Ythan Wells
Encyclopedia
Ythan Wells, also known as Glenmailen, is a Roman Camp site situated near the farm of Glenmellan, 2.1 kilometres (1.3 mi) east of the village of Ythanwells
in Aberdeenshire
, Scotland
.
Traces of two marching camps have been found at the site. The larger camp, covering some 42 hectares (103.8 acre) was discovered in 1785 by Col. Alex Shand. A smaller camp, extending to 13 hectares (32.1 acre) and partially overlapping the area of the first, was discovered by J. K. St Joseph in 1968. This smaller camp predates the larger and has been dated to the campaigns of Agricola
.
The site is situated at the headwaters of the River Ythan
, where a series of natural springs supplies potable water, that was convenient for the large marching camp installed here by the Romans in the first few centuries AD.
The Roman legions established a chain of very large forts at Ardoch, Strageath, Inchtuthil
, Battledykes
, Stracathro
and Raedykes
, taking the Elsick Mounth
on the way to Normandykes
, thence proceeding to the northerly camps of Deers Den
and Glenmailen.
Ythanwells
Ythanwells is a village in the Marr area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, lying east of Huntly. The village is sometimes known as Wells of Ythan, although this name strictly refers to the nearby source of the River Ythan....
in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Traces of two marching camps have been found at the site. The larger camp, covering some 42 hectares (103.8 acre) was discovered in 1785 by Col. Alex Shand. A smaller camp, extending to 13 hectares (32.1 acre) and partially overlapping the area of the first, was discovered by J. K. St Joseph in 1968. This smaller camp predates the larger and has been dated to the campaigns of Agricola
Gnaeus Julius Agricola
Gnaeus Julius Agricola was a Roman general responsible for much of the Roman conquest of Britain. His biography, the De vita et moribus Iulii Agricolae, was the first published work of his son-in-law, the historian Tacitus, and is the source for most of what is known about him.Born to a noted...
.
The site is situated at the headwaters of the River Ythan
River Ythan
The Ythan is a river in the north-east of Scotland rising at Wells of Ythan near the village of Ythanwells and flowing south-eastwards through the towns of Fyvie, Methlick and Ellon before flowing into the North Sea near Newburgh, in Formartine...
, where a series of natural springs supplies potable water, that was convenient for the large marching camp installed here by the Romans in the first few centuries AD.
The Roman legions established a chain of very large forts at Ardoch, Strageath, Inchtuthil
Inchtuthil
Inchtuthil is the site of a Roman legionary fortress situated on a natural platform overlooking the north bank of the River Tay southwest of Blairgowrie, Perth and Kinross, Scotland.It was built in 82 or 83 AD as the advance headquarters for the forces of governor Gnaeus Julius...
, Battledykes
Battledykes
Battledykes is a Roman Camp established slightly to the north of Forfar, Scotland. According to Hector Boece, Pictish chiefs met at a castle by Forfar Loch to plan how to repel the Roman armies, who invaded several times between the 1st and 4th centuries AD. Eventually the better equipped Romans...
, Stracathro
Stracathro
Stracathro is a small place in Angus, Scotland,-Location:Stracathro is located 2½ miles southeast of Edzell in NE Angus. It lies to the northeast of Brechin on the A90.-History:...
and Raedykes
Raedykes
Raedykes is the site of a Roman marching camp located just over 3 miles NW of Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. National Grid Reference NO 842902...
, taking the Elsick Mounth
Elsick Mounth
The Elsick Mounth is an ancient trackway crossing the Grampian Mountains in the vicinity of Netherley, Scotland. This trackway was one of the few means of traversing the Grampian Mounth area in prehistoric and medieval times. The highest pass of the route is attained within the Durris Forest...
on the way to Normandykes
Normandykes
Normandykes is the site of a Roman marching camp to the southwest of Peterculter, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The near-rectangular site, measuring approximately , covers about of the summit and eastern slopes of a hill overlooking the River Dee and the B9077 road further south. Aerial photographs...
, thence proceeding to the northerly camps of Deers Den
Deers Den
Deers Den is an archaeological site at Kintore, Scotland in Aberdeenshire. The site has mesolithic remains, Iron Age artefacts and is a known Roman Camp. This site is partially disturbed and developed by the western part of Kintore itself. The site is associated with the Severan invasion, ca...
and Glenmailen.
See also
- Cawdor (Roman Fort)Cawdor (Roman Fort)Cawdor , located near the small village of Eastern Galcantray , is suspected of being one of the northernmost Roman forts in Great Britain, though this evidence is controversial.-History:...
- Deers DenDeers DenDeers Den is an archaeological site at Kintore, Scotland in Aberdeenshire. The site has mesolithic remains, Iron Age artefacts and is a known Roman Camp. This site is partially disturbed and developed by the western part of Kintore itself. The site is associated with the Severan invasion, ca...
- InchtuthilInchtuthilInchtuthil is the site of a Roman legionary fortress situated on a natural platform overlooking the north bank of the River Tay southwest of Blairgowrie, Perth and Kinross, Scotland.It was built in 82 or 83 AD as the advance headquarters for the forces of governor Gnaeus Julius...
- Pennymuir Roman camps
- NormandykesNormandykesNormandykes is the site of a Roman marching camp to the southwest of Peterculter, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The near-rectangular site, measuring approximately , covers about of the summit and eastern slopes of a hill overlooking the River Dee and the B9077 road further south. Aerial photographs...
- MuiryfoldMuiryfoldMuiryfold was one of the Roman fortifications built by Septimius Severus in northern Caledonia . The site is located east of Keith in Moray.-History:...