Editing Inchtuthil (section)

{{Short description|Roman fortress}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name = Inchtuthil
|image =Den_arkeologiske_lämningen_av_fortet_Inchtuthill_med_kant_och_upphöjt_läge,_floden_Tay_flyter_(utanför_bild)_på_tre_sidor..jpg
|caption = Aerial photograph of the fort site
|location= [[Perth and Kinross]], [[Scotland]], UK
|pushpin_map = Scotland Perth and Kinross
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[Perth and Kinross]]
|gridref = {{gbmappingsmall|NO1239}}
|coordinates = {{Coord|56.541|-3.424|scale:5000|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Inchtuthil''' is the site of a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] [[Roman legion|legionary]] fortress situated on a natural platform overlooking the north bank of the [[River Tay]] southwest of [[Blairgowrie and Rattray|Blairgowrie]], [[Perth and Kinross]], [[Scotland]] (Roman [[Caledonia]]).

It was built in [[Anno Domini|AD]] 82 or 83 as the advance headquarters for the forces of governor [[Gnaeus Julius Agricola]] in his campaign against the [[Caledonians|Caledonian]] tribes. Positioned at the head of one of the main routes in and out of the [[Scottish Highlands]], it was occupied by [[Legio XX Valeria Victrix|Legion XX ''Valeria Victrix'']] and covered a total area of {{convert|21.5|ha|acre}}.{{sfn|Keppie|1984|pp=174-175}}

Construction of the large fortress would have taken two or three seasons and a temporary [[castra|camp]] was built nearby to house and protect the soldiers over the winter. Additional, smaller forts were built further north and south at the mouth of each nearby [[glen]] forming what are now referred to as the [[Glenblocker forts]].

The fort at Inchtuthil is thought to be part of the [[Glenblocker fort]]s, as well as others in Strathmore, such as Cardean and [[Stracathro]], formed a uniform system composed of several elements, the forts and watchtowers on the Roman road of the [[Gask Ridge]], the Glenblockers and the Strathmore forts. Inchtuthil as the largest military base would have functioned as the lynch-pin and the only site large enough to launch an invasion into the Highlands and beyond.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Woolliscroft |first=D.J |title=The First Frontier: Rome in the North of Scotland |last2=Hoffmann |first2=B. |publisher=Tempus |year=2006}}</ref>