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The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Where to find 10 of the world's most spectacular sundials in Scotland
This 55-acre art land, designed by the late Charles Jencks to mirror the celestial bodies that travel the heavens above it, is a fitting place to reflect on the passing of the hours, but there are others and they can be found on church walls, at mercat crosses and in gardens across the country. Read more Sundials, with their etched dials and inscribed aphorisms such as 'tempus fugit', are an intriguing mixture of alchemy and science. Using a gnomon they cast a shadow that traces the elliptical path of our nearest star and from the 17th century onwards they began to proliferate, forming a gentle precursor to the industrial age with its railway timetables and factory whistles. The finest dials were the property of wealthy landowners who vied with their peers to show off their knowledge of the newly-emerging sciences, commissioning ever-more elaborate sundials to grace their gardens. The result of this mania is that today Scotland is home to some of the world's finest sundials, both historic and contemporary, and the solstice - this Saturday, June 21 - is the perfect time to discover them. Greenbank Garden, Flenders Road, Clarkston G76 8BB Greenbank Garden Sundial (Image: unknown) At Greenbank Garden on the outskirts of Glasgow, the passing of time is marked by both a 17th century sundial and a contemporary new design by modern sundial makers Macmillan Hunter. Created 400 years apart, these beautiful instruments are a reminder to visitors that time doesn't stand still. Attadale House, Strathcarron, Wester Ross IV54 8YX The largest sundial in Scotland can be found at Attadale House in Wester Ross. The dial, which measures almost 11 metres in diameter, features a gnomon supported by a wild cat rampant, the heraldic sign of the Clan Macpherson. Dunvegan Castle, Dunvegan, Isle of Skye IV55 8WF Dunvegan Castle's 18th century lectern dial, with its four-pointed star and adjacent hemicylinder with polar dial, where the hour lines are on the plane of the polar axis, has gnomons that point to the North Star. Each sundial must be specifically made for the latitude of its site and at Dunvegan (57⁰N) the gnomons make an angle of 57⁰ to the horizontal. Drummond Castle, Muthill, Crieff PH7 4HN Drummond Castle Sundial (Image: unknown) The multi-faceted obelisk sundial that sits at the centre of Drummond Castle's great parterre, was carved in 1630 by master mason John Mylne III. It has 61 dials and provides 131 ways to tell the time. Aberdour Castle, Aberdour KY3 0SL Aberdour is Scotland's oldest-standing castle, with a history that dates back to the 12th century, and the passing of time is marked here in not one, but three sundials including a 17th century obelisk, a horizontal sundial and, high on the eastern range, a wall dial that catches the rays of the rising sun. Inveresk Lodge Garden, 14 Inveresk Village Road, Musselburgh EH21 7TE With its Roman Fort and impressive villas built by prosperous merchants, the village of Inveresk reflects significant periods in the history of Scotland. Step through the gate of Inveresk Lodge and, on a south facing lawn overlooking the River Esk, there stands a 17th century sundial that would have marked out its original owner as a man of wealth and learning. Hugh Miller's Cottage, Church Street, Cromarty IV11 8XA Hugh Miller was a 19th century fossil hunter and geologist, as well as a writer and campaigner for social justice. He was a man of science and a craftsman and in the garden of the whitewashed cottage in Cromarty, where he lived, is a sundial plinth carved by the man himself. Little Sparta, Stonypath, Dunsyre ML11 8NG Little Sparta Sundial (Image: Robin Gillanders) At Little Sparta in the Pentland Hills, a sundial bench bearing the motto 'Dividing The Light I Disclose The Hours' is one of more than 200 artworks created by poet and maker Ian Hamilton Finlay, who used his garden to explore ideas of politics and philosophy. Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute, PA20 9LR The obelisk sundial, carved in the 1600s, that stands at the centre of Mount Stuart's 'Wee Garden' predates the magnificent gothic mansion by 200 years. The entire gardens cover 300 acres and include a walled garden, a huge rock garden and a productive kitchen garden. Glamis Castle, Castle Road, Forfar DD8 1RJ The impressive sundial at Glamis Castle was commissioned in the 1670s by Patrick third earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. It features four massive lions carrying sundials in their claws and, at the very top of the obelisk, 80 individual dial faces. It is one of the tallest sundials in Scotland. In association with Discover Scottish Gardens
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Footius Maximus! Scientists discover a 2,000-year-old leather shoe belonging to a Roman soldier with absolutely ENORMOUS feet
