´óÏó´«Ã½

This Roman wooden pulley system was found at Bar Hill Roman Fort, Strathclyde, Scotland and was picked by Christina Gilfedder, second year student at the University of Glasgow (Single Honours Archaeology). Christina writes - As most organic material does not survive Scotland's acidic soils, this oak pulley block is an exceptionally well-preserved artefact from the Roman occupation in Scotland. Excavation at Bar Hill fort in 1936 uncovered this object within the Roman Headquarter courtyard well and therefore, it can be relatively dated to between AD 142-180. Bar Hill fort was built in a fantastic strategic location facing north into the Kelvin valley and it was one of the many forts which formed part of the northern Roman frontier. This frontier can be seen today in the expansive presence of the Antonine Wall which was an immense undertaking and which required engineering technology. Therefore, it is believed that this simple pulley block was a component of lifting machines, which would have helped the Roman army of occupation to build their immensely imposing and important structures in the Scottish landscape.