Battlefields›Inchtuthil Demolished and Scotland Evacuated 87 AD
Roman Period

Inchtuthil Demolished and Scotland Evacuated 87 AD

87
Perthshire, Scotland
Also known as: Roman evacuation of Highland Scotland 87 AD · Pinnata Castra systematic demolition 87 AD
Era
Roman Period
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Perthshire, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Rome (strategic withdrawal)
VS
Victor
Caledonian tribes (strategic result)
Outcome
Legionary fortress systematically demolished; one million nails buried; Scotland evacuated; all Highland gains abandoned
The Battle

History & Significance

Inchtuthil (Pinnata Castra) in Perthshire was the most northerly legionary fortress ever built by Rome — designed to house a full legion as the permanent base for Scottish occupation. When Domitian recalled Legio II Adiutrix to the Danube in 87 AD, making Scotland untenable, Inchtuthil was systematically demolished. A million nails were buried in a pit rather than left for the Caledonians — the archaeology of this organised demolition is unique in Roman military history.

Forces Involved

Full Legion with extensive engineering detachment; the demolition was itself a military engineering operation

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Inchtuthil Demolished and Scotland Evacuated 87 AD

Gallowhill,stone circle 130m NE of
Scheduled monument · Bronze Age · ~0.9 miles
Balhomie, cup-marked stone 95m N of
Scheduled monument · ~1.2 miles
Newbigging Farm,cup and ring marked stone 225m WSW of
Scheduled monument · ~1.5 miles
Roman watch tower and unenclosed settlement, 310m NW of Strathview Cottage
Scheduled monument · ~2.2 miles
Loanhead, standing stones 450m NE of
Scheduled monument · Bronze Age · ~3 miles
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