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The Antonine Wall
The Antonine Wall was built by the soldiers of the Second Augusta, the Sixth Victrix, and the Twentieth Valeria Victrix legions (who were also responsible for the building of Hadrians Wall) some time around 142AD These units are testified by the inscriptions they set up on completion of certain lengths of the rampart. Along the back of the frontier and adjacent to the forts are a number of temporary camps used by the soldiers during building of the Wall.The Antonine Wall is named after the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius who ordered its construction .Originally six forts were planned - Carriden, Mumrills, Castlecary, Bar Hill , Balmuildy and Old Kilpatrick with fortlets built in between. These fortlets were then abandoned and further forts were built.
The Known primary and secondary forts along the Antonine Wall are:
- Auchendavy
- Balmuildy
- Cadder
- Castlehill
- Duntocher
- Kirkintilloch
- Old Kilpatrick
- Carriden
- Inveravon
- Mumrills
- Rough Castle
- Bearsden
- Bar Hill
- Croy Hill
- Westerwood
- Castlecary
- Seabegs
Rampart, Ditch and Upcast Mound
The linear barrier consisted of a turf or earth rampart which stretched for 38 miles between Old Kilpatrick on the Clyde in the west and Carriden on the Forth in the east. The rampart was 4.3 metres wide with an estimated height of 3 metres. These turfs were placed on a stone base which was bordered on each side by dressed kerbstones. Stone culverts passed through this base at intervals to drain away rainwater.
The area to the west of Watling Lodge was built of turf but the area to the east of this was of earth retained by clay cheeks 0.3 metres wide.
In front of the rampart was a large V shaped ditch which varies in size but mainly is around 12 metres wide and 4.5 metres deep. The material excavated by the soldiers here was placed on its northern side creating yet another obstacle.
There are three locations along the wall which have no ditch - these are immediately East and West of Croy Hill where the bedrock defeated the Roman engineers, and there is a section East of Bar Hill that lacks a ditch.
Road
Behind the wall was a cambered gravel road with drainage ditches either side - the Military Way- which allowed movement of troops and materials.
Fortlets
There appear to have been milecastles or fortlets at roughly mile intervals between the main forts. These were attached to the south side of the Wall and enclosed timber buildings and shelters. Each of the fortlets had a north gateway giving access through the Antonine Wall.
Forts
The forts had a mainly standard design including The Headquarters Building, The Commanding Officers House, Bathhouse and Latrine, Barracks for the troops, granaries and defended annexes. Each fort contained a regiment of auxiliaries.
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