Roman and Native in the Central Scottish Borders

Assessment of the Roman Iron Age in the Central Scottish Borders and the relationship between Roman and native is based primarily on an inventory of relevant archaeological material from Roman and native sites including a significant number of finds hitherto unpublished. The introduction highlights the limitations of literary and archaeological evidence and stresses the need to reassess our understanding of the nature of contact between Roman and native in the Central Scottish Borders. The traditional association of the Selgovae with this area is investigated bearing in mind our limited knowledge of their existence and location. The political geography and socio-political and economic structure of the Roman Iron Age in the Central Scottish Borders is then examined. The narrative of Roman occupation is reviewed and also the aftermath of Roman withdrawal, the eventual emergence of new British kingdoms in southern Scotland and the spread of Christianity. The inventory comprises a record not of all finds from Roman and native sites in the Central Scottish Borders but only those relevant for the assessment of native culture, lifestyle and economy, the impact of Rome and the aftermath of Roman occupation. The presence of Roman and Romano-British material on native sites in the Central Scottish Borders and the likelihood of contemporaneous Roman and native occupation on Eildon Hill North adjacent to the Roman fort at Newstead, may suggest a workable coexistence between Roman and native within this area rather than confrontation.