Archaeologists have always said that Romans left a massive footprint in Britain, but they probably didn't mean it quite so literally. Scientists have discovered an enormous shoe belonging to a Roman soldier with massive feet. The hefty leather sole measures 12.6 inches (32cm) from toe to heel - the equivalent of a modern men's size UK 13. That means this 2,000-year-old centurion had bigger feet than muscleman Arnold Schwarzenegger, who stands at 6ft 2" (188cm) tall. The archaeologists who found it said the discovery 'drew impressed gasps' as it was pulled from the ground. The shoe was found in the grounds of Magna, a Roman fort built along Hadrian's Wall around 112 AD. It was found alongside two others inside an 'ankle breaker' trench, a vicious trap consisting of a narrow, deep trench that would be almost invisible to approaching soldiers. However, the archaeologists don't say whether this shoe was lost by someone falling prey to the ankle breaker. Compared to other Roman structures in Britain, Magna is relatively un-excavated, but digs are now beginning to yield some exciting discoveries. In late March, the archaeologists began to excavate the outer ring of defensive ditches, ramparts, and banks that had been built on the North side of the fort. Among some fragments of pottery and scraps of leather, the researcher's most exciting discovery was the three, remarkably well-preserved shoes. Two of these were almost intact, with one still maintaining part of the heel section and a row of hobnails along the bottom of the sole. But it was the enormous size 13 shoe which generated the most excitement. Rachel Frame, Magna Project senior archaeologist, says: 'Although in this case only one of the several sole layers, the sheer size of the shoe and guesses about who could have worn it dominated the conversation. 'Could this one be the largest in the Vindolanda Trust collection? We certainly look forward to finding out!' With size 13 feet, the owner of these huge shoes had the same size feet as the 6ft 4" (195 cm) actor Stephen Fry. These finds reveal how Romans made their shoes with multiple layers of leather in the sole and reinforced areas for walking like a modern walking boot Likewise, their feet were only just smaller than those of Stephen Merchant who stands at a towering 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) Hadrian's Wall, named after the Roman emperor Hadrian, was constructed in 122 AD to separate the Roman-occupied territories in the south from the unconquered lands of Scotland. As the Romans built the wall and consolidated their rule over Britain, they also constructed several small forts across the country. Magna, also known as Carvoran, is one of the forts that was built along the wall during this period. Located seven miles (11 km) west of the large Roman fort Vindolanda, which has been the site of many archaeological finds, this smaller fortification was constructed to guard the crossroads of two major Roman roads. These discoveries also help archaeologists to get a better understanding of how the Romans made their shoes. Ms Frame says: 'This gives us a really good look at how Roman shoes were made: multiple layers of leather were used to form the sole, held together with thongs, stitching and hobnails. 'These also reinforced the outer surface for walking and are found on many styles of shoe.' This discovery is important because organic materials like leather or wood are normally broken down by microbes in the soil before archaeologists can find them, making leather shoes an exciting find. Only when it is kept in a wet environment with limited oxygen can leather last for thousands of years. But if the soil dries out, microbes can get to the materials and start to break them down. The archaeologists excavating the Magna Fort are currently concerned that this year's exceptionally dry spring might lead to some artefacts decaying before they are found. In the first two weeks of May, the Magna site received less than half a millimetre of rain, leaving the soil unusually dry. Franki Gillis, geoarchaeologist for the Magna Project, says: 'At Magna, the lack of rain has caused the groundwater level to drop considerably. 'So although nice, this abnormally lovely warm spring, may be harmful to the continual preservation of our organic finds at Magna and Vindolanda.' How England spent almost half a millennium under Roman rule 55BC - Julius Caesar crossed the channel with around 10,000 soldiers. They landed at a Pegwell Bay on the Isle of Thanet and were met by a force of Britons. Caesar was forced to withdraw. 54BC - Caesar crossed the channel again in his second attempt to conquer Britain. He came with with 27,000 infantry and cavalry and landed at Deal but were unopposed. They marched inland and after hard battles they defeated the Britons and key tribal leaders surrendered. However, later that year, Caesar was forced to return to Gaul to deal with problems there and the Romans left. 54BC - 43BC - Although there were no Romans present in Britain during these years, their influence increased due to trade links. 43AD - A Roman force of 40,000 led by Aulus Plautius landed in Kent and took the south east. The emperor Claudius appointed Plautius as Governor of Britain and returned to Rome. 47AD - Londinium (London) was founded and Britain was declared part of the Roman empire. Networks of roads were built across the country. 