Alternative Names Bridgeness Slab
Site type DISTANCE SLAB (ROMAN)
Canmore ID 49554
Site Number NT08SW 4
NGR NT 0137 8151
Council FALKIRK
Parish BO'NESS AND CARRIDEN
Former Region CENTRAL
Former District FALKIRK
Former County WEST LOTHIAN

Canmore Mapping
View this site on a map

---

Archaeological Notes

NT08SW 4 0137 8151.

(Name: NT 0126 8150) Legionary Tablet found here
16th April 1868 (NAT)
OS 6"map, Linlithgowshire, 2nd ed., (1913)

(NT 0137 8151) Roman Distance Slab found 1868 (NAT)
OS 25"map, (1972)

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).
H M Cadwell 1871; 1913; G Macdonald 1925; RCAHMS 1929; R W Feachem 1967.

A commemorative plaque at NT 0137 8151 in the roadside wall states that the slab was discovered "near this spot on 29th April 1868" otherwise the precise site was not confirmed.
Visited by OS (D S) 25 January 1957.

The design of this slab is fully described and discussed by Phillips.
E J Phillips 1975.

Notes and Activities

16 April 1868

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.


Further details

25 January 1957

FIELD VISIT

Notes A commemorative plaque at NT 0137 8151 in the roadside wall states that the slab was discovered "near this spot on 29th April 1868" otherwise the precise site was not confirmed.
Visited by OS (D S) 25 January 1957.


Further details

Books and References

Bailey, G B (1985a) 'Bridgeness Tower (Bo'ness p) start of Antonine Wall, roman legionary tablet', Discovery Excav Scot
Page(s): 8

Bailey, G B (2003) The Antonine Wall: Rome's northern frontier, Falkirk
Page(s): 8 Held at RCAHMS E.10.11.BAI.P

Breeze, D J (1990) 'The flag of Legion II Augusta on the Bridgeness distance slab', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, vol.119
Page(s): 133-42

Showing 3 from 19 ...show more