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Clydebank, Carleith, Antonine Wall
Fortlet (Roman), Frontier Defence (Roman)
Site Name Clydebank, Carleith, Antonine Wall
Classification Fortlet (Roman), Frontier Defence (Roman)
Alternative Name(s) Duntocher
Canmore ID 43309
Site Number NS47SE 52
NGR NS 48061 72993
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/43309
- Council West Dunbartonshire
- Parish Old Kilpatrick (Clydebank)
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Clydebank
- Former County Dunbartonshire
NS47SE 52 480 729.
NS 480 730 - NS 482 730 (NS 479 730 - NS 481 729 ?) Excavations at Carleith in 1980 to prove the line of the Antonine Wall also sought evidence of a possible fortlet which on the grounds of spacing might be expected hereabouts. Search for a fortlet was concentrated at three points:
(i) on high ground in front of Carleith farm (area NS 4813 7296);
(ii) where the Wall turns northwards (area NS 4805 7298), and
(iii) on lower ground beside the Carleith Burn where enigmatic structures, including "a wall base 9ft wide which leaves at 90 degrees to the southern edge of the Antonine Wall", were observed in 1971 (area NS 4796 7300).
Further work at (i), the most likely position, where fragments of the stone base on two apparently conflicting alignments were located, is in prospect.
L Keppie and J Walker 1980; MS and oral information from L Keppie and J Walker, May 1980.
Features associated with the Antonine Wall (NS47SE 83) and the Antonine period fortlet, (NS47SE 52) have been identified in gradiometer data captured at Carleith Farm.
The line of the Antonine Wall (NS47SE 83) follows that depicted on the 2022 edition of the digital OS MasterMap, running from E to W though through the amenity land N of Carleith Primary School and turning to the NW as it passes to the S of Carleith Farm. This supports the results of earlier excavation (Keppie & Breeze 1981: 242). The ditch has been recorded as a single linear negative anomaly measuring 7m across. It is visible in the E of the survey area but is difficult to identify with certainty towards the W due to magnetic disturbance. Fragmentary traces of the Rampart base are visible in the extreme S of the survey area, and parts of the Outer Mound are visible to the N of and parallel with the Ditch.
Two linear features of raised magnetism projecting at right angles from the line of the rampart of the Antonine Wall represent the remains of the fortlet (NS47SE 52). It is located immediately W of the excavations undertaken in the 1980s (Keppie & Breeze 1981) and measures about 20m from NNW to SSE within ramparts about 3m thick. Its N to S dimensions could not be confirmed. No defensive ditches associated with the fortlet were identified in the survey data, so it cannot be established if the fortlet had a freestanding phase.
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Information from HES Archaeological Survey (N. Hannon), 14 June 2022.
Excavation (1 May 1980 - 1 August 1980)
NS47SE 52 480 729.
NS 480 730 - NS 482 730 (NS 479 730 - NS 481 729 ?) Excavations at Carleith in 1980 to prove the line of the Antonine Wall also sought evidence of a possible fortlet which on the grounds of spacing might be expected hereabouts. Search for a fortlet was concentrated at three points:
(i) on high ground in front of Carleith farm (area NS 4813 7296);
(ii) where the Wall turns northwards (area NS 4805 7298), and
(iii) on lower ground beside the Carleith Burn where enigmatic structures, including "a wall base 9ft wide which leaves at 90 degrees to the southern edge of the Antonine Wall", were observed in 1971 (area NS 4796 7300).
Further work at (i), the most likely position, where fragments of the stone base on two apparently conflicting alignments were located, is in prospect.
L Keppie and J Walker 1980; MS and oral information from L Keppie and J Walker, May 1980.
Desk Based Assessment (2012)
CFA Archaeology Ltd undertook an assessment of the cultural heritage implications of the proposed route of a replacement overhead line (XF Route) from Neilston, Renfrewshire to Windyhill, East Dunbartonshire.
Although 109 cultural heritage features were identified by the desk-based assessment of the 250m buffer around the proposed route of the replacement XF overhead line, very few of these lie along the route of the line, or in immediate vicinity of the location of any of the towers.
The overhead line replacement project has been assessed against the cultural heritage baseline. Taking into account the construction methodology to be employed and agreed mitigation strategy, it is considered that the development conforms to Local and National Policy relating to the cultural heritage resource.
Funder: Iberdrola
CFA Archaeology Ltd
Magnetometry (18 December 2021)
NS 48126 72971 The HES Archaeological Survey Team undertook geophysical (gradiometer) survey at Carleith Farm, West Dunbartonshire. This forms part of a wider Antonine Wall Geophysical Survey project, which aims to address management and research questions relating to the Antonine Frontier by investigating the extent and significance of sub- surface archaeological remains at various locations within the World Heritage property.
The fieldwork was conducted on 18 December 2021. In total 0.99ha were surveyed using a Sensys MXPDA gradiometer covering a length of the Antonine Wall and a suspected location of a fortlet. The geophysical survey has produced average quality gradiometer results, which have successfully contributed to the aims of the survey. There is a high level of confidence that the chosen methodology and survey strategy was appropriate to assess the archaeological potential of the survey area.
The survey confirmed the course of the Antonine Wall ditch in the eastern part of the survey area but its exact location is unclear in the centre and western areas, due to the occurrence of modern magnetic disturbance. In the western part of the survey area the location of the fortlet was confirmed in a position immediately west of where Lawrence Keppie excavated in 1980 (Proc Soc Antiq Scot 111 (1981), 242–3).
Archive: NRHE
Funder: Historic Scotland Foundation
Nick Hannon – Historic Environment Scotland (HES)
(Source: DES Vol 22)
Magnetometry (18 November 2021)
Historic Environment Scotland, Archaeological Survey Team, undertook gradiometer survey of 0.98ha at Carleith Farm, West Dunbartonshire, on 18 November 2021 using a hand-propelled Sensys MXPDA system mounted on a Sensys F-type non-magnetic cart. The survey, which forms part of a wider Antonine Wall Geophysical Survey project, was directed towards investigating a stretch of the Antonine Wall suggested as the location of a fortlet, based on the regular spacing of fortlets along the frontier. It was undertaken to (a) confirm the line of the Antonine Wall in the area, (b) investigate the line of the Military Way, (c) locate the suspected fortlet, (d) investigate the nine foot wide wall identified through earlier excavation, and (e) investigate the find spot of a distance slab found within the survey area.
The survey results are summarised below, drawing out the main points from a comprehensive report outlining methodology and detailed results [1]. The archive also includes the unprocessed survey data, processed survey data [2], survey area extents which contain the survey metadata, and point, line, and polygon interpretations [3].
The survey has confirmed the line of the Antonine Wall’s linear elements, supporting the results of earlier excavation. It has also positively identified the location of the fortlet, which was long been suspected in this area, immediately west of excavations undertaken in the 1980s. The fortlet measures about 20m from NNW to SSE within ramparts about 3m thick. Its N to S dimensions could not be confirmed. No defensive ditches associated with the fortlet were identified in the survey data.
Visited by HES Archaeological Survey (N. Hannon, H. Blake), 18 November 2021.
[1] http://canmore.org.uk/collection/2479284
[2] http://canmore.org.uk/collection/2239966
[3] http://canmore.org.uk/collection/2239961
[4] http://canmore.org.uk/site/43309
