This building stone was found at the site of the Roman fort at Croy Hill in Dumbartonshire. It has an inscription recording building works by the 6th Legion at the fort. It was carved sometime between 140 and 165 AD.
The stone is simply inscribed with 'LEG VI' for '6th Legion'. A legion was the largest military unit, divided into ten cohorts, most of which were composed of 480 men, which in turn had six centuries of 80 men.
The Roman army recorded their building works on building stones and sculptures. The inscriptions can be brief, as this one, or can detail the Emperor's name, his titles, the name of the military unit responsible, the name of the governor and what was done.
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