Roman Scotland
Life on the Edge of Empire
Edited by Fraser Hunter Edited by Rebecca H. Jones
Paperback (Forthcoming)
(November 2026)
ISBN: 9781805833840
8.11 x 10.08 inches
Price: $44.95
Exploring life at the northern edge of the Roman Empire, this richly illustrated book draws on remarkable objects and archaeological discoveries to tell the stories of soldiers, local communities and people from across the Roman world, tracing conquest, frontier life, cultural encounters and the enduring legacy of Rome in Scotland.
Views of Roman Britain often stop at Hadrian’s Wall. This book explores the furthest limits of the Roman Empire much further north, up to Scotland’s central belt and deep into the north-east and beyond, reshaping our understanding of Scotland’s relationship with the Roman world. Successive armies sought to conquer and control a land that never became fully absorbed into the Empire. The story of Roman Scotland is about much more than forts, frontiers and invading armies. It is also the story of the people who already lived there and of the diverse communities drawn from across the Roman world who found themselves living at the edge of Empire.
Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire explores this complex and changing frontier through the remarkable objects and archaeological discoveries that survive from it. From attempts at conquest and the building of the Antonine Wall to the everyday lives of soldiers, families, traders and craftspeople, it examines how communities were supplied, how people dressed and ate, what they believed, and how local societies responded to the presence of Rome. Key to the story is the 2nd century AD Roman fort at Inveresk, including the discovery of the extraordinary temple to Mithras, offering new insights into life and belief on Rome’s northern frontier.
Bringing together the latest archaeological research with the stories of objects and individuals, the book traces the encounters, exchanges and conflicts that shaped Roman Scotland, before considering Rome’s withdrawal, the rediscovery of this past and its enduring legacy today.
Written to accompany the National Museum of Scotland exhibition of the same name, this richly illustrated volume offers an accessible and compelling account of vibrant frontier communities living at the northern edge of the Roman Empire.
Chapter 1. About a Head
Chapter 2. ‘Caledonia Stern and Wild?’ A Land and its Peoples
Chapter 3. Invading the North
Chapter 4. Making a Frontier
Chapter 5. Roman Inveresk: Fort, Town, and Political Hub
Chapter 6. Supplying the Frontier
Chapter 7. People of the Frontier: Soldiers
Chapter 8. People of the Frontier: The Military Community
Chapter 9. Life at the Edge of Empire
Chapter 10. Gods Under the Cricket Pitch: A Temple to Mithras at Inveresk
Chapter 11. Worlds Colliding: Local Communities and Rome
Chapter 12. Withdrawal from Caledonia – A Long Endgame
Chapter 13. Rediscovery and Legacy
Chapter 14. Views of Roman Scotland
Appendix: List of Exhibits
List of Contributors
Acknowledgements
Picture Credits
Glossary of Latin and Unfamiliar Terms Used
Bibliography
- Edited by Fraser Hunter
- Edited by Rebecca H. Jones
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