| Muiryfold | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Alternative name | Grange |
| Type | Marching camp |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 57°33′23″N2°51′22″W / 57.5563°N 2.8562°W /57.5563; -2.8562 |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | Cropmark |
| Excavation dates | 1959 |
| Archaeologists | Kenneth St Joseph |
Muiryfold was one of theRoman fortifications built bySeptimius Severus in northernCaledonia (modern-dayScotland). The site is located 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) east ofKeith inMoray.
The site was discovered byaerial photography in 1959, and two smalltrenches were excavated across the north west and south east sides byKenneth St Joseph the same year.[1]
The camp was almost rectangular, measuring 784 metres (2,572 ft) from north west to south east, and 522 metres (1,713 ft) from north east to south west, covering an area of just over 41 hectares (100 acres).[1]
In 210 AD, the Emperor Septimius Severus made an attempt to conquer all Caledonia reaching theMoray Firth. He created a marching camp at Muiryfold, near the one created in 84 AD byAgricola at Auchinhove.[2]
Speculation that Agricola and Septimius Severus reached further north in Scotland has been stimulated by discoveries atPortmahomack on theDornoch Firth,[3] and Tarradale on the north shore of theBeauly Firth.[4] Neither have been confirmed as Roman sites.
The Roman legions in the first and second century established a chain of very large forts atArdoch,Strageath,Inchtuthil,Battledykes,Stracathro andRaedykes,[5] taking the Elsick Mounth on the way toNormandykes before going north toGlenmailen and possiblyBellie.