Blatobulgium Fort (Birrens)
Fort
Blatobulgium or Blatobvlgivm fort is a Roman Fort. The remains of this fort are quite impressive when approached from the south, where its southern defences, arranged along the edge of a natural scarp above the river are now covered in gorse bushes. The remains of stone-built buildings are visible across the whole of the interior, all beneath an overlying blanket of turf, except at the south-east corner, where several courses of stonework are visible; these belong not to the fort’s defences but to buildings in the retentura or rear of the camp, the corner-angle itself having been lost to erosion. The extensive ditch system and entrance causeway is especially prominent on the north, and a scatter of shaped stones on the west rampart marks the position of the gateway on this side.
Classical references for Blatobulgium Fort (Birrens)
The only classical reference for the name of the Birrens encampment is contained in the Antonine Itinerary of the late-second century. Iter II, “the route from the ‘Entrenchments’ to the port of Rutupiae, four-hundred and eighty-one thousand paces”, details the journey from Hadrian’s Wall to Richborough in Kent. In this itinerary the name Blato bulgio appears as the northern terminus, some 12 Roman miles from Castra Exploratorum (Netherby, Cumbria), both stations lying beyond the Wall of Hadrian.
The Blatobulgium Fort
RIB2114 - Building inscription of the Twentieth Legion Victrix
RIB2112 - Building inscription of the Sixth Legion
A lead sling-shot was uncovered during excavations at Birrens within a layer tentatively dated to the mid-second century, which likely means that the auxiliary garrison were trained in the use of this weapon, possibly at the suspected training camp at Burnswark nearby.
RIB2110 - Dedication to Antoninus Pius
AN[...]NINO AVG [...]NT
MAX [...]IB POT XXI COS IIII
COH II [... ]R M[...]L EQ C L
SVB IV[... ] LEG AVG PR PR
The Dateable Pottery Evidence
Although there was plenty of pieces of South Gaulish decorated ware dateable to the Antonine period, there was absolutely no Flavian material.
The Blatobulgium Garrison
RIB2093 - Altar dedicated to Fortune
COH I
NERVANA
GERMANOR
ↀ EQ
The first unit to be stationed at Blatobulgium was very likely Cohors I Nerviorum Germanorum Milliaria Equitata, a one-thousand strong mixed unit of infantry and cavalry originally formed during the reign of emperor Nerva (96-98AD) from among the various Germanic tribes. This unit is attested on three inscriptions from the site; an altar to the goddess Fortune (vide RIB 2093 supra), an altar to Jupiter Best and Greatest (vide RIB 2097 infra), and another altar bearing a fragmentary dedication to an unknown deity (RIB 2116.B; not shown).
RIB2092 - Altar dedicated to the Discipline of the Emperor
AVG
COH II
TVNGR
MIL EQ C L
The second, and most frequently attested unit to be stationed at Birrens were the Second Cohort of Tungrians, a one-thousand strong part-mounted unit, originally recruited from amongst the Tungri tribe of Eastern Belgium. The name of this unit is recorded on no less than nine out of the twenty-four inscriptions so far recovered from the site.
“To Majestic Discipline, the Second Cohort of Tungrians, one-thousand strong, part-mounted, citizens with Latin rights (set this up).”
(RIB 2092; altarstone)
This unit was probably in residence for a number of years, and, following losses due to battle or retirement, the garrison had to be bolstered by the addition of several small groups of Germanic tribesmen; many of whom brought their own peculiar deities to the Birrens fort.
RIB2100 - Altar dedicated to Mars and to the Emperor's Victory
RIAE AVG C RAE
TI MILIT IN COH
II TVNGR CVI
PRAEEST SILVIVS
AVSPEX PRAEF
V S L M
RIB2107 - Altar dedicated to Ricagambeda
BEDAE PAGVS
VELLAVS MILIT
COH II TVNG
V S L M
RIB2108 - Altar dedicated to Viradecthis
THI PA[...]VS CON
DRVSTIS MILIT
IN COH II TVNGROR SVB SILVI
O AVSPICE PRAEF
The Second Cohort of Tungrians is also recorded on several altars at Castlesteads on Hadrian’s Wall, including at least one with the suffix Gordiana (RIB 1983), dated 241AD.
Other Deities Worshipped in Blatobulgium
RIB2104 - Altar dedicated to Minerva
MINERVAE
COH II TVN
GRORVM
MIL EQ C L
CVI PRAEEST G SILV
AVSPEX PRAEF
RIB2091 - Dedication to Brigantia
ARCITECTVS EX IMPERIO IMP
RIB2109 - Altar dedicated to all the gods and goddesses
ABQ
OMNIB
FRVMENT
IVS MIL COH II
TVNGR
RIB2109 - Altar dedicated to all the gods and goddesses
ABQ
OMNIB
FRVMENT
IVS MIL COH II
TVNGR
Other Roman Military Sites in the Area
There are several temporary camps in the neighbourhood of the Blatobulgium fort; 4 around Birrens itself (NY2174), 2 more at Middlebie nearby (NY2076) and a further 2 at Kirkpatrick-Fleming (NY2870) a short way along the road to the south-east. There is also a Roman fortlet and 2 practice works at Burnswark a little distance along the road to the north-west.
References for Blatobvlgivm
- Chronicle of the Roman Emperors by Chris Scarre (Thames & Hudson, London, 1995);
- The Roman Occupations of Scotland by B.R. Hartley in Britannia iii (1972) pp.1-55;
- The Roman Inscriptions of Britain by R.G. Collingwood and R.P. Wright (Oxford 1965);
Map References for Blatobvlgivm
NGRef: NY2175 OSMap: LR85
Roman Roads near Blatobvlgivm
NW (9) to Ladyward (Dumfries & Galloway) Iter II: ENE (15) to Castra Exploratorvm (Netherby, Cumbria) Military Road: SE (17) to Uxelodvnvm (Stanwix, Cumbria) Military Road: NW (3) to Bvrnswark Probable road: ESE (4) to Kirkpatrick N (19) to Raebvrnfoot