Six wooden tent pegs

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These six wooden tent pegs were found at the site of the Roman fort at Newstead in Roxburghshire. They were used by the Roman soldiers sometime between 80 and 100 AD.

The tent pegs resemble modern ones. Some are broken at the ends. The sharp points at the ends of the pegs suggest that they were unused.

The Roman army was based in barracks in permanent forts, but on the march soldiers built temporary fortifications each night and slept in leather tents. Many tents were required: men slept eight to a tent, and the army in Scotland was some 15,000 strong.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-037-323-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FRA 1151
• Date: Between 80 and 100 AD
  
• Material: Oak
  Peg, tent
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Peg, tent
  
• Subject:
• Who: Newstead Collection
  
• Where: Scotland, Roxburghshire, Melrose, Newstead
  
• Event:
• Description: Fourteen wooden tent-pegs from Newstead
  
• References:
  • Clarke, D.V., Breeze, D.J., and Mackay, G. The Romans in Scotland. An introduction to the collections of the National Museums of Antiquities of Scotland. Edinburgh: National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland, 1980, p 28. 
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