Event

Date 16 April 1868
Event ID 572778
Category RECORDING
Type ARTEFACT RECOVERY

Notes NT 0126 8150 Legionary Tablet found here
A Roman 'distance slab' broken in three places was found in April 1868 in front of the rocky promontory on which Bridgeness Tower stands. Mr Cadell, who was present when the find was made, records that it was discovered lying face down, under a few inches of soil, at a point 19ft above the level of the ordinary spring tides. It had evidently been carefully laid there, over a hollow in the soil, and covered over. He donated the slab to the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS Accession no: FV 27) on condition that a plaque recording the discovery by erected near the find-spot.
The slab is 9ft 2ins long by 2ft 11ins high and commemorates the completion of some four miles of the Antonine Wall by the 2nd Legion. Close to the find-spot, an old dry-stone dyke of squared freestone such as the Romans used in constructing their permanent camps was found, extending for a few feet like a rough retaining wall round the face of the promontory, about 5 or 6ft below the flat ground under the table (H M Cadwell 1913).
16th April 1868 (NAT)
H M Cadwell 1871; 1913; G Macdonald 1925; RCAHMS 1929; R W Feachem 1967.


Person Mr Cadell

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Books and References

Cadell, H (1871) 'Note of a sculptured Roman slab recently discovered on the estate of Grange, Linlithgowshire, and presented to the Museum', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, vol.8

Cadell, H M (1913) The story of the Forth, Glasgow
Held at RCAHMS J.6.21.CAD

Keppie, L (1979a) Roman distance slabs from the Antonine Wall: a brief guide, Glasgow
Held at RCAHMS E.10.11.KEP

Digital Images

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Thumbnail	Item	Description	Collection	Copyright
	SC732497	From RCAHMS Inventory of West Lothian		RCAHMS