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Eskgrove

Vicus (Roman)

Site Name Eskgrove

Classification Vicus (Roman)

Alternative Name(s) Eskgrove House Policies; Inveresk Brae; Inveresk Village; Eskgrove, Roman Civil Settlement

Canmore ID 311134

Site Number NT37SW 1194

NGR NT 34695 72125

NGR Description Centred NT 34695 72125

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/311134

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council East Lothian
  • Parish Inveresk (East Lothian)
  • Former Region Lothian
  • Former District East Lothian
  • Former County Midlothian

Archaeology Notes

NT37SW 1194 centred 34695 72125

See also NT37SW 8.00 and NT37SW 421.

Scheduled as 'Eskgrove [House], Roman civil settlement 40m N of... part of the buried remains of a substantial Roman civil settlement (or vicus) associated with the Roman fort [NT37SW 8.00] at Inveresk... The monument lies on a ridge on the N side of Inveresk village [NT37SW 421] at approximately 20m above sea level.

(Scheduled area indicated on attached map).

Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 31 March 2011.

The location assigned to this record is essentially arbitrary, defining the approximate centre of the Scheduled area, which lies within the policies of Eskgrove House (NT37SW 169.00, at NT 34709 72089).

The extent of the vicus remains unclear.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 3 June 2011.

Activities

Excavation (30 November 1989)

Five small trenches were excavated at NT 345 722 and Roman features were uncovered in three. In one a square-sectioned ditch, possibly a robber trench, was found. The fill was rich in finds including butchered animal bone of both wild and domesticated species and pottery, much of it decorated, including sherds of Samian, Black Burnished ware, amphorae and tile. Also found were fragments of "Opus Signinum" floor plaster. The second area contained the foundations of a substantial stone wall. It was at least 1m wide, although it had been robbed on the east face; it was built of stone blocks 40cm by 15cm by 10cm and had a small foundation buttress. The foundations were covered by rubble either from its demolition or as a base for floor layers. This was capped with an "Opus Signinum" floor layer, broken up by root activity. Built onto this was a wall of thin, square, apparently Roman bricks. Since foundation buttresses are usually on the outside of walls all the other features would seem to have been secondary to a main stone building.

The third area contained an apparent continuation of the stone wall with similar construction except for the top course, which consisted of one massive block 78cm by 64cm by 40cm. The wall terminated here, but since it was robbed on the east side it may well have originally turned a corner in that direction.

Sponsor HBM.

I Rogers 1990.

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