Romans in Scotland

What this site is for

Romans in Scotland brings together information about the Roman presence in Scotland from a wide range of sources.

I started the site because I was interested in the subject but frustrated by how scattered the information was. Excellent research, archaeology, museum collections and local resources exist, but they are spread across many different organisations and publications. It can be difficult to see how individual discoveries and sites fit into the wider story of Rome’s involvement in Scotland.

This site is my attempt to bring that story together and make it easier to explore — for you and for me.

How it started

The site began in 2017, after the BBC reported the discovery of a Roman coin in Orkney. That became my first post. I didn’t know the Romans had been to Orkney.

I started looking for something that would explain, in an accessible way, what the Romans had actually done in Scotland: when they arrived, where they went, what they built, who they encountered and why their presence changed over time.

I couldn’t find a single website that brought all of that together, so I began collecting the information myself.

Many years — and my retirement — later, I am still doing it.

In September 2026, I brought those individual stories together into a more cohesive site, redesigning Romans in Scotland to connect places, people, archaeological evidence, ancient sources, maps and the wider sequence of events.

Evidence and interpretation

I try to base the site on archaeological and historical evidence and to reference academic research and primary sources wherever possible.

Roman Scotland is not a finished story. New discoveries change our understanding, evidence can be incomplete, and archaeologists and historians do not always agree about what it means. Where there are competing interpretations, I try to make that clear and explain the evidence behind them. Where I have reached my own interpretation, I try to distinguish it from established fact.

The site is therefore not intended to replace academic publications or the work of professional archaeologists. Instead, I hope it provides an accessible way into that work and helps readers discover the evidence for themselves.

Looking ahead

My longer-term ambition is to connect the site more closely with schools and communities, making Scotland’s Roman history accessible to people who may never normally read an archaeological report or academic paper.

An important part of that is recognising and directing people towards the excellent work being carried out by archaeologists, museums, heritage organisations, local history groups, researchers and volunteers across Scotland.

Copyright and acknowledgements

This site is for personal and educational use. I have made every effort to identify copyright holders, follow the relevant licence and attribution requirements, and obtain permission where necessary.

Where material belonging to others is reproduced, I aim to credit the creator or copyright holder and comply with the conditions under which it has been made available. Permissions received for material used on the site are documented.

If you believe I have attributed something incorrectly, missed a copyright condition, or used material that should not appear on the site, please contact me, and I will investigate and, where appropriate, correct the attribution or remove the material.

Many people have also generously allowed their artwork, photographs or other material to appear on Romans in Scotland. I am extremely grateful for their help. Their inclusion here should not be taken as an endorsement of, or responsibility for, the content of this site.