Trimontium Museum

The Trimontium Museum is dedicated to exploring the story of the Romans in Scotland, the interactions with the local peoples they encountered and the legacy they left behind. Looking at the wider context of the Roman Empire and the Iron Age landscape, we focus on the Roman Fort of Trimontium, located near the village of Newstead in the Scottish Borders.

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Resources from Trimontium Museum

Resource Kit

A Roman Frontier Fort in Scotland

Welcome to the very edge of the Roman Empire. The Scottish Borders have a rich history dating back to ancient times. The Roman Iron Age in the region presents a complex history of invasion, occupation and enslavement, but also of trade, cultural exchange and diversity. Guiding Questions; 1. How do different cultural groups affect the natural and cultural environments around them? 2. What characteristics made someone a Roman/what characteristics define people's cultural identities? 3. What are the human stories behind archaeological artefacts?

Created by: Trimontium Museum

Intaglio of Caracalla

Intaglio of Caracalla of red jasper and having a draped bust and facing left, from Newstead (Trimontium), Roxburghshire

Trimontium Museum

Horse Skull

Skull of a horse, Equus caballus, Roman Camp, Newstead, Melrose, Roxburghshire.

Trimontium Museum

Shield boss

Roman shield boss found in Germany.

Trimontium Museum

Pitchfork

Iron pitchfork from the Roman site at Newstead (Trimontium), 140 - 180 AD The pitchfork has a perforated tang where it slotted into a handle. One arm is broken. Used to move/handle loose material such as hay, straw, and manure. Various agricultural implements, including scythes, sickles, rakes and hoes were found at the Roman fort of Newstead, suggesting that cultivation occurred near the site.

Trimontium Museum

Bucket

This wooden bucket was found at the site of the Roman fort at Newstead in Roxburghshire. It is a well-preserved example of stave construction, a popular technique used by Roman carpenters for vessels. It dates from between 140 and 180 AD. Photo © National Museums Scotland

Trimontium Museum

Tent Panel

Tent panel of leather, oblong with stitch marks, from the Roman site at Newstead. Leather was used for a wide range of objects necessary to a Roman soldier, including tents, saddles, harness, shoes, clothing, belts, purses, shields and shield covers. Elsewhere in the Roman empire, there is even evidence of taxes demanded in hides. Photo © National Museums Scotland

Trimontium Museum

Water Bottle

This iron water bottle is from the site of the Roman fort at Newstead in Roxburghshire. It was used between 140 and 180 AD. Examples of Roman metal flasks are extremely rare. The iron body of the circular Roman water bottle has been made in two identical halves. A bronze neck and a pair of straps with decorative plates have been soldered onto the iron. The form of water bottles carried by soldiers has changed little over the centuries. Photo © National Museums Scotland

Trimontium Museum

Axe hoard

A collection of 7 socketed axes found buried in Mid Eildon Hill. The burial of these axes may have been ritualistic. Axes were used to cut, shape and split wood. They could also be used as weapons and for ritual purposes.

Trimontium Museum

Armlet

Massive copper alloy armlet decorated in a Celtic art style typical of north-east Scotland, the object was imported to southern Scotland, as it was found at Stichill, Roxburghshire, 100- 200 A.D

Trimontium Museum

Writing Tablet

This pine writing tablet was found during excavations at the site of the Roman fort at Newstead in Roxburghshire. It dates from between 80 and 100 AD. The central area of a sheet of pine has been hollowed out to hold wax on which the message was written using a stylus. When ready for dispatch, pairs of tablets could be tied up like a book. Brought to Scotland by the Romans, writing was a vital part of the bureaucracy generated by the army. The most common writing materials were wax and wooden tablets inscribed with a stylus, and tablets of thin leaves of wood written with ink. Photo © National Museums Scotland

Trimontium Museum

Water Pipe

This terracotta water pipe was found at the site of the baths in the Roman fort at Newstead in Roxburghshire. It was part of the main water supply system, used sometime between 80 and 180 AD. The pipe is unusually well-preserved. It has a faucet joint at one end. Bathhouses and latrines in the permanent Roman forts had running water delivered by lines of underground pipes. At Newstead, two types of water pipes were found, the larger like this one for the main supply, and smaller ones without faucet joints. Photo © National Museums Scotland

