Archaeology InSites

Rubers Law is one of the most distinctive hills in the Scottish Borders. The upper slopes support the ancient remains of not one, but two forts. The Iron Age fort is curiously scattered with neatly-shaped, red, sandstone blocks marked with distinct Roman carvings believed to have once belonged to a - long destroyed - Roman building. But was the function of the lost Roman building thought to have once stood on top of the summit of Rubers Law?

Roman forts provided homes to soldiers stationed in Scotland. They lived in barracks, had granaries for food, bathhouses for washing and toilets (latrines). The bathhouses had heated rooms, through a hypocaust system, so were often away from the main fort buildings to avoid the risk of fire. Did you know that quite a few have been found in Scotland? Some have been excavated, and several are on display to the public and can be visited.