Description

This monument is a section of the Antonine Wall which runs across sloping ground to the north of Wilderness Plantation. This proposal forms part of a programme which is intended to update the scheduling of the Antonine Wall.

The Antonine Wall at this location consists of the rampart, the ditch, the berm (area between rampart and ditch) and the upcast mound. The Antonine Wall ditch and rampart have been flattened at this point, although the slight hollow of the ditch is visible in places; however, substantial buried remains are likely to survive. At the E end of this section is the site of a Roman fortlet which was attached to the rear of the Wall.

The area to be scheduled measures a maximum of 800m from WSW-ENE by a maximum of 105m N-S, to include the Antonine Wall rampart, berm, ditch and upcast mound and an area around in which traces of activities associated with the construction and use of the Antonine Wall may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map extract. The scheduled area is defined on its W end by field boundaries. To the N its edge lies 25m beyond the N margin of the Antonine Wall ditch and to the S its edge lies 20m beyond the S margin of the rampart. To the E and SE it is defined by the edge of two roads. Just to the W of its E end the S boundary of the scheduled area is expanded to include the remains of the fortlet W of Buchley Lodge. The Balmuildy Road is excluded from scheduling, as is the top surface of the area which has been used as a midden (south of Buchley and just to the N of the Balmuildy Road): the top surface being defined as the hard standing on which the midden has been created and the overlying midden. Deposits underneath the hard standing and midden are, however, to be scheduled.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is nationally important because it has an inherent potential to contribute to our understanding of the past, in particular the Antonine Wall and the character of Roman frontier systems more generally. The monument has high potential to add to our understanding of the dating, construction, maintenance and subsequent abandonment of the Antonine Wall. There is good potential for the recovery of dateable remains and environmental samples from the fills of the ditch as well as from ancient ground surfaces sealed by the rampart. Such information enhances our understanding of the character of the local landscape when the Antonine Wall was occupied. This stretch of the Antonine Wall contains one of only three fortlets to have been extensively excavated and the only examples of the Roman structures known as enclosures. The relationship between the fortlet and the three enclosures has the potential to enhance our understanding of the function of the frontier. The loss of the monument would impede our ability to understand the frontier and would erode the overall importance of the Antonine Wall as a single linear monument spanning central Scotland.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NS57SE 42.0

Source: Historic Environment Scotland