Probably built in 140 AD and little else known. Coins, including a gold aureus of Trajan (98 – 117), a deposit of ballista bullets, five altars, four of which were set up by a centurion of the Second Legion, Marcus Cocceius Firmus, a stone bust, and two iron mallets, have been found here, also a small intaglio
Visit Auchendavy Roman Fort
📍 Location: Auchendavy, near Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire
👁 What survives: Little of the fort is visible above ground, but important altars and other finds reveal its garrison.
⭐ Best for: The remarkable group of altars associated with centurion Marcus Cocceius Firmus.
🥾 Visit: A landscape stop with limited visible remains.
🏛 Nearby Roman places: Bar Hill, Kirkintilloch and Balmuildy
Auchendavy at a glance
| Occupation | Antonine period, broadly the AD 140s–160s; exact opening and closing years remain uncertain. |
| Garrison | A detachment of the Second Legion Augusta is a plausible interpretation of the inscriptions; the full composition is uncertain. |
| Size | About 1.09 hectares (2.7 acres) internally. |
| Troop estimate | No secure local headcount. |
Inscriptions
Four complete altars were dedicated by Marcus Cocceius Firmus, a centurion of the Second Legion Augusta. Their presence does not imply that the entire legion was stationed here.
Sources for this summary
Gallery of Altars
Explore finds in video and 3D
Open an item below to play its short video or explore its interactive 3D model. Titles retain the publishers’ findspot labels; nearby discoveries need not have come from inside the fort. Videos are from the Antonine Wall Vimeo Account; interactive models are by Historic Environment Scotland.
Altar to Jupiter and Victory, Auchendavy · Video, 20 seconds
20 seconds · Altar to Jupiter and Victory, Auchendavy · Antonine Wall Vimeo Account
Altar to Silvanus, Auchendavy · Video, 20 seconds
20 seconds · Altar to Silvanus, Auchendavy · Antonine Wall Vimeo Account
Altar to the Presiding Spirit of Britain, Auchendavy · Video, 20 seconds
20 seconds · Altar to the Presiding Spirit of Britain, Auchendavy · Antonine Wall Vimeo Account
Altar to Diana and Apollo, Auchendavy · Video, 20 seconds
20 seconds · Altar to Diana and Apollo, Auchendavy · Antonine Wall Vimeo Account
Altar to Mars, Auchendavy · Video, 20 seconds
20 seconds · Altar to Mars, Auchendavy · Antonine Wall Vimeo Account
Altar to Jupiter, Auchendavy, Antonine Wall · Open on Sketchfab
Interactive 3D model by Historic Environment Scotland. Open the model on Sketchfab to rotate, zoom and examine the object.
Explore Altar to Jupiter, Auchendavy, Antonine Wall on Sketchfab
Sepulchral Slab, Auchendavy, Antonine Wall · Open on Sketchfab
Interactive 3D model by Historic Environment Scotland. Open the model on Sketchfab to rotate, zoom and examine the object.
Explore Sepulchral Slab, Auchendavy, Antonine Wall on Sketchfab
Altar to Mars, Auchendavy, Antonine Wall · Open on Sketchfab
Interactive 3D model by Historic Environment Scotland. Open the model on Sketchfab to rotate, zoom and examine the object.
Explore Altar to Mars, Auchendavy, Antonine Wall on Sketchfab
Altar, Auchendavy, Antonine Wall · Open on Sketchfab
Interactive 3D model by Historic Environment Scotland. Open the model on Sketchfab to rotate, zoom and examine the object.
Altar to Silvanus, Auchendavy, Antonine Wall · Open on Sketchfab
Interactive 3D model by Historic Environment Scotland. Open the model on Sketchfab to rotate, zoom and examine the object.
Explore Altar to Silvanus, Auchendavy, Antonine Wall on Sketchfab
Altar, Presiding Spirit of the Land of Britain · Open on Sketchfab
Interactive 3D model by Historic Environment Scotland. Open the model on Sketchfab to rotate, zoom and examine the object.
Explore Altar, Presiding Spirit of the Land of Britain on Sketchfab
References
- Auchendavy; Antonine Wall Canmore
- The 20th Legion altars found at Auchendavy
- Roman Inscriptions (10)
- Verecunda (supposed slave girl)
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