Mons Graupius Contender: Moncreiffe Hill
Introduction
Roman Scotland identified Moncreiffe Hill in 2008 after reconsidering Fraser’s proposal at the Gask Ridge. Fraser borrowed the philological rendition of Moncreiffe - Monid Croib - and transferred it to the Gask Ridge, several miles away.
Moncreiffe Hill, the true location of Monid Croib therefore deserved further investigation.
Moncreiffe Hill – identified as Monid Croib - is topped by Moredun Top hillfort (+190m OD) and occupies the bulk of the peninsula of land (lowest +10m OD) that is formed by the meandering nature of the Rivers Earn and Tay prior to their confluence at Perth.
Perth is centrally located in the territory of the Venicones, and in a later era was the capital of the Southern Picts. The name Monid Croib is known to us from records of an early 8th C AD battle fought there between rival contestants for Pictish dynastic control.
The area around Perth has ancient credentials, and as a centre of habitation it would have acted like a magnet to Roman forces on campaign seeking to force the tribes to commit to a decisive engagement.
Previously unconsidered, Roman Scotland visited the site, aware of Fraser’s argument in favour of a cross river assault further along the River Earn at Cairnie.
A: Campaigning
Is the site located in an area of known Flavian campaigning?
Yes, across the River Earn from the Dunning – Carpow chain of marching camps.
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, Carey and Carpow.
Is the marching camp located close to the site?
Yes, immediately on the opposite bank of River Earn.
Does the marching camps position and orientation "address" the site?
Both are orientated to the river which would have to be crossed to reach Moncreiffe Hill, probably near Easter Rhynd.
Does the marching camp display Flavian characteristics?
Yes, both.
Is the size of the marching camp reasonably close to the 117 acre criteria required to accommodate 26,000 men?
Yes, both.
Carey at 113.8 acres can accommodate 25,300 men.
Carpow at 109.5 acres can accommodate 24,300 men.
C: Site topography
Is the site of an appropriate size to accommodate the forces engaged?
No. A Roman deployment between Mains of Kinmonth and Elcho would give a frontage of 3km but this focuses on a Caledonian concave position centred near Rhynd which would be incapable of enveloping the Roman flanks below.
Does the critical area of the engagement include terrain or features which are specifically inconsistent with Tacitus account?
Crossing the River Earn would be 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 at the Rhynd frontage, not around though.
- 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?
No. The peninsula on which Moncreiffe hill is situated is set between the Rivers Earn and Tay which narrows at its landbridge at Kirkton Hill. It would have been a choke point from which refugees from the battle would have had great difficulty escaping mounted pursuit.
Can reasonably ready access to the fleet (approx a day or twos march) be achieved from the sites location?
A noteworthy march is not required, the site is located on the Tay.
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?
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?
Fraser borrowed the philological rendition of Moncreiffe Hill – Monid Croib – when proposing the Gask Ridge. Croib – Gaelic for tree- has some linguistic similarity to Croup and in Gaelic form may possibly echo an older Brythonic place name.
Summary
Moncreiffe Hill, a site not previously considered, rather surprisingly achieves 14 appropriate answers out of 19, rating this newcomer as "interesting".
Clearly the site suffers from the same problems that leave some doubt over the Gask Ridge contenders – namely the requirement for a major river crossing to come to grips with the tribes – of which Tacitus makes no mention.
In this respect however it is perhaps better suited as more land is available for the troops fording to deploy on the opposite bank, something that is missing below the Cairnie Braes.
Concern must also be voiced over the "island" nature of Moncreiffe Hill in respect of the events following the battle as well as the convex hills plan at Rhynd physically hampering any Caledonian envelopment of the Roman flanks (as with any convex hill).
However the site merits from close association with no fewer than 2 appropriately sized and dated marching camps sitting across the river from it and from whose positions Moncreiffe Hill is clearly visible.
All if nothing else creating interest by adding another interpretation behind the movements of the large Flavian marching camps in that series.
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©2009 Roman Scotland. All Rights Reserved
First Published February 2009
