UN honour for Roman site

Published on 24/02/2004 00:00

THE Roman empire’s earliest frontier and most northerly Scottish outpost could join Hadrian’s Wall to become a World Heritage Site.

Historic Scotland is discussing the potential accolade with UNESCO, the United Nations cultural body, following evidence that the Gask Ridge across Perthshire and Stirlingshire is at least ten years older than previously thought.

Success would see the ridge join sites such as the Old and New Towns in Edinburgh and Stonehenge.

The 20-mile-long series of wooden forts and watch-towers were originally thought to have been built in 80AD. However, last year a Liverpool University team found coins and pottery fragments from around 70AD in the area.

Dr David Woolliscroft, the director of the Roman Gask Project, said: "UNESCO appears sympathetic to the possibility, and we hope to have more to report in the future."