Trimontium Museum

Turf Cutter

This iron turf cutter was found at the site of the Roman fort at Newstead in Roxburghshire. It was used to cut turfs when constructing ramparts, sometime between 80 and 180 AD. Iron scythe or turf cutter from Newstead Roman soldiers were builders as well as fighters. On the march, they built temporary ramparts and ditches around their camps. Once an area had been conquered, the army built forts and permanent barracks of wood or stone. Photo © National Museums Scotland

Trimontium Museum

Roman Writing Tablet

A Roman Frontier Fort in Scotland

The Romans used writing tablets made of wood and filled with wax to write to each other. In Roman Britain we find some tablets asking for more socks to be sent to the them from the south (France and Italy). Not only the soldiers wrote in these tablets, we also find a tablet from an officer's wife, inviting someone to a party. How was life in a Roman fort different from life today? How is it similar? Imagine the space is a Roman writing tablet, use your digital 'stylus' to write your own message to a friend or family member. Explain some of the differences and similarities of life in Roman Scotland or 'Caledonia' compared to life today. Write about at least 1 similarity and 1 difference.

Created by: Trimontium Museum

Word-search Activity

A Roman Frontier Fort in Scotland

Find some of the words relating to what you have learned so far about the Romans in Scotland. Draw a circle around the word or highlight it.

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How the Romans Changed Britain

A Roman Frontier Fort in Scotland

This slide show will show how the Romans helped to shape and change the landscape and the wildlife of Britain. Guiding Questions:

Created by: Trimontium Museum

The Native Celts Meet Their New Neighbours....The Romans

A Roman Frontier Fort in Scotland

Modern view of the Elidon Hills

Created by: Trimontium Museum

Help the Romans Escape!

A Roman Frontier Fort in Scotland

Put what you have learned about the Romans to the test! Answer the questions correctly to complete the code to escape the game.

Created by: Trimontium Museum

Roman Gods and Goddesses

A Roman Frontier Fort in Scotland

This slide show will introduce and give a bit of information about some of the main gods and goddess of ancient Rome. The Romans had dozens of gods, goddesses, minor deities and mythological figures. This slide show will just give an introduction to the main pantheon.

Created by: Trimontium Museum

Create Your Own Roman!

A Roman Frontier Fort in Scotland

This activity is to create your own Roman! Using the information from the previous activities, draw your Roman in front of the Eldion Hills. Important things to think about: Who is your character? What job do they have? Are they a farmer, a soldier or perhaps a shopkeeper? Remember their jobs will determine what they are wearing, what tools or animals they may have and what they can afford to buy! Tell a story of where in Trimontium they would live and why.

Created by: Trimontium Museum

Welcome to Trimontium!

A Roman Frontier Fort in Scotland

This is a re-creation of what the Roman fort Trimontium would have looked like 2000 years ago. Today, the area is a large empty field. Farmers use it to grow food and for sheep. In this narrative, you will hear the story of Trimontium, and learn about the Romans in Scotland.

Created by: Trimontium Museum

Military Barracks

A Roman Frontier Fort in Scotland

This activity is laid out in a design on how the Roman legionary soldiers would have lived at Trimontium. It also shows what items they would have lived with. Guiding Questions: What items did the Romans use that we still use today? What modern technology do you think the Romans would have wanted to have? How and where did the Roman soldiers at Trimontium live?

Created by: Trimontium Museum

Domestic Objects

A Roman Frontier Fort in Scotland

This activity shows the different domestic, or "every day" items the Romans used while living at Trimontium. Guiding Questions: What would be a 'good life' for the Romans? How do you compare these objects with objects you may have at home? What human stories do these objects tell?

Created by: Trimontium Museum

Military Objects

A Roman Frontier Fort in Scotland

The purpose of this activity is to learn and identify different Roman weapons and armour. Guiding questions: What is one technology from today would a Roman solider want most? What kinds of weapons did Roman soldiers use?

Created by: Trimontium Museum

Roman Civilization

A Roman Frontier Fort in Scotland

A overview of the development of the Roman civilization, from its early periods of Kingdom and Republic to the development of its Empirical period. Particular focus is given to the invasion of Britain and the developments in and around the Trimontium fort in Scotland. Why is the Roman Empire considered one of the largest and most influential in western history?

Created by: Trimontium Museum

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