New light on Roman link

Maureen Kilpatrick of Glasgow-based GUARD Archaeology Limited started her research of the site in Redbrae Road in 2014.

It has revealed evidence of the early stages of a settlement outside a Roman fort including pottery, metalwork and signs of metalworking from a series of ditches and pits which support the findings of previous excavations by her colleague Christine Rennie and Falkirk Council expert Geoff Bailey that the area could be dated to the Flavian and Antonine periods of the first and second centuries AD.

The area was stripped down to a sandy subsoil which revealed a series of linear ditches representing possible field boundaries, post-holes, a possible bread oven and industrial waste.

Over 20 iron artefacts including a socketed bolt head commonly recovered from Roman military sites and hobnails were among the exciting finds uncovered.

Half of the hobnails had traces of mineralised leather layers preserved in the iron indicating they were still within leather when they were discarded. However none were corroded together, suggesting they are isolated finds from casual losses rather than the result of whole sandals or boots being deposited.

The pottery found dates back from 41 cal BC to 116 cal AD.

Full results of the research AR022 can be downloaded from the ARO website - Archaeology Reports Online.