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Auchendavy
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Auchendavy was a Roman fort on the Antonine Wall in Scotland.[2] Much of the site archeology was destroyed by the builders of the Forth and Clyde Canal.[3] Between Bar Hill and Balmuildy the wall roughly follows the southern bank of the River Kelvin.[4] The site of the fort is north of Kirkintilloch's northern border.[5] It can be seen as a mound mid-way between the Forth and Clyde Canal and the road.[6]
Sir George Macdonald wrote about the excavation of the site.[7] He says, "Auchendavy is distinguished for the large number of antiquities found in and about it." "About it" includes Shirva Farm in Twechar where finds such as several tombstones were found.
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Context
Many Roman forts along the wall held garrisons of around 500 men.[8] Larger forts like Castlecary and Birrens had a nominal cohort of 1000 men[9] but probably sheltered women and children[10] as well although the troops were not allowed to marry.[11] There is likely too to have been large communities of civilians around the site.[12]
Altars
A centurion called Marcus Cocceius Firmus dedicated as many as five altars found at Auchendavy.[13] He was a soldier with the Second Augusta Legion.[14] A sandstone altar to Jupiter and Victory was found in a pit to the south-west of the Roman fort at Auchendavy. There is also an altar to Silvanus. Similarly, a sandstone altar, dedicated to the Presiding Spirit of the Land of Britain, was found near Auchendavy fort. Again a sandstone altar to Diana and Apollo, was found near Auchendavy fort. Yet another altar to Mars was also discovered. It also has dedications to: Minerva, parade-ground goddesses, Hercules, Epona and Victory.[15]
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Other Finds
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A distance slab by the 20th Legion Valiant was found.[26] A fragment of a male torso was found too.[27]
Gordon and others speak of coins; a gold solidus of Trajan is mentioned. The ballista bullets are said to have been upwards of fifty in number. Two iron mallets were also found.[28]
RIB 2173. Distance Slab of the Twentieth Legion[29] George MacDonald calls in no. 2 in the 2nd edition of his book The Roman Wall in Scotland. He argues, over many pages, that was originally "somewhere east of Auchendavy".[30]
RIB 2185. Distance Slab of the Sixth Legion.[34] George MacDonald calls in no. 3 in the 2nd edition of his book The Roman Wall in Scotland.[35] It was found on near the discovery site of the 20th Legion's slab: on Eastermains Farm (which adjoins Whitehill), west of Inchbelly Bridge, east of Kirkintilloch.[36] It has been scanned and a video produced.[37] It is similar to two other distance slabs of the Sixth Legion as shown below. In 2020 a replica of the Eastermains stone was installed in Twechar.[38][39]
Weathered Distance Slab of the Sixth Legion.[40] George MacDonald calls in no. 7 in the 2nd edition of his book The Roman Wall in Scotland.[41] It was found on East Millichen Farm, Summerston.[42]
It has been scanned and a 3D model[43] and a video[44] have been produced.
RIB 2196. Distance Slab of the Sixth Legion[45] George MacDonald calls in no. 8 in the 2nd edition of his book The Roman Wall in Scotland and describes it as belonging to Castlehill or its neighbourhood.[46]
Many other artefacts have also been found at Shirva, near Twechar.[47]
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References
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