DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22272#0167
the antonine wall report.
149
there. Obviously, however, even assuming their possible purpose
as " tribunals," the sod mounds may have served other ends.
They may have formed the bases for wooden turrets used as
watch-towers or sentry-boxes, or they may have been "ramps"
or steps to mount the wall from the south side answering to the
" double ascents" of Hyginus, although scarcely occurring with
sufficient frequency to make that probable as the whole explana-
tion. The co-existence of more than one of these properties
is feasible.
9. The Military Way.
The occasional references made to the military way in the
course of the descriptions of the various sections contain all that
it is necessary to say regarding it. Although very simply con-
structed, it bears all the marks of sound design and substantial
execution. Generally observing a close parallel with the vallum
and seldom 50 yards south of it, the road indicates clearly
enough, by the line it takes, the purely military purpose of
intercommunication between the camps, per lineam valli, which
it was made to fulfil. Its statumen is a base of fairly large
stones, above which a stratum of smaller stones of various sizes
is laid, rising to a rounded crown in the centre, and giving the
surface of the road that convexity which modern as well as ancient
roadmakers have found expedient. It averages from 16 to 18
feet in width. It has no squared kerbs—indeed, ordinarily, the
kerbs are hardly distinguishable from the other stones of the
base. Only at one part (Bonnyside section No. 3) is there
anything like a paved surface to the road.
Recommendations.
We recommend in the first place the making of more sections
so as to extend, check, and verify the generalisations suggested
by the cuttings already made. In the second place we recom-
mend a thorough exploration of the camp at Roughcastle, which
we cannot doubt will yield results epigraphic and structural of
the first value. For these ends we recommend the collection of
subscriptions for a special exploration fund.
149
there. Obviously, however, even assuming their possible purpose
as " tribunals," the sod mounds may have served other ends.
They may have formed the bases for wooden turrets used as
watch-towers or sentry-boxes, or they may have been "ramps"
or steps to mount the wall from the south side answering to the
" double ascents" of Hyginus, although scarcely occurring with
sufficient frequency to make that probable as the whole explana-
tion. The co-existence of more than one of these properties
is feasible.
9. The Military Way.
The occasional references made to the military way in the
course of the descriptions of the various sections contain all that
it is necessary to say regarding it. Although very simply con-
structed, it bears all the marks of sound design and substantial
execution. Generally observing a close parallel with the vallum
and seldom 50 yards south of it, the road indicates clearly
enough, by the line it takes, the purely military purpose of
intercommunication between the camps, per lineam valli, which
it was made to fulfil. Its statumen is a base of fairly large
stones, above which a stratum of smaller stones of various sizes
is laid, rising to a rounded crown in the centre, and giving the
surface of the road that convexity which modern as well as ancient
roadmakers have found expedient. It averages from 16 to 18
feet in width. It has no squared kerbs—indeed, ordinarily, the
kerbs are hardly distinguishable from the other stones of the
base. Only at one part (Bonnyside section No. 3) is there
anything like a paved surface to the road.
Recommendations.
We recommend in the first place the making of more sections
so as to extend, check, and verify the generalisations suggested
by the cuttings already made. In the second place we recom-
mend a thorough exploration of the camp at Roughcastle, which
we cannot doubt will yield results epigraphic and structural of
the first value. For these ends we recommend the collection of
subscriptions for a special exploration fund.