Trimontium – the face of Roman Scotland

Dr. John Reid

HALKETT HENDRIE MEMORIAL LECTURE

Jointly presented with Peeblesshire Archaeological Society

Tuesday, 13th December 2022

Eastgate Theatre, Peebles, 7.30 p.m.

The Roman fort at Newstead, which may have been founded in AD 80 by Agricola himself, was a major forward base of the Roman army for nearly a hundred years.

Our understanding of the life and times of the fort and how its inhabitants interacted with local peoples has evolved considerably over the last century.

The redevelopment of the Trimontium Museum in Melrose has given us the opportunity to reinvestigate and reframe the story first told by James Curle following his landmark excavations 1905-10.

New display and interpretation techniques coupled with modern archaeological methods bring to life a turbulent period that saw the clash of two very different cultures.

Dr Reid is a recently retired NHS Consultant with a specialist interest in cardiothoracic diseases and was a national expert in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

He also has a specialist interest in the activities of the Roman Army in Scotland and has been chair of the Trimontium Trust for over quarter of a century.