent with Tacitus account?
The River Almond intervenes between Fendoch and the lower slopes of Dun Mor.
The Fendoch Burn crosses the foot of Stroness Hill.
Does the site have a “plain” at the foot of the hill suitable for the recorded chariot action?
Neither does (the plain at Fendoch is behind the fort as viewed from Stroness Hill).
Is the hill of an appropriate gradient for:
- The Caledonians to be marshalled and advance down and around? No, both are quite steep.
- A realistic Roman assault up? The Romans would likelier assault along the Stroness Hill escarpment from the south west where gradients are easier. To gain easier gradients Dun Mor would be assaulted on a frontage (too narrow) between Dallick House and Dunie.
Does the countryside behind the Caledonian position have terrain consistent with the actions recorded in the immediate aftermath of the battle?
Yes, broken upland.
Can reasonably ready access to the fleet (approx a day or twos march) be achieved from the sites location?
Yes, Tay at Perth.
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
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 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
At only 6 appropriate answers out of a possible 19 neither site at Fendoch rates any better than “highly unlikely”.
Neither site has convincing topography to match Tacitus account, Dun Mor in particular is particularly ill suited, being too narrow, bisected by the River Almond with no plain whatsoever for the recorded chariot action.
The site is however worth visiting to view one of Sallustius Lucullus “Glen Blocker” forts, set against a truly spectacular backdrop.
NEXT PAGE: The Contenders: Fortingall
©2009 Roman Scotland. All Rights Reserved
First Published February 2009
