New light on Trimontium: building a museum against the odds

The large and well-defended fort of Trimontium lies in the heart of the central Scottish Borders, and for a time it was the most northerly outpost of Rome’s far-flung empire. It was also the setting for some macabre events not yet fully understood, and has preserved an astonishing array of finds from this period. Recent re-evaluation of some of these artefacts, coupled with state- of-the-art museum interpretation, have helped us reframe the story of the fort’s tempestuous past. But first, some background. The three Eildon Hills in the central Scottish Borders provided the Romans with the obvious name Trimontium for their largest fort, which was situated to dominate the ancient geopoli