ARCHAEOLOGISTS have been taking part in a dig in Perthshire revealing the remnants of life at the time of the Roman occupation.

The Roman Gask project at Innerpeffray, which is directed by Dr David Woolliscroft, will study the history of the Roman conquest and occupation in the area.

Dr Woolliscroft said, “Innerpeffray offers a unique opportunity to explore two important events of the Roman occupation of the area—the building of the Roman road on the Gask Ridge and the Antonine re-occupation by the Romans in the mid- second century AD.”

The excavation will also explore areas of the Roman camp.

Dr Woolliscroft added, “Camps are temporary campaign accommodation for Roman troops, usually built at the end of the day and abandoned when the Romans move out.”

He continued, “Innerpeffray belongs to the 63-acre series, which also includes the camp Kintore in Aberdeenshire, has seen large-scale excavations in recent years.

“The excavations at Innerpeffray form part of the Roman Gask project’s continued study of the area around the Roman fort of Strageath, northwest of the Muthill.

“This has so far seen excavations at a possible Romanised settlement at Cuiltburn and the impressive Roman road cutting at Innerpeffray chapel that took the Roman road from the high ground to the Earn crossing.

“Further work will see a large geophysical survey of the fort and surrounding area to confirm the presence of a civilian presence around the Roman fort, usually called a vicus.”

The Gask Ridge is a Roman frontier built at the end of the first century.

It consists of a chain of forts, including Ardoch, Strageath, Bertha and Inchtuthil.

They were connected by a Roman road, along which were smaller fortlets and watch towers, such as the surviving one at Parkneuk, near Innerpeffray.

Volunteers have been able to take part in the excavation through the Exploring Perthshire Past project, which is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and is administered by Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust.

The excavation at the Innerpeffray site will finish tomorrow.