Drumquhassle

Drumquhassle was a Roman fort associated with the Gask Ridge in Scotland.^[2] It was found from aerial photography in the late 1970s.^[3] The name selected for the fort deliberately made it hard for English born readers to pronounce.^[4] The fort was from the Flavian period;^[5] it was built and briefly occupied by during the administration of Sallustius Lucullus.^[6] It is known as a "Glen-blocker" fort and is located within sight of Loch Lomond.

Drumquhassle
Site of Drumquhassle Roman Fort[1]
Place in the Roman world
Province	Britannia
Stationed military units
— Legions —
20th
Location
County	Stirling
Country	United Kingdom

Location

The fort is located in Stirlingshire, east of Drymen.^[7] It is associated with the road running from Loudoun Hill past Barochan towards Malling, Bochastle and Dalginross.^[8] This road was therefore on the Highland Boundary Fault Frontier.^[9]

It may have been on more than one Roman road.^[10] It has been suggested that Drumquhassle might be connected to Doune via the Fords of Frew.^[11]

The glenblocker forts ran from Drumquhassle to Stracathro.^[12] The fort is about 50 m west of a reliable spring which was presumably the soldiers' main water source.^[13]

Finds

An enamelled brooch was found as well as some sling bullets.^[14] Pottery from Gaul known as Terra Nigra was also recovered.^[15] Several coins were also found.^[16]

Forts and Fortlets associated with the Gask Ridge from south to north^[17] Balmuildy, Cadder, Castlecary, Mumrills, Camelon, Drumquhassle, Malling, Doune, Glenbank, Bochastle, Ardoch, Sheilhill, Strageath, Dalginross, Midgate, Bertha, Fendoch, Cargill, Cardean, Inchtuthil, Inverquharity, Stracathro^[18]

References

1. "Drumquhassle". OpenStreetMap. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
2. "Drumquhassle". CANMORE. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
3. Woolliscroft, D. J. "Drumquhassle". The Roman Gask Project. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
4. Keppie, Lawrence (September 2010). "The Romans in Southern Scotland: Future Discoveries*". Glasgow Archaeological Journal. 16 (16): 1–27. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
5. MASSER, PAUL; BATESON, DONAL; EVANS, JEREMY; WILLIS, STEVEN; ALLASON-JONES, LINDSAY (September 2010). "Recent Work at Drumquhassle Roman Fort, Stirlingshire". Scottish Archaeological Journal. 24 (2): 147–168. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
6. "Drumquhassle Highland Glen Fort". Roman Britain. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
7. "OS 25 inch map 1892-1949, with Bing opacity slider". National Library of Scotland. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
8. Keppie, Lawrence; Newall, Frank. "Excavations at the Roman fort of Barochan Hill, Renfrewshire, 1972 and 1984-1986". Glasgow Archaeological Journal. 20 (20): 71. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
9. Scottish Naturalist (v.104 (1992) ed.). 1983. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
10. Wilson, Allan (September 2010). "Roman Penetration in Strathclyde South of the Antonine Wall PART ONE: THE TOPOGRAPHICAL FRAMEWORK". Glasgow Archaeological Journal. 19 (19): 1–30. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
11. Page, R.; Page, C. "The excavation of a disused military road at Buchlyvie, Central Region". Glasgow Archaeological Journal. 19 (19). Retrieved 16 June 2018.
12. Woolliscroft, D. J. "Drumquhassle". The Roman Gask Project. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
13. Woolliscroft, D. J. "FIELDWALKING FINDS FROM THE ROMAN FORTS OF BERTHA, DALGINROSS AND STRAGEATH". The Roman Gask Project. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
14. Woolliscroft, D. J. "ARCHAEOLOGY VERSUS TACITUS' AGRICOLA, A FIRST CENTURY WORST CASE SCENARIO". The Roman Gask Project. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
15. Hoffmann, Birgitta. "Drumquhassle". The Roman Gask Project. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
16. "Drumquhassle Highland Glen Fort". Roman Britain. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
17. "Gask Ridge". Scribble Maps. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
18. "Gask Ridge Map". HeritageDaily. Retrieved 9 June 2018.

56.0561°N 4.43557°W / 56.0561; -4.43557