Doune Roman Fort
Flavian Auxiliary Fort (AD 69–96)
The Auxiliary Fort at Doune was first discovered from the air by Prof. St. Joseph in 1983, this fort guards the crossing of the River Teith, just north-west of its confluence with the Ardoch Burn. The dimensions across the ramparts are about 525 ft. from north-east south-west by 460 ft. transversely (160 x 140 m), covering an area of about 5½ acres (c.2.25 ha). Excavations in 1999 revealed details of a triple ditch defensive system on the north-west, also five field-ovens built into the rear of the rampart. Several timber buildings of a single phase occupied the interior. A single period of occupation is indicated during Flavian times, ending with the deliberate slighting of the defences, indicative of an ordered withdrawal from the camp. An annexe is indicated on the west side towards the river.
RIB 2157 - Fragmentary dedication
For the use of nux in phallic contexts see Pliny N.H. xv 86: nuces iuglandes … nuptialium Fescenninorum comites.
There is a single inscription on stone recorded in the R.I.B. for Doune, a dedicatory stone found at Westwood near the auxiliary fort outside Dunblane, north-west of Stirling (RIB 2157). The stone bears two inscriptions, the primary reads EX VOTO “The result of a vow”, and the secondary text NVX “Night”. The Goddess Nux or Nyx or even Nox, was one of the four original primeval Greek deities, who were the first things to be formed out of Chaos, her siblings being Eros (Love), Gaea (the Earth) and Erebos (Darkness). She was the mother of Æther (the pure Air) and Hemera (Day) by her brother/husband Erebos, also reputedly of Hecate the Moon goddess by Tartarus.
Nearby Temporary Marching Camps
There are four marching camps within a few miles of the Doune fort; 2 at Dunblane (NN7700), one at Ochtertyre (NS7498) and another at Craigarn Hall (NS7598).
References for Doune
- The Roman Inscriptions of Britain by R.G. Collingwood and R.P. Wright (Oxford 1965);
- Britannia xv (1984) p.274; Britannia xvi (1985) p.264;
- Air Reconnaissance in Roman Britain 1977-1984 by G.S. Maxwell & D.R. Wilson in Britannia xviii (1987) p.17;
- Britannia xxxi (2000) p.381 & fig.4.
Map References for Doune
NGRef: NN7201 OSMap: LR57
Roman Roads near Doune
Probable Road: NE (8.5) to Alavna-veniconvm Probable Road: SSW (15) to Camelon (Camelon, Central) SSE (13) to Dvnipace NE (4.5) to Glenbank
Sites near Doune Roman Fort
- Ochtertyre Temporary Camp (3 km)
Marching or Temporary Camp - Craigarnhall Marching Camp (4 km)
Marching or Temporary Camp - Dunblane Camps (5 km)
Marching or Temporary Camp - Glenbank Roman Fortlet (10 km)
Fortlet - Greenloaning Signal Station (12 km)
Gask Ridge Signal Station - Ardoch (Alavna Veniconvm) Roman Fort (13 km)
Antonine Auxiliary Fort (AD 138–161) and Flavian Auxiliary Fort (AD 69–96) - Bochastle Roman Fort (13 km)
Gask Ridge Signal Station - Bochastle Temporary Camp (Callander) (13 km)
Marching or Temporary Camp - Waterside Mains Camp (15 km)
Marching or Temporary Camp - Blackhill Wood (15 km)
Gask Ridge Signal Station