50AD - Romans arrived in the southwest and made their mark in the form of a wooden fort on a hill near the river Exe. A town was created at the site of the fort decades later and names Isca. When Romans let and Saxons ruled, all ex-Roman towns were called a 'ceaster'. this was called 'Exe ceaster' and a merger of this eventually gave rise to Exeter. 75 - 77AD - Romans defeated the last resistant tribes, making all Britain Roman. Many Britons started adopting Roman customs and law. 122AD - Emperor Hadrian ordered that a wall be built between England and Scotland to keep Scottish tribes out. 312AD - Emperor Constantine made Christianity legal throughout the Roman empire. 228AD - The Romans were being attacked by barbarian tribes and soldiers stationed in the country started to be recalled to Rome. 410AD - All Romans were recalled to Rome and Emperor Honorious told Britons they no longer had a connection to Rome.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
2,000-year-old giant leather shoe 'immediately drew impressed gasps' after archaeologists pulled it from a ditch near a Roman fort in northern England
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Archaeologists have unearthed an enormous leather shoe while digging at the bottom of an "ankle-breaker" defensive ditch at a Roman fort in northern England. The shoe and other leather goods from the fort, called Magna, are providing new information about shoe manufacturing techniques and the people who wore them almost 2,000 years ago. "A shoe is such a personal item; it really puts you in touch with the people who used to live at the fort," one of the volunteers for the Magna Project wrote on the excavation blog. After the construction of Hadrian's Wall, built around A.D. 122 to demarcate the northern extent of the Roman Empire, the Roman army took over and expanded small forts in Britain. Magna — also known as Carvoran — is part of this series of forts along the wall. It is situated about 7 miles (11 kilometers) west of Vindolanda, the large Roman auxiliary fort that's well known for the remarkable preservation of writing tablets, military medals and leather shoes. In late March, archaeologists began excavating the defensive ditches, banks and ramparts outside the north wall of Magna. According to Magna Project senior archaeologist Rachel Frame, at the bottom of one ditch, they discovered an "ankle-breaker" — a narrow, deep trench that, when obscured by water, would cause an enemy soldier to catch his foot, which would then break his ankle and trap him. Within the ditch, the archaeologists and volunteers discovered three shoes and scrap leather that were preserved for centuries by the oxygen-free environment. "This is really promising for our future excavations," Frame said in a YouTube video, as they plan to expand their dig to inside the fort to look for timber buildings. Related: Roman-era 'fast food' discovered in ancient trash heap on Mallorca Two of the shoes, which were discovered on May 21, are in good condition. One has part of a heel attached and hobnails on the bottom of the sole. "This gives us a really good look at how Roman shoes were made," Frame wrote in the excavation blog. "Multiple layers of leather were used to form the sole, held together with thongs, stitching and hobnails." But because the toe area was missing, they could not estimate its size. RELATED STORIES —2,000-year-old bed barricade unearthed in Pompeii house — likely a family's last attempt to escape Vesuvius' eruption —Smooth wooden phallus found at a Roman fort was likely a sex toy —Infant twins buried together in Roman Croatia may have died from lead poisoning A second shoe, found at the very bottom of the ankle-breaker, was intact and "immediately drew impressed gasps" from everyone on site, Frame wrote. The sole measures 12.6 inches (32 centimeters) long, which is the equivalent of a men's U.S. 14 or U.K. 13 size shoe today. "Could this one be the largest in the Vindolanda Trust collection? We certainly look forward to finding out!" Frame wrote. The shoes and other scraps will now be studied by a leather specialist, to try to learn more about who may have worn the enormous shoe and who lived and worked at Magna in Roman times.
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The Independent
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Ancient sandstone sculpture found in pile of rubble
Amateur archaeologists unearthed a rare sandstone sculpture of the Roman goddess of victory at Vindolanda fort near Hadrian's Wall. The discovery was made in a reused pile of rubble by veteran volunteers Jim and Dilys Quinlan during their 21st year on the site's excavation program. The sculpture, believed to mark the end of an ancient Roman war, is thought to be one side of a larger relief that likely framed an inscription and was brightly painted. Vindolanda, a Roman fort built before Hadrian's Wall, served as a crucial construction and garrison base and was under Roman occupation between 85 AD and 370 AD. The sculpture will be displayed at the Vindolanda museum in 2026 as part of its Recent Finds exhibition.
