An unfinished Roman fort in Tay, eastern Scotland, built by Agricola during his Scottish campaigns of the early 80s ad. Started about 83, the fort covered some 20 hectares, and was constructed largely of earth and timber. Its buildings include 64 barracks; a commandant’s house, officers’ quarters and a hospital. About 87-8 the fort was systematically dismantled as part of a planned withdrawal. Besides the deliberate breaking of crockery and glassware, a million or so nails were buried in a pit — presumably to save transport and prevent local re-use.
The Macmillan dictionary of archaeology, Ruth D. Whitehouse, 1983Copied