Archaeologists in Scotland have uncovered the remains of a Roman "fortlet" situated near the Antonine Wall, a massive defensive border constructed across Scotland. This newly discovered fortlet, identified through radiocarbon dating, dates to the mid-second to mid-third century A.D. It was strategically located on high ground in Bearsden, northwest of Glasgow, offering commanding views of the landscape, particularly to the north which lay beyond Roman control. The fortlet likely served as a key component of the Antonine Wall's defenses, potentially housing 20 to 50 soldiers and equipped with watchtowers and protective ditches. This find extends the known Roman military presence further north than previously understood.
The fortlet was initially discovered in 2017 and later underwent a larger excavation. Findings indicate it was built on a stone base with an exterior defensive ditch. Guard Archaeology created a digital reconstruction, revealing structures designed for a small Roman garrison, watchtowers, and defensive walls.