1. Rough Castle
J.R. Joyner, III
21 March, 2017

2. Background on the Wall Advance into Scotland under Antonius Pius
Antonine Wall – 39 miles long from the Firth of Forth to the Firth of Clyde
Construction began around A.D
15 ft. broad tone foundations, with 12 ft. high turf, probably topped by a wooden walkway with wooden breastwork
Ditch on north side 12 ft. deep and 40 f.t wide
19 total forts, one per two miles
Rough Castle is the best preserved

4. Basic Information Constructed c. 142
Located Bonnybridge and Falkirk, Scotland
Second smallest, but best preserved fort
Roman name unknown
Home to 500 Auxiliaries of the Sixth Cohort of Nervii (from NE France)
In addition to control of the region, it provided a projection of Roman power
Largest Roman coin hoard in Scotland in nearby town
Oldest known example of a Scottish tartan, Falkirk tartan, c. 3rd cen. A.D.

6. Fort Layout Two sections: the fort proper and a later annex
Contained a headquarters, granaries, commanding officer’s residence, barracks, and a workshop; as well as a bath house in the annex
Military road running to the south along wall
Large pits called lilia for additional defense in front of north wall
Fighting and destruction by fire c. 155
Abandoned in around A.D. 162 with Roman withdrawal from Scotland

9. Discussion
Do you think that the purpose and function of the Antonine Wall and its forts were the same as Hadrian’s? Were the socio-political dynamics such that these structures were mostly a show of strength to preserve order, or were they intended to provide a strict delineation between the Empire and the barbarians of the north?

10. References
Antonine Wall. Wikimedia. Accessed 20 March,
Aerial view of the Antonine wall… SCRAN/Historic Scotland. Accessed 20 March,
Falkirk Tartan. flikr. Accessed 20 March,
“Rough Castle and the Antonine Wall.” Undiscovered Scotland. Accessed 17 March,
“Rough Castle Roman Fort and Antonine Wall: Illustrated historical reconstruction.” Bob Marshall Illustration & Multimedia. Accessed 20 March,
“Rough Castle.” CastlesFortsBattles.co.uk. Accessed 17 March,
“The Roman Coin Hoard and the Falkirk Tartan.” The Falkirk Historical Society. Accessed 20 March,
“The Romans.” The Falkirk Historical Society. Accessed 17 March,