Mumrills was the site of the largestRoman fort on theAntonine Wall inScotland.^[1] It is possible that Mumrills could exchange signals withFlavianGask Ridge forts.^[2] Some believe Mumrills may have been the site of Wallace's defeat at theBattle of Falkirk.^[3] The farm at Mumrills was also used as an early site for the FalkirkRelief Church.^[4]

Excavations, which took place in the years 1923-1928 and 1958-1960,^[5] established its outline.^[6] Photographs of the excavations can be found online.^[7]

An altar toHercules Magusanus^[8] was found in 1841 "near the Bridge atBrightons" about a mile south-east of this fort. It is now in the National Museums Scotland.^[9]

A second altar to theMatres (mother goddesses) was found at Mumrills. The altar was dedicated by Cassius, asignifer serving at the fort. The historianAlfred von Domaszewski had suggested that the "Matres" mentioned in the altar were actually theCampestres, another term for theSilvanae.^[10] It was carved between 140 and 165 AD.^[11]

A third inscribed stone has been described as a "Funerary inscription for Nectovelius". George Macdonald says the translation is: "To the Divine Manes. Nectovelius, son of Vindex. Aged thirty. A Brigantian by birth, he served for nine years in theSecond Cohort of Thracians."^[12] TheBrigantes were aCeltic tribe who controlled the largest section of what would becomeNorthern England. This shows local recruitment of native Britons.

A stone carving ofHercules was found in a back garden in the village ofLaurieston, Falkirk in 1987.^[13]

Other finds include a section of a palmate funerary monument,^[14] a heavy, iron chisel,^[15] a set of wrought iron tongs,^[16] a box flue tile,^[17] a cooking pot of back burnished ware,^[18] and a large piece of Roman concrete made out of crushed tile.^[19]

Many Roman forts along the wall held garrisons of around 500 men.^[20] Larger forts likeCastlecary andBirrens had a nominal cohort of 1000 men^[21] but probably sheltered women and children^[22] as well although the troops were not allowed to marry.^[23] There is likely too to have been large communities of civilians around the site.^[24] Something of the soldiers' diet may be inferred from the variety of animal bones and shells found at the fort.^[25] Other buildings have been found which might have supported smelly industries like tanning or smithing. A hearth was found which could have been used to support troops.^[26]

• 
  Site^[27] of the Antonine Wall near Mumrills Road^[28]
• 
  There is evidence to show that Mumrills had lilia pits like those that can still be seen at Roughcastle.^[29]
• 
  RIB 2140. Altar dedicated toHercules Magusanus. George MacDonald calls in no. 33 in the 2nd edition of his bookThe Roman Wall in Scotland.^[30]
• 
  RIB 2142. Funerary inscription for Nectovelius. George MacDonald calls in no. 55 in the 2nd edition of his bookThe Roman Wall in Scotland.^[31]
• 
  Sketch plan of kiln at Mumrills, by Mungo Buchanan from the Proceedings Of The Society Of Antiquaries Of Scotland^[32] (1914-1915) Vol 49
• 
  Details of kiln at Mumrills

55°59′44″N3°44′07″W / 55.99556°N 3.73528°W /55.99556; -3.73528

• Forts of the Antonine Wall
• Archaeological sites in Falkirk (council area)

• CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list
• CS1: abbreviated year range
• Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlas
• Use dmy dates from April 2022
• Coordinates on Wikidata