Mons Graupius Contender: Glen Eagles
Introduction
Sibbald, as long ago as 1707 highlighted the possibility of Agricola leaving his camp (sic) at Ardoch and launching an assault on the high ground of the Ochils to the east.
Much later, Pitblado, in a privately published work in 1935 suggested Glen Eagles.
It is uncertain exactly the ground he intended, and his theory has been ridiculed both as Gleneagles is a particularly well known golf course (it is unknown if Pitblado was a keen golfer) coupled with his rather off- beat theory which inexplicably had spot inundation of sea levels 30m higher than today!
Like the Rev`d Small at Merlsford however, we cannot allow Pitblados minor lunacies to jaundice us against fairly reviewing the site and in 2008 Roman Scotland visited and identified the most probable site in this locality.
Taking rather more inspiration from Sibbald we looked at the rolling hills behind Bardrill the northern flank of which forms the Glen Eagles – nothing to do with the golf course and separated from it by the A90.
This site, on the southern fringes of Venicone territory rises from circa +150m OD to +503m OD on Wetherhill, and has a small iron-age fort and several standing stones nearby.
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, at Ardoch.
Is the marching camp located close to the site?
No, 6.5 km away.
Does the marching camps position and orientation "address" the site?
No
Does the marching camp display Flavian characteristics?
No, the marching camp displays a late structural sequence on its site.
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?
Yes, a width of just over 3 km is available on the rolling escarpment of Wether Hill and Craigentaggert Hill between the Ruthven Water and the Braes of Ogilvie.
The gradient of these slopes rolls for over 1,500m, this would give the Caledonians too deep a formation between front ranks on the plain and those located on higher ground for effective control to be exercised and maintained.
Does the critical area of the engagement include terrain or features which are specifically inconsistent with Tacitus account?
No. The slope of the hill is cut by several small burns running down the slope though these would have only minor impact on a Roman deployment and advance and the recorded events that followed.
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 uplands in the Ochil hills.
Can reasonably ready access to the fleet (approx a day or twos march) be achieved from the sites location?
Yes, 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
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?
Yes, Dunning, Carey and Carpow.
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
Glen Eagles, the long pilloried candidate site, clocks up an impressive 15 appropriate answers out of 19 possible answers placing this site as a "strong contender".
Obvious failings are the lack of a correctly sized Flavian period camp in its immediate vicinity – not the late Roman one at Ardoch that the site benefits from its association with. Also the hill stretches to a considerable depth for Caledonian command and control to be effectively maintained.
However notwithstanding the above, the site, based in an area of proven Flavian activity has noteworthy credentials that at the very least merit a less dismissive approach than it has otherwise suffered from to date.
NEXT PAGE: The Contenders: Hill of Bruxie
©2009 Roman Scotland. All Rights Reserved
First Published February 2009
