On the Edge of Empire: Exploring Iron Age Settlement Landscapes in Southwest Scotland

The Roman Empire dominated vast tracts of the ancient world, extending from the Near East to Britain. But the empire had its limits, and this project will examine the impact on populations at the northernmost edge of its dominion. Centred on Burnswark Hillfort (SW Scotland), the study area will extend to about 1,500 km2 around this key landmark. While the spectacular Roman military evidence at the site has received considerable attention, the poor knowledge of the environs compromises understanding of the indigenous populations. This shortcoming will be addressed through a comprehensive landscape analysis combining the systematic study of newly acquired high-resolution LiDAR data with a revision of previous information and a programme of multi-scalar surveys including geophysics, metal detecting and field walking. This will identify otherwise unknown sites and enhance understanding of the long-term Iron Age occupation – and how it was impacted by, and interacted with, the Roman Empire. This award has now finished.