CRAMOND
Edinburgh, Scotland.
Roman fort
and stores base for the Antonine Wall on the Firth of
Forth, 8 km NW of the center of Edinburgh. The existence of an important site, long suspected because of numerous coin finds ranging in date from the Republic to
the early 3d c. A.D., was proved by excavations in 1955-62. Three major occupations were identified, two in the
Antonine period between A.D. 142 and 185, and one in
the early 3d c., during all of which the overall dimensions
of the site remained constant (ca. 162 x 141 m; 2.36 ha).
The defenses consisted of a thick clay rampart revetted
externally by a stone wall. The fort is larger than would
normally be required to house the garrisons known to
have been stationed at Cramond, and although only a
limited area of the interior has been explored there is
evidence that the additional space was occupied by storage buildings and workshops. Altars testify to the presence of the 1000-strong Cohors I Tungrorum and the
500-strong Cohors V Gallorum, but precisely when is
unknown. A bath was found outside the fort on the W,
and a large extramural settlement on the S and E. Evidence of a limited (4th c.) occupation was recovered
from both fort and settlement. Some of the finds are in
the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland, and
others in the Huntly House Museum, Edinburgh.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Inventory of the Ancient and Historical
Monuments of Midlothian and West Lothian (1929) 38-41;
Britannia 5 (1974).
K. A. STEER
