Antonine Wall

A defensive fortification on the frontier of the Roman Empire in Scotland, built by the governor Lollius Urbicus for the emperor Antoninus Pius c 142-145 AD. It spans the distance between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, running for 36.5 miles (58.5 km) with 19 forts on its line and others forward and to the rear. The wall, mainly turf-built, was 14-16 ft (4.5 m) wide and probably 10 ft (3 m) high with a ditch of 40 ft (12 m) wide and 12 ft (4 m) deep in front of the wall and a military road behind it. The forts are 2 miles (3 km) apart. The wall was probably a last attempt to secure the Scottish Lowlands by the Romans and it provided defense beyond Hadrian's Wall, which was around 100 miles (160 km) south. The work was carried out by men from the legions stationed in Britain, and was probably completed section by section by different work groups who marked their handiwork with decorative plaques. Crop marks reveal some evidence for the temporary camps for the builders. The wall was abandoned temporarily in c 155-158 AD during the northern revolt and permanently before the end of the century when the garrison withdrew to Hadrian's Wall. Rough Castle is a well-preserved fort site and other traces of the wall remain.

Short-lived frontier of the Roman Empire in Scotland, spanning the distance between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde. The wall was probably completed by 143 and abandoned before the end of the century. Erected by the governor Lollius Urbicus for the Emperor Antonius Pius, it was probably a last attempt to secure the Scottish Lowlands. Consisting mainly of turf piled upon a stone foundation, the wall had a defensive ditch to the north (some 12 metres wide and 4 metres deep), a service road to the south, and some 19 forts stationed at regular intervals. The main rampart {vallum) was perhaps originally some 4.6 metres high and some 4.3 metres deep. The wall was associated with other forts, notably to the north and along the southern edges of the Forth and the Clyde. The work was executed by men from the legions currently stationed in Britain, and was evidently completed section by section, by different work gangs who left behind a record of their exertions in the form of decorative plaques, a number of which survive. Such a far-flung contract would have required temporary camps for the constructors, and there is perhaps evidence of these in crop markings revealed in aerial photographs. A well-preserved fort site is Rough Castle.