Cropmark record MAB64555 - MARCUS

Cropmarks of a Roman Temporary Camp discovered in 1967 during aerial reconnaissance by CUCAP.

Cropmarks of a Roman Temporary Camp discovered in 1967 during aerial reconnaissance by CUCAP. It is sited on a level terrace on the left bank of the River South Esk immediately to the north of Marcus House. With continued reconnaissance, the cropmarks of the north side, with two gates, each with a titulus, the north-eastern corner and 130m of the east side from the corner as far south as the public road, including a gateway, and the west side, with a gateway and an annexe at the south-west with gateway and titulus have all been recorded. The river has probably eroded the southern edge of the camp. Roughly trapezoidal on plan, it measures some 610m from northeast-southwest by at least 400m transversely (circa 25ha). The annexe is some 1.1ha in area. A section cut across the ditch at NO 5125 5830 at the east end of the camp in 1982, showed the ditch to be U-shaped 1.30m wide surviving to a depth of 0.8m below the surface of the plough soil. Further excavations were undertaken in 1987 ahead of a proposed road widening scheme. Four trenches were dug, two of which, at the eastern gateway and the north-west corner, failed to locate the Roman Camp. Road improvements, which happened after the available photographs were taken, on the A94 in the 1970s had probably lead to the trenches being mis-sited. A trench at the junction between the A94 and the western side of the camp revealed a 3.2m wide linear feature running north-south. This was a V-shaped ditch, 1.2m deep with three distinct layers within it. The final trench was to the north of Marcus Cottage and had the aim of locating the gateway and titulus. A 25 x 1m trench was dug and the southern 10m was discovered to have been disturbed by quarrying. The titulum ditch, a 5m wide V-shaped feature was discovered, this had been disturbed at the north by a water pipe trench. Six different fills were encountered, but there were no finds. In the garden to the east of Marcus Cottage a low-spread bank and berm, 18m long, 10m wide and 0.35m high was observed, this is probably the sole upstanding remains of the camp earthworks. A short portion of the northeast side, possibly including a gate, is preserved as a shallow ditch in a plantation on the south side of the A94 at NO 513 582.

A/30710-20 (1986), A/30710-20 (1986) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB21915.

AN/2860-1 (1976), AN/2860-1 (1976) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB21916.

AN/3368-73 (1977), AN/3368-73 (1977) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB21917.

AN/3976-80 (1979), AN/3976-80 (1979) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB21918.

AN/4647-8 (Dewar 1970), AN/4647-8 (Dewar 1970) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB21927.

AN/5338-9/PO (1976), AN/5338-9/PO (1976) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB21928.

AN/5340/PO (1979), AN/5340/PO (1979) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB23590.

AN/5727-31 (1982), AN/5727-31 (1982) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB21929.

B/51442-8/PO (1979), B/51442-8/PO (1979) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB21930.

St Joseph, J K, 1969, J Roman Stud 59, 111 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9653.

RCAHMS, 1983, [Untitled], 31, No. 252 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9121.

Halpin, E, 1987, [Untitled], 40-5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11247.

Halpin, E, 1987, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 58 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11250.

Frere, S S, 1988, Britannia 19, 425-6 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10699.

Halpin, E, 1993, Proc Soc Antiq Scot 122, 171-82 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11381.

JONES, R. H., 2011, ROMAN CAMPS IN SCOTLAND, 271-2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB925.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2022 3:49PM