Mons Graupius Contender: Lomond Hills
Introduction
The eye catching profile of the Lomond Hills rising spectacularly above the flat plain of agricultural Fife has long attracted attention.
Merlsford, a site on the River Eden at the foot of the Hills near Gateside was- according to local tradition - the scene of a battle in ancient times. The Rev`d Small in 1823 published an account which claimed this as the site of the battle, a claim later backed by Miller in 1829.
These claims followed the then widely held antiquarian belief that many of the events of 82 and 83 AD recorded by Tacitus in The Agricola took place in Fife.
The seriousness with which the site is now held has been weakened by some of the more extravagant claims made by Small.
However the site merits closer inspection and Roman Scotland visited it in 2008.
A possible site can be suggested. We must ignore the ford on the Eden, a fight at a ford was never mentioned by Tacitus. However the lie of the land beyond on the considerable flat plain below the Lomond Hills is extremely impressive.
Hereabouts the Eden is not a major obstacle and will not have greatly impeded the Roman deployment, nor their ability to retreat in extremis. We may then excuse Tacitus not mentioning it behind the Roman deployment.
Although the Lomond Hills have steep gradients their lower slopes tower above this plain in a most convincing manner
By restricting a Caledonian deployment to the saddle between East and West Lomond a credible battlefield – incidentally still centred on Merlsford – is now apparent.
Intriguingly – and uniquely in this search – a Roman spearhead held in the National Museum of Scotland is attributed to an auxiliary soldiers grave at Merlsford.
However given Smalls evident willingness to attribute any old features in the landscape as well as any ancient artifacts found a Roman provenance the concern is that the spearhead may have been found locally (there is a marching camp at Auchtermuchty) or indeed may echo a conflict at Merlsford at some other time.
A: Campaigning
Is the site located in an area of known Flavian campaigning?
No, the only currently known Flavian activity in Fife away from the River Earn area is at Bonnytown near Saint Andrews.
Is the Flavian activity in the area likely to be Agricolan?
N/A
B: Marching Camps
Is there a marching camp in the vicinity of the site?
Yes at Auchtermuchty.
Is the marching camp located close to the site?
No, approximately 3 km away.
Does the marching camps position and orientation "address" the site?
Unknown at time of writing– probably not. Awaiting published plan.
Does the marching camp display Flavian characteristics?
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?
No, it is too small, at 59.6 acres it can accommodate a force of only 13,200 men.
C: Site topography
Is the site of an appropriate size to accommodate the forces engaged?
The Lomond Hills escarpment stretches for approximately 9 km and is too large. Speculatively, restricting deployment of the Caledonians to the saddle between East and West Lomond peaks centred on the ford at Corston Mill (the traditional battle site) would reduce the width to around 3.5km which is more realistic.
Does the critical area of the engagement include terrain or features which are specifically inconsistent with Tacitus account?
No. The River Eden approximates with the position a Roman Army would deploy on to face the plain at the foot of the Lomond escarpment. Thereabouts it is not a substantial watercourse nor is it an impediment to withdrawal. It is therefore not noteworthy.
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, on lower slopes, the upper slopes have steep gradients.
- A realistic Roman assault up? As above.
Does the countryside behind the Caledonian position have terrain consistent with the actions recorded in the immediate aftermath of the battle?
Yes, upland setting of Fife Regional Park.
Can reasonably ready access to the fleet (approx a day or twos march) be achieved from the sites location?
Yes, to either 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, especially the Tay.
Can the "Boresti" be identified locally?
Yes, Horrea / Horesti is reasonably speculated here as being centred on the Lomond Hills.
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
Unfortunately, like Bennachie, a picturesque mountainous setting does not guarantee a sites credentials when rigorously measured against a wide set of disciplined parameters.
With only half of the questions being answered appropriately the site – improved from Small and Millers suggested site – unfortunately only receives a category of "highly unlikely".
Roman forces marched near this location at some time, and its conspicuous profile makes the Lomond Hills likely as a tribal hosting centre.
The local traditions of a conflict in the area have to be treated with the greatest caution but it is highly probable that the Lomonds were not the backwater location that the current limited available information suggests.
NEXT PAGE: The Contenders: Moncreiffe Hill
©2009 Roman Scotland. All Rights Reserved
First Published February 2009
