Inchtuthil Legionary Fortress

• Inchtuthil Legionary Fortress is located on the River Tay southwest of Blairgowrie, Perth and Kinross in Perthshire, Scotland.
• It was built between 82-83 CE as part of the Roman Governor Agricola‘s invasion of the Scottish Highlands. No Remains are visible today but visitors can walk around the the site.

History

• Excavated in 1952, the Fortress was never built over and has the only perfectly preserved plan of a legionary fortress anywhere in the Roman Empire. It included a hospital and 64 barrack buildings.
• Inchtuthil Fortress was part of a system of fortifications called the Glenblocker forts along the Highland Line which blocked each valley.
• They were linked by a series of signal watchtowers along the Gask Ridge.

Inchtuthil Roman Nail Hoard

• In 1963, a Hoard of 875,400 Roman Nails weighing 7 tons was found carefully buried in the Fortress, some with round shafts and some with square shafts.

Agricola (82-83 CE)

• Between 82-83 CE, the Fort was built and briefly occupied by the Legio XX Valeria Victrix, and the Legio II Adiutrix, under Agricola, the Roman General and Governor of Britannia.
• It was part of Gnaeus Julius Agricola’s invasion of the Sottish Highlands in 82-83 CE. The Legions here would probably have fought at the Battle of Mons Graupius (83 CE).

Legions

• Inchtuthil was occupied for about five years between 82 CE until 86-7 CE.
  • Legio XX Valeria Victrix
    • The Legion returned to Chester in c.86 CE.
  • Legio II Adiutrix
    • The Legion remained until 87 CE, after which it was sent to join in the Dacian Wars.

Highland Line

• This was the boundary between the Scottish Lowlands and The Highlands.
• It consisted of a series of forts called the Glenblocker forts, which controlled the main entrance to the Scottish Highlands by blocking the mouth of each main valley.

The Gask Ridge

• This was a line of signal watchtowers which defended the Highland Line.

Septimius Severus' Caledonian Campaign (208-211 CE)

• Between 208-211 CE, the Fortress was reused by Septimius Severus during his invasion of Caledonia.
• Septimius Severus reoccupied the Antonine Wall and reused Inchtuthil and nearby Carpow as bases for his Invasion Army of 40,000 men.

Nearby Sites

• Carpow
• Antonine Wall
• Hadrian's Wall

Inchtuthill Legionary Fortress, Perthshire, Scotland