The Archaeology of Britain: An introduction from ... - waughfamily.ca

Roman Britain: military dimension
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The exact location of the frontier at the end of the first century is not absolutely clear. It does
not appear at present that the Tyne-Solway isthmus became the frontier immediately after the
withdrawal from Scotland in the late 80s AD. At least part of Lowland Scotland continued to be
controlled by a network efforts, the most northerly of which were Newstead (Roxburghshire) in
the east and Dalswinton (Dumfriesshire) in the west. Moreover, Roman control and influence
seems to have extended beyond them, for the abandoned site of the auxiliary fort at Elginhaugh
was used by the Romans as a collection point for animals, presumably as part of the exaction of
tribute from the surrounding area. Within 20 years, however, these northern forts were abandoned,
the withdrawal probably brought about by the demands of an extensive military commitment
beyond the Danube in Dacia, as the Emperor Trajan sought the conquest of that area. In Britain,
the emergence of a frontier line across the Tyne-Solway isthmus is perceptible; this is usually
referred to as the Trajanic or Stanegate frontier (Figure 8.10a). The latter term derives from the
medieval name for the Roman road that runs from west to east between Carlisle and Corbridge.
This frontier is manifested archaeologically in a decrease in spacing between posts along that
road. New forts were constructed, including two, Haltwhistle Burn and Throp (both in
Northumberland), which, in terms of their size, lie halfway between fort and fortlet. As on the
Gask frontier, the closer spacing of larger installations seems to have been supplemented by the
Figure 8.10 Frontiers across the Tyne-Solway (a) and Forth-Clyde (b).