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WolfgangSchaub wrote:
Where is Mons Graupius? You know, the site of the battle of 84 AD of Agricola against the Caledonians that the Roman historian Tacitus mentions. I know there are several theories and hypotheses about where the site may have been, but none of them is verified.
My approach is etymology:
Not far from Dalginross (where Agricola has fought a battle against the Caledonians previous to Mons Graupius) is the small town of Crieff, pronounced something like "cruuw".
There is no record of any battle involving Agricola at Dalginross. That is sheer conjecture. The "night attack" on the 9th Legion could have taken place almost anywhere from Southern Scotland to the Montrose Basin, perhaps even further North in Moray.
Crieff is pronounced "KR EE F". Like Johan Cruyff the footballer but instead of Cruyff it is pronounced Creef. It rhymes with "Beef". The name Crieff comes from the Gaelic "Craoibh" meaning tree. The word for "tree" (or even "forest") in terms of Scottish locations will not help you find the site of Mons Craupius at all! We are still covered in trees!
I would suggest reading the book "A Battle Lost" by Gordon S Maxwell as a starting point. Another good place to look is at the ongoing investigations by The Gask Ridge Project and the work of Birgitta Hoffmann and David Woolliscroft.
I believe the site of Mons Craupius will be found. However, I do not believe it will be found by looking at the roots of the word "Craup" as no-one actually knows this word's original language was. The site will be found by other means.
Personally I think Mons Craupius was fought North of the Forth-Clyde Isthmus. But not very far North. I have a long-held suspicion of a site/ area which has never been suggested or explored in regard to the lost Roman Battle. Two other later Scottish battles were fought near there and there have been intriguing stray Native & Roman finds locally.
Good Luck WolfgangSchaub !
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