Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 107

Records the results of twelve watching briefs and small excavations as pipeline or construction work breached the line of the Wall. Clearance of a 40m length on one site was particularly informative.

Caracalla may have campaigned in S Scotland in 207 before the arrival of Severus. The bridge of boats on Caracalla's coins may have been across the Forth at Queensferry and the permanent bridge appearing on Severus' coin over the Tay at Carpow, the two possibly linked by a road through Fife. The 63-acre camps, probably dating to 209 may reflect not a 'round trip' by one force, but division of the army into two. The 165- and 130-acre camps may date to the 210 campaign under Caracalla. Severus is unlikely to have considered occupying the Highlands. DJB

Handlist and discussion of thirty-one Viking-age hoards containing characteristic Scandinavian type rings, ingots or hack-silver (purely native hoards and hoards of stycas are excluded), deposited during 9th to 12th centuries. Fifteen single finds of gold and silver objects are included. These totals fall well below the equivalent figures for Ireland (107 hoards, over 150 single finds) and emphasis is placed upon the insignificance of overseas trade and the absence of urban growth in Viking-age Scotland. 'Ring-money' appears to be a Norse-Scottish product, but analysis of the weights (see 78/5601) does not yet prove its use as currency. AR

Through the harshly 'restored' and altered present-day fabric, the form of the fully developed medieval church and its architectural and (where possible) liturgical arrangements can be traced. The earliest evidence is one 12th century cushion cap and a drawing of a destroyed north door of similar date. The start of the full medieval development came in 1387, the church was drastically altered in 1829-33 and to some extent recovered in 1872-83.

The archer's bow on the Drosten Stone, a 9th century Pictish symbol stone at St Vigeans Angus, is interpreted as a crossbow from the attitude of the hunter and the detail of the bow. Crossbows appear on two other Pictish stones (see also 78/5596). AR