Trimontium
The Romans first arrived in AD79 and built Trimontium, three kilometres east of Melrose. It was the most important Roman fort in the 150 km road-length between the Rivers Tyne and Forth.
The fort was garrisoned for about 100 years. At its height the fort housed 1500 Roman infantry and cavalry and a similar number of civilians. Special features of the settlement were the great parade ground in the east annex set around with shrines to the Romano-Celtic gods. At the north east corner of the fort was a military amphitheatre. In the west annex was an extensive office block for the administration and taxation of the district around.
Water was drawn from wells up to ten metres deep dug into the water-rich clay of the site. Some 200 wells have been located. As the wells went out of use they were filled with rubbish from around, rubbish but archaeological treasure. Even more precious to the archaeologist were gifts to the Gods of the Underworld, broken to release the spirits, deposited before final sealing of the abandoned wells.
Nothing remains visible but the eroded fort ramparts and the hollow of the amphitheatre. Indeed, the site, though mentioned in Roman writings as was entirely lost until the railway building of the 19th Century cut through it.
The Romans had an interest in keeping the area politically stable after they withdrew to Hadrians Wall in about 180 AD. They marked this interest by gifts of silver and luxuries to the tribal princes, who in return acted as buffer between the Romans and the and the "badlands", north of the River Forth. The three hills Roman heritage centre in the Ormiston institute in Melrose’s market square has displays etc.
Newstead, believed to be the oldest inhabited village in Scotland is nearby.