Mons Graupius Identified
Summary
Now we have found Mons Graupius - The Holy Grail of Scottish Antiquity- is there more to the matter than simply "ticking the box" against one of histories longer lasting and more engaging mysteries?
We believe so.
As far as we know the Caledonian tribes never again made the mistake of standing in conventional open battle against the iron clad formations of Rome.
War appeared to rage though. Later Roman biographers would continue to claim that other Roman generals and Emperors won "successes" against them.
However these hollow successes, probably more imagined or political than real failed to subdue the peoples of the north for any length of time, or for that matter to ever incorporate them within their Empire.
It is apparent that the tribes of Scotland’s greatest lesson from the Romans was the need to work together – a slow process - but one which was crucial to achieving sufficient degree of unity of purpose to resist the Romans, and then other (even more predatory) southern neighbours such as German-English once they had left.
Similarly for the Caledonians one thing was taken to heart after Mons Graupius; that in battle the Romans were an awesomely organised and equipped opponent. The Caledonians learnt, it would appear, not to underestimate them while apparently still not fearing them.
Rome never conquered these peoples, not because they were backward, poor or of an organisational culture ill suited to assimilation within the Roman state. The Romans met more extreme examples of all these classes elsewhere and successfully assimilated them into the empire.
Rather, the lit ember of resistance burned on, fanned occasionally but never extinguished. This, the recognisable embryonic seed of the pugnaciously independent nature of the peoples of Scotland was its first – and certainly not its last - manifestation in the historical record.
Cultures everywhere on contact with Rome had withered or were stamped out. The northern tribes however held on, against incredible odds following defeat at Mons Graupius through long years of Roman occupation in southern Britain and long after through to the modern day.
That spirit of "never lay down" is something we should celebrate, first apparent in the historical record after 83 AD its continued ethos allowed the country of Scotland to develop over the following centuries and to then survive the continual maelstrom of attempted English subjugation.
Ultimately however the longest lasting impact of Mons Graupius was that made by those on the losing side, who, it would appear, fired their compatriots and most importantly "those that came after (them) " as indirectly prophesised by Tacitus– not to fight on the tactical agenda of their adversaries but to carefully manage the manner in which they would thereafter (generally) successfully resist foreign invaders.
As the site of the battle has at long last been positively identified the Scottish Parliament should now erect a simple and dignified monument on the site of Mons Graupius at Dunning, in grateful memory of those souls who long ago made a stand on the slopes of the Clevage Hills and roared their defiance at the assembled might of Rome.
©2009 Roman Scotland. All Rights Reserved
First Published February 2009
