Mons Graupius Contender: Tillymorgan
Introduction
The Hill of Tillymorgan is located north of the Garrioch between Inverurie and Huntly and is on the route several Roman forces used when passing this far north.
While writing in support of the battle taking place on another site; Kempstone Hill, Crawford in 1949 followed Haverfield`s conclusion that no battle could be fought at the large marching camp at Glenmailen as this would involve the Roman forces "facing south".
Crawford somewhat disingenuously concluded this reasoning by stating that this was due to the lack of any hills lying to the south of the camp at Glenmailen!
The conspicuous hill of Tillymorgan, formerly known as Slate Hill, lying south of Glenmailen is included on McRonald’s 1789 dated plan of Glenmailen and ironically this is contained in Crawford’s 1949 publication "Topography of Roman Scotland"!
Further Crawford actually noted how he had viewed the remains of ditches around the hill of Tillymorgan when visiting Glenmailen!
This is THE object example of how even well respected authorities could ignore or dismiss out of hand - on entirely spurious grounds - sites other than those they were single-mindedly determined to advocate.
As for Haverfield`s concern, few proposed sites have simplistic north / south orientated battlelines, the recent favourite "Bennachie" being a fine example (Roman facing SSW to Caledonian facing NNE).
Tillymorgan has a 30 acre Flavian camp at Ythan Wells addressing it, this camp in turn is overlain on a different orientation by the late Roman marching camp at Glenmailen. Tillymorgan clearly therefore is a site of sufficient importance to the Taexali tribe in this period to have merited being visited by Roman forces on at least two such occasions.
Roman Scotland visited the site in 2007 and identified it as a viable contending site in the north east.
The Hill of Tillymorgan is located in an area of high ground, its lower slopes are around +220m OD. They rise gently in the main though more steeply near to the summit which is around +380m OD.
Its lower north facing slopes provide an ideal field of battle - excepting the limitations imposed by a convex hill plan - as well as sufficient space for the Romans and Caledonians to deploy in line with Tacitus`s account.
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?
No, the circa 30 acre string of camps arcing through Aberdeenshire to Moray do not hold sufficient capacity and post date Mons Graupius.
B: Marching Camps
Is there a marching camp in the vicinity of the site?
Yes, Ythan Wells and Glenmailen.
Is the marching camp located close to the site?
Yes, 1.5 km.
Does the marching camps position and orientation "address" the site?
Glenmailen; no,
Ythan Wells; yes.
Does the marching camp display Flavian characteristics?
Glenmailen; no, it displays late Roman marching camp morphology.
Ythan Wells; yes.
Is the size of the marching camp reasonably close to the 117 acre criteria required to accommodate 26,000 men?
Glenmailen; close, at 111 acres it can accommodate 24,600 men,
Ythan Wells; no, at 26.2 acres it can accommodate only 5,800 men.
C: Site topography
Is the site of an appropriate size to accommodate the forces engaged?
Yes, a Caledonian position between the Black Burn at Fisherford and the River Urie at Auchintender centred on Hill of Tillymorgan has a realistic frontage just under 3.5 km.
Does the critical area of the engagement include terrain or features which are specifically inconsistent with Tacitus account?
No, the site is only crossed by minor watercourses.
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, though there are steeper gradients to the upper slopes.
- 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, a broken upland setting in the direction of Glens of Foundland.
Can reasonably ready access to the fleet (approx a day or twos march) be achieved from the sites location?
No, it would require at least three days march through Formartine to the coast at Cruden Bay.
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?
No, siting Inchtuthil so far to the south of the scene of victory on the field does not sit convincingly.
D: The Sites Name
Is there evidence in the locality for names from which Mons "Graupius" could be derived?
No
Summary
While the known Flavian activity on the site post dates Agricola’s operations, the site achieves 12.5 appropriate answers out of a possible 19. This attracts a well deserved rating of "interesting".
In fairness to Haverfield the reason a Roman force (on 2 occasions) circumnavigated the hill to address it from the north is worthy of discussion. As mentioned elsewhere, convex hills allow the Romans the luxury of choosing their preferred direction from which to address or assault such hills and Tillymorgan (like Hill of Bruxie) is classic proof of this.
Tillymorgan is an intriguing site sitting in a scenic upland setting. A single direction Caledonian retreat to the west by the Glens of Foundland would however be required to meet Tacitus account of the events following the battle.
Far from being dismissed, Tillymorgan amply deserves its place among the list of contenders.
NEXT PAGE: The Contenders: a Conclusion
©2009 Roman Scotland. All Rights Reserved
First Published February 